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Matt Damon in a scene from The Martian, which is nominated for Oscars in seven categories. Photo: AP
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Our verdicts on some of the top films and stars nominated for Oscars this year

The Oscar nominations are out, and as usual, half the films haven’t reached Hong Kong yet. But here’s what our reviewers made of the big contenders that have graced the city’s cinema screens

Paul Buck
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The Martian (seven nominations)

Here’s a space travel epic that digs deep into technicalities and still manages to be tremendously thrilling and fun.

 

Leonardo DiCaprio is nominated for best actor for his role in The Revenant. Photo: AP

The Revenant (12 nominations)

Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu goes to another extreme with this survival epic, shot in brutal conditions in British Columbia using only natural light.

Tom Hanks (centre) in a scene from Bridge of Spies.

Bridge of Spies (six nominations)

This Steven Spielberg cold war drama about a spy exchange between the Russians, the East Germans, and the Americans tells its story in a refreshingly straightforward way.

 

Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron in a scene from Mad Max: Fury Road. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

Mad Max: Fury Road (10 nominations)

Visceral and relentless, George Miller’s dystopian vision grabs you by the throat from the very first scene and never lets go. This film will floor you.

 

Michael Fassbender stars in Steve Jobs.
Among the best actor nominees are Michael Fassbender for Steve Jobs (“supreme”) while Jennifer Lawrence (“sparky, confident and assured”) is up for best actress for her performance in Joy.
Jennifer Lawrence in a scene from Joy. Photo: AP

SEE ALSO: Academy Award nominations: The Revenant leads list with 12 nods while Star Wars sequel is snubbed for Best Picture

And, just for the record, here’s a reminder of what our reviewers considered the best 25 films of 2015.
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