In anticipation of the Academy Awards, we polled our contributors to see who they thought should win the Oscar. Once we had our winners, we asked various writers to make the case for our selection in each category. We're posting those essays this week, two a day, leading up to the big reveal of our picks for our best director and best picture on Friday. Check back all week. Here you'll find links to all our picks.
Best Animated Film: "Inside Out" — Essay by Odie Henderson
Best Documentary: "Amy" — Essay by Matt Fagerholm
Best Adapted Screenplay: "The Big Short" by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay — Essay by Peter Sobczynski
Best Original Screenplay: "Inside Out" by Pete Docter & Meg LeFauve & Josh Cooley — Essay by Scout Tafoya
Best Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone, "Creed" — Essay by Sheila O'Malley
Best Supporting Actress: Rooney Mara, "Carol" — Essay by Brian Tallerico
Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"— Essay by Susan Wloszcyna
Best Actress: Charlotte Rampling, "45 Years" — Essay by Christy Lemire
Best Director: George Miller, "Mad Max: Fury Road" — Essay by Glenn Kenny
Best Picture: "Mad Max: Fury Road" — Essay by Matt Zoller Seitz