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The 2015 Snubby Awards

Once again, the Oscars have managed to drum up a lot of buzz as many eagerly await to see who takes one of the little gold guys home with them this Sunday evening. However, as per Academy tradition, some films that many felt deserved of nominations, particularly ones that aren’t of the independent or foreign persuasion, were left behind.

As a way to recognize a few of the features that didn’t make the cut, here are six films that each stood out in six different categories. These films may not be nominated for any major awards, but the creative forces behind them can rest easy knowing that they won a “Snubby” within their lifetime.

Best Sci-Fi Film: “Edge of Tomorrow”- Tom Cruise may be a borderline sociopath, but that shouldn’t take away from the fact that he’s also one of the most charismatic actors working in Hollywood today. “Edge” was another great showcase for his talent, and it also turned out to be the one of the funniest, smartest and most inventive films that came out this year, which makes its less than stellar box office draw even more confusing.

Best Comedy Film: “22 Jump Street”- Aside from the Golden Globes (which people really only cared about because of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler), comedies are generally left unrecognized during awards season, which is a shame because “Jump Street” was beyond hilarious. Plus, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum’s bromance is a heartwarming spectacle to watch from beginning to end.

Best Action Film: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”- Last year featured four films based on Marvel Comics characters; while “Guardians of the Galaxy” drew in the biggest crowd, “Winter Soldier” boasted the most thrilling action sequences out of the quartet. The decision to eschew CGI and rely mostly on practical effects was the right choice, as Cap’s battles with HYDRA made for surprisingly gritty and adrenal entertainment.

Best TV-to-film Adaptation: “Veronica Mars”- While the TV show was cancelled far before its time, the movie easily made up for the sins of the executives at The CW. It’s funny, suspenseful and features an array of cameos ranging from Ira Glass (“This American Life”) to James Franco, doing his best “James Franco hosting the Oscars” impression.

Best Soundtrack: “Guardians of the Galaxy”- Star-Lord’s “Awesome Mix” was the perfect complement to the quasi-heroic efforts of he and his unlikely team. Each song on the track listing manages to connect to a certain emotion, which is exactly what a good soundtrack should do. Plus, baby Groot dancing to “I Want You Back” is the stuff legends are made of.

Best Animated Film: “The Lego Movie”- I loved “How to Train Your Dragon 2” and “Big Hero 6” just as much as anyone else, but the fact that “Lego” didn’t get a nod is a travesty of epic proportions. Not only was it the most original animated movie released in a long time, it also had a surprisingly strong central theme behind it. I guess the Academy voters were more partial to Mega Bloks as kids, which honestly says a lot about them.

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