Yesterday, the nominations for the 2015 Academy Awards were announced. They feature some welcome surprises--congrats to Mad Max on all the nominations--and some unexpected snubs--Carol should be in the Best Picture pool. Still, I feel the need to once again make my voice heard and share my own nominations for the acting, directing, writing, and technical categories. It's a fun exercise for no other reason than exploring the diversity of opinions and reactions to films.

Best Actress in a Leading Role:

5) Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Tangerine

4) Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road

3) Jacqueline Kim, Advantageous

2) Rooney Mara, Carol

1) Rinko Kikuchi, Kumiko: The Treasure Hunter

 

Best Actor in a Leading Role:

5) Dominic Gleeson, Ex Machina

4) Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

3) Matthew Gray Gubler, Suburban Gothic

2) Tom Hardy, The Revenant

1) Abraham Atta, Beasts of No Nation

 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:

5) Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hateful 8

4) Samantha Kim, Advantageous

3) Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina

2) Mya Taylor, Tangerine

1) Sarah Paulson, Carol

 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

5) David Zellner, Kumiko: The Treasure Hunter

4) Richard Kind, Inside Out

3) Oscar Isaac, Ex Machina

2) Nicholas Hoult, Mad Max: Fury Road

1) Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation

Best Director:

5) David Robert Mitchell, It Follows

4) Levan Gabriadze, Unfriended

3) Jennifer Phang, Advantageous

2) George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

1) Roy Andersson, A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

 

Best Original Screenplay:

5) S. Craig Zahler, Bone Tomahawk

4) Nelson Greaves, Unfriended

3) Jennifer Phang, Samantha Kim, Advantageous

2) Richard Bates Jr., Mark Bruner, Suburban Gothic

1) Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch, Tangerine

 

Best Adapted Screenplay:

5) Mark L. Smith, Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant

4) Cary Joji Fukunaga, Beasts of No Nation

3) Keiko Niwa, Masashi Ando, Hiromasa Yonibayasha, David Freedman (translator), When Marnie was There

2) George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nick Lathouris, Mad Max: Fury Road

1) Phyllis Nagy, Carol

Best Original Score

5) Dan Romer, The Nightmare

4) Disasterpeace, It Follows

3) Carter Burwell, Carol

2) Junkie XL, Mad Max: Fury Road

1) The Octopus Project, Kumiko: The Treasure Hunter

 

Best Cinematography:

5) Mike Giolakus, It Follows

4) John Seale, Mad Max: Fury Road

3) Cary Joji Fukunaga, Beasts of No Nation

2) Edward Lachman, Carol

1) Sean Baker, Radium Cheung, Tangerine

Best Documentary:

5) Matt Shephard Is a Friend of Mine

4) The Nightmare

3) Tig

2) What Happened, Miss Simone?

1) Iris

 

Best Animated Film:

3) Inside Out

2) Home

1) When Marnie was There