With 2021 ending soon, Oscar predictions are coming in for the 2022 ceremony. A new group of films will be nominated for its biggest award, Best Picture. Dramas Belfast and King Richard are big contenders, along with Licorice Pizza and tick, tick... Boom!, and fans will be eager to see the winner. The 2015 nominees are similar in genre, featuring Selma, The Imitation Game, and Whiplash, among others.
Once a film receives a Best Picture nomination, there is an influx in ratings on its IMDb page. These films have retained their high ratings in the years since 2015. Many of the nominees are closely rated to each other, with marginal differences between them. The way they rank against each other may be surprising, as their ratings may not reflect that of the Academy. Though they have all been considered the best films of 2015, some of these films are considered more worthy of the Best Picture award than others.
American Sniper - 7.3
Directed by Clint Eastwood, American Sniper is a war drama film adapted from the autobiography of Chris Kyle, the Navy S.E.A.L. who became the deadliest marksman in U.S. history. Starring Bradley Cooper, American Sniper received praise for Eastwood's directing and Cooper's performance, earning six Oscar nominations, winning for Best Sound Editing.
According to Variety, it's the highest-grossing film in North America in 2014, so it's surprising to see that's the lowest-rated of the nominees. However, this makes sense to fans of the film, as some acknowledged that it likely wouldn't win Best Picture. Many praised the film for its portrayal of the Iraq War, calling it fresh and original, and Chris Kyle, who they consider to be an American hero, but some criticized inaccuracies between the film and the book. The action sequences were favored, with fans feeling less interested in Kyle's life back at home with his family. Although it's a great film for those who love war dramas, it didn't quite hit the mark for everyone.
Selma - 7.5
Selma is a nominee that made Oscar history, with Essence reporting that Ava DuVernay became the first Black female director to have her film nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. The historical drama chronicles the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Hosea Williams, and John Lewis.
The film received mostly positive reviews from critics for its direction and performance by lead David Oyelowo, however, the film was only nominated for two awards, winning Best Original Song. Like American Sniper, fans said they enjoyed it, but knew it wouldn't get much Academy attention. Some criticized the historical inaccuracies and believe it errs on the preachy side, but praise the overall message DuVernay sends. Even though it didn't receive much acclaim from the Academy, it's still highly rated among fans.
The Theory of Everything - 7.7
Based on the life of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, The Theory of Everything was adapted from Jane Wilde Hawking's memoir, Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen. The film follows key points in his life during their relationship, including his ALS diagnosis and success in the field of physics.
Fans praised the performances of leads Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones and were happy with Redmayne's Best Actor win. Although the reviews were generally favorable, the film received some criticism. Some enjoyed it, but wish it focused more on Hawking's accomplishments. The Guardian reported that some felt the film did a disservice to Wilde by changing the facts to fit a certain dramatic narrative. Many were confused as to how it didn't win Best Picture but were still happy to see it nominated. Overall, most reviews were positive, with many saying it's one of the most engaging and beautiful films they'd ever seen.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - 7.7
Birdman, the big winner of the night, is a black comedy-drama about a washed-up superhero actor attempting to revive his career by writing, directing, and starring in his own Broadway production. It has an impressive cast, featuring Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Stone, and many others. Birdman scored nine nominations. Along with Best Picture, it took home the awards for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.
The film is praised for its cast performances, screenplay, direction, and cinematography. Of course, not everyone agreed with the Academy's choice. Interestingly, its rating fluctuates over time. Fans love that it's a strange film, calling it fascinating, although they wouldn't have chosen it for Best Picture themselves. Some found it interesting and enjoyable, yet strange, hard to follow, with others finding it to be too much. The reviews are generally positive, but it's clear that it's not a film for everyone.
Boyhood - 7.9
Richard Linklater's Boyhood follows the life of Mason Carter Jr., starting in his early childhood, all the way to his arrival at college. Starring Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, and Ethan Hawke, filming took place over the course of twelve years. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, with Patricia Arquette winning Best Actress.
The most unique of the nominees, Boyhood has been featured in many lists as one of the great movies ever made. Not only did it receive praise for following Mason Jr.'s growth, but it also shows his parents' journey as well. What most fans love about Boyhood the most is its pacing, saying it never feels boring or rushed, that it remains balanced throughout. Most consider it a masterpiece regardless of Oscar wins, but it doesn't appeal to everyone. Some felt it could've been shorter, but most have no problem with its run time. Overall, Boyhood is a beloved film with a big fanbase.
The Imitation Game - 8.0
Historical drama The Imitation Game stars Benedict Cumberbatch as cryptanalyst Alan Turing, who decoded German intelligence messages for British Intelligence during World War II. GLAAD reports it as the highest-grossing independent film of 2014, with the film receiving honors from the Human Rights Campaign for its portrayal of Turing's sexuality. The film received eight Academy Award nominations, winning for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Fans praised Cumberbatch's performance as the highlight of the film, saying he played Turing perfectly and was complemented by Kiera Knightly as his fellow code-breaker Joan Clarke. Many reviews praise the film's inclusion of Turing's sexuality, and how being a gay man meant he would be persecuted and receive no public recognition for his accomplishments at that time, although they wish it included more of those accomplishments. They would've preferred that it won more at the Oscars, but were thrilled with the film nonetheless.
The Grand Budapest Hotel - 8.1
Comedy-drama The Grand Budapest Hotel follows Ralph Fiennes as a famed hotel concierge framed for the murder of a wealthy dowager. Along with Birdman, it was one the most nominated films of the night, with eight nominations. It took home the awards for Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hair Styling, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design.
Director Wes Anderson is known for his quirky films, and The Grand Budapest Hotel is no exception. It seems most fans expected the film not to win any Oscars, instead, they were watching the film purely for the experience. They were not disappointed, as many fans referred to it as "off the wall fun". Like Birdman, his films are a bit of an acquired taste, and fans loved the comedic elements and style they'd come to expect from Anderson, considering it one of his best films.
Whiplash - 8.5
Whiplash is a psychological drama following jazz drummer Andrew, who is pushed to his limit by his ruthless and abusive bandleader. Featuring powerhouse performances from leads Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons. It received five Oscar nominations, winning three, Best Film Editing, Best Supporting Actor (Simmons), and Best Sound Mixing.
While fans were certainly disappointed at no Best Picture win, Whiplash has a consistently high rating and is the 40th highest-rated film on IMDb, with fan reviews holding it with the highest regard of any of the nominees. They praised the film's simplistic style, loving its realistic view on how aspiration can affect someone. The intense relationship between the leads is the focal point and highlight of the film, with fans loving the dynamic between a bandleader who's the best of the best, and the student determined to win his approval.