Yipee! Just when the future looked oh-so-bleak thanks to this dry and dreary January, awards season has gone and kicked off! Six whole weeks of ogling the planet’s most beautiful ones, swathed in designer confections and dripping with diamonds on lashings of red carpet. What’s not to love?
This Sunday it all kicks off in Tinsel Town with the 73rd Golden Globes Awards, being hosted at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Just one mere month later, on Valentine’s Day, London will be getting its glam on for the EE British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden - the nominations for which were announced with great fanfare this morning. And it all culminates on February 28th with Big Daddy of them all – The Oscars.
So, with all this terribly exciting buzz about movies and their stars, we thought we’d list our top five fave films that you really should see to be in-the-know for Awards Season 2016. (We’re unashamedly presuming you’ve seen Star Wars.) In no particular order, we give you…
1. Carol
Heralded by critics across the board as a ‘career-best’ performance from Cate Blanchett, this really is a visual feast for the eyes when it comes to fashion and art. Set in 1950s New York City and based on Patricia Highsmith’s underground novel, Carol tells the story of a lesbian affair between a well-heeled socialite (Blanchett) and shop-worker, Therese, played exquisitely by Rooney Mara. The film will undoubtedly see both women nominated for numerous awards over the next few weeks. Carol is a strong contender for Best Costume too.
2. The Danish Girl
Before Caitlyn Jenner there was Lili Elbe. In what could well garner the splendid Mr Eddie Redmayne a second consecutive slew of Best Actor trophies, our brilliant Brit gives the most searing performance as one of the first ever people to undergo gender realignment surgery in Denmark in the 1920’s. Alicia Vikander is also in with a chance of scooping a couple of golden statues along the way for her performance as Eddie's doting wife. Beautiful and moving.
3. Joy
Reuniting the Oscar-winning chemistry of Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper with Silver Linings Playbook Director, David O’Russell, J-Law’s performance has been critically acclaimed as better than that which won her an Oscar last year. Based on the real life story of single mother Joy Mangano, who transforms her life and fortunes by inventing a self-wringing mop. Heaven.
4. The Hateful Eight
Already hotly tipped for a Best Film nomination at the Oscars, this is being lauded by critics as one of the director’s finest yet. Starring Tarantino veteran, Samuel L. Jackson, this comic Western about eight strangers in a snowstorm has attracted a maelstrom of hype ahead of its UK release, today. Jennifer Jason Leigh is pretty epic too.
5. Steve Jobs
With Michael Fassbender as the ruthless genius that was the late Apple founder, this gripping biopic of Steve Jobs from Aaron Sorkin and directed by Danny Boyle may just nab Fassbender a slew of best actor gongs. Kate Winslet is also on course for a Best Supporting actress.