“AND THE OSCAR GOES TO...”

Movies move us. They touch our souls, play with our minds and at times make us laugh and cry at the same time. Twenty-fifteen has gifted us with some extraordinary storytelling and equally brilliant performances. Each of these movies deserves accolades of the highest honour, but in the end, the Oscar can only go to one. Here are the nominations for Academy Award for Best Picture.

THE BIG SHORT 
Directed and co-written by Adam McKay, The Big Short is based on a true story. Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt are each a Hollywood powerhouse. The story is based on independent yet related events leading to the Wall Street crash of 2008. Carell is 'seriously' funny and I wished Bale had more screen-time. The movie is crammed with business jargons but thankfully there are enough 4th wall breaks to teach you as you proceed. It might be difficult to follow but once you put the pieces together, the puzzle is solved. 

BRIDGE OF SPIES 
Cold War era: a supposed KGB spy is arrested in the US and an insurance specialist, James B Donovan, takes on the role of the defendant's lawyer. But then USSR captures a US spy pilot and things get difficult for the lawyer and the country. Steven Spielberg is a master when it comes to visual storytelling of true events; with Tom Hanks as the lead, it's a match made in heaven. The last time I had so much fun watching a Cold War drama-thriller was with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011). Also, check out Mark Rylance's performance of the KGB spy – it would help.

BROOKLYN 
This movie is based on a novel by Colm Tóibín of the same name, and Nick Hornby's screenplay does justice to the story. Starring the wickedly beautiful Saoirse Ronan, the story is about an Irish girl's journey to New York for a better life, common in the 1950s. She leaves her family behind and finds true love in a new land but circumstances force her to return, leaving her to choose between two homes and much more. The movie is simple yet magical enough to make you want to go back in time, and you can't help but feel for the girl named Eilis.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD 
One name: George Miller. Two things: 'chrome' and 'flame-throwing guitar'. This movie was released in May 2015, pretty early for awards season but has been etched in people's minds as the best Mad Max movie of all-time and one of the best action movies of the year. It stars a badass Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa and a mumbling Tom Hardy as, well, Mad Max. Why nominated? This movie is one with the best production design, brilliant performances, crazy effects, and even comes with a message. 

THE MARTIAN 
It's still a mystery to some as to how The Martian was categorised as a "comedy" at the Golden Globes. But there's no denying that Ridley Scott's film adaptation of Andy Weir's 2011 novel was a treat for science lovers and geeks around the globe. Matt Damon is quirky and emotional in another role where he needs to be saved by the US government; here he's presumed dead and left behind on the Red Planet by his colleagues during a manned mission. The story is powerful in showing us the significance of a single life, and rightfully so. Bonus points: Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig and Donald Glover.

THE REVENANT 
Fresh from winning Best Picture for Birdman last year, director Alejandro González Iñárritu is back with The Revenant. He's also helping Leo DiCaprio in his search for an Oscar. Inspired by the story of Hugh Glass, a frontier fur-trapper, this is basically a tale of revenge. There's no doubt Leo is a true grit when it comes to acting but the real hero in this movie stands behind the camera: Emmanuel Lubezki. The talented cinematographer and his philosophy of shooting in natural light is all the difference that makes it a great movie. The Leo vs Bear scene is unforgettable.

ROOM 
Sometimes the most unexpected of movies take us on a ride of a lifetime. Room, adapted from a novel of the same name, is big on emotions. Brie Larson and young Jacob Tremblay (someone I'll be looking out for) are phenomenal in their mother-son roles and the story captivates every sense. It's a rare combination that might just be the formula for success. The scene where Tremblay rolls out of the rug and screams "I hate you!" – just rivetting.

SPOTLIGHT
Newsroom dramas are seldom made in Hollywood; Spotlight probably outshines all of them. Featuring a solid ensemble cast of Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci, this is the story of an investigative unit and their work in the child sex abuse cases in Boston. The movie is intelligently paced to keep the audience in check. I still don't know why Ruffalo is yet to win a major award. 

And the Oscar goes to...

Kazi Akib Bin Asad is a Sub-editor at Shout who likes to travel and collect puns from all over the world. Follow him and his adventures on instagram.com/akibasad