Best Movies From Oscar Nominees – The Directors

Continuing with Oscar week, I am going to look at the best movies or performances from this year’s nominees.  First, I am going to look at this year’s Best Director nominees.

LENNY ABRAHAMSON (Nominated for Room)

BEST MOVIE – ROOM (2015)

• I didn’t see Abrahamson’s feature debut What Richard Did (2012), but I did see his second, Frank (2014), which I thought was a surreal, yet fascinating musical indie.  With Room, Abrahamson elevates himself to a name we need to recognize in the film world.  This is as emotional of a movie there was in 2015, and it was because of Abrahamson’s control and skill behind the camera, while also getting two brilliant performances by Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, that made him worthy of a his nomination.

ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ INARRITU (Nominated for The Revenant)

BEST MOVIE – BIRDMAN (2014)

• Inarritu has made some spectacular films over the years, including Amores Perros (2001) and 21 Grams (2003).  But Birdman his 2014 satire that won him his first Oscar, is his best work, in my opinion.  The idea to shoot this with a seamless single take was a ballsy and brilliant move and Inarritu executed it perfectly.  He guided a great ensemble to give some of the best performances of their careers, especially Michael Keaton, who gave the comeback performance of the decade.  This is a darkly funny, entertaining, masterful film.

TOM MCCARTHY (Nominated for Spotlight)

BEST MOVIE – Spotlight (2015)

• McCarthy is more of an actor than a director, having only directed five films his whole career.  I do love his 2011 coming of age story Win Win starring Paul Giammati, but I don’t think he will ever make a movie better than Spotlight.  This centuries All the President’s Men (2007) is a classic procedural focusing on a giant issue (Catholic Priest molestation) and shows how the Boston Globe uncovered the scandal.  This isn’t about the journalists, this is about the issue, and McCarthy makes sure it isn’t overshadowed.  His direction is subtle, yet perfect for this story.  This is a masterpiece that will stand the test of time.

ADAM MCKAY (Nominated for The Big Short)

BEST MOVIE – Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

• This is probably the most controversial choice on the list.  McKay did stellar work on The Big Short.  He made a movie with a pulse unlike anything in 2015 and his maddening genius took a complex story and made it accessible to everyone.  It was also entertaining as hell.  But, it is hard to argue against one of the greatest and most iconic comedies of the 21st century.  Anchorman’s dry humor was ahead of its time and Will Ferrell became a comedy icon for his role as Ron Burgundy.  This is comedy classic.

GEORGE MILLER (Nominated for Mad Max: Fury Road)

BEST MOVIE – Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

• George Miller took thirty years off from the Mad Max series before he came out with Fury Road.  During this time, Miller made such movies as Babe: Pig in the City (1998) and Happy Feet (2006), among some others.  I didn’t think the man had it in him to make another Mad Max film, but boy, did he come back with a bang.  Miller’s vision comes full circle in Fury Road, as he made one of the most exciting and insane movies of this decade.  Fleshing out great performances from Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, while also mixing practical and CGI effects seamlessly, this is a great piece of filmmaking from a certified legend.

What are your favorite movies from this year’s Best Director nominees?  Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @kevflix or hit me up on Facebook at Kevflix.