Oscar Nominees: Best Visual Effects

My predictions: 2/5, picking only “Ex Machina” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
My ballot: Come back in February!
The nominees: Ex Machina, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, The Revenant, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I’m not sure what I was thinking predicting that three Best Picture nominees eligible in this race wouldn’t show up here, but that didn’t work out so well for me. Looking quickly at past nominees in this category, this isn’t the first time that all five nominated films are honored elsewhere also, but it is the largest contingent of Best Picture nominees that I can find any time in recent history. It’s great to see that “Ex Machina” made the cut, but very disappointing that “The Walk” didn’t since it really should have. Also, surprising that “Jurassic World” isn’t here.

My current bet to win: Unless the bear rears its head, it will be Star Wars: The Force Awakens.