This year is even close to the awards ceremony, I have tried my best to update my final prediction for the Oscars.
BEST PICTURE
American Sniper
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash
Will Win: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Could Win: Boyhood
Should Win: Boyhood
Personal Favorite: Boyhood
Deliberation: It is actually between
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and
Boyhood. Both of the movies receive praise from critics and voters respectively. When it comes to the final moment,
Birdman makes an extreme boost in the major guild awards and it seems the award is in its pocket.
American Sniper can benefit from the vote split and Americans definitely love this movie for what is described.
The Grand Budapest Hotel and
The Imitation Game are losing their stamina at the end of this award season. All the others are not comparable to the frontrunners. Out of the eight nominees this year, I have watched seven of them (not including
The Grand Budapest Hotel).
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Steve Carell,
Foxcatcher
Bradley Cooper,
American Sniper
Benedict Cumberbatch,
The Imitation Game
Michael Keaton,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Eddie Redmayne,
The Theory of Everything
Will Win: Eddie Redmayne,
The Theory of Everything
Could Win: Michael Keaton,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Should Win: Eddie Redmayne,
The Theory of Everything
Personal Favorite: Eddie Redmayne,
The Theory of Everything
Deliberation: Michael Keaton is applauded for his performance in
Birdman as a struggling actor. This type of role is always the taste of voters in Academy. Unfortunately, Eddie Redmayne chases very hard in this year as Stephen Hawking in
The Theory of Everything. His work in his movie is impeccable if you see it in theatre. Everyone is amazed by the dedication of the actor himself to transform the legendary on screen. Bradley Cooper earned his third nominations in a row and it definitely means something. Even though
American Sniper may be picking up momentum, he can hardly be a big threat to the two people ahead. Out of the five nominees, I have watched all of their performances.
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Marion Cotillard,
Two Days, One Night
Felicity Jones,
The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore,
Still Alice
Rosamund Pike,
Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon,
Wild
Will Win: Julianne Moore,
Still Alice
Could Win: Rosamund Pike,
Gone Girl
Should Win: Rosamund Pike,
Gone Girl
Personal Favorite: Rosamund Pike,
Gone Girl
Deliberation: Julianne Moore starts her way ahead since she won Best Actress for another movie
Maps to the Stars in one of the biggest international film festivals. She never won an Oscar before and her overdue status indeed helps her campaign this season. Rosamund Pike comes strong as she is the sole highlight in
Gone Girl. She makes the movie successful and classical. Marion Cotillard can make it at last but her chance is not very high as foreign actresses are not welcomed to win so easily especially there is strong competition. Out of the five nominees, I have watched four of their performances (not including Marion Cotillard).
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Robert Duvall,
The Judge
Ethan Hawke,
Boyhood
Edward Norton,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Mark Ruffalo,
Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons,
Whiplash
Will Win: J.K. Simmons,
Whiplash
Could Win: Edward Norton,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Should Win: Edward Norton,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Personal Favorite: Edward Norton,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Deliberation: J.K. Simmons leads his way from beginning to the last big day. This is the safest acting category winner this year. He nails the role of an ambitious villain coach in a small movie. Many people love him doing this. Edward Norton comes strong as the picture gets very well. By the way, he is vulnerable when facing the frontrunner here. Ethan Hawke is hard working. He can finally meet his role of the year. Out of the five nominees, I have watched all of their performances.
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Patricia Arquette,
Boyhood
Laura Dern,
Wild
Keira Knightley,
The Imitation Game
Emma Stone,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Meryl Streep,
Into the Woods
Will Win: Patricia Arquette,
Boyhood
Could Win: Emma Stone,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Should Win: Meryl Streep,
Into the Woods
Personal Favorite: Meryl Streep,
Into the Woods
Deliberation: Patricia Arquette is the lucky one in
Boyhood because only her work is recognized by the critics and voters. Indeed Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater and Ethan Hawke also deserve the same level of attention for this movie because the whole ensemble has the perfect chemistry. Emma Stone is not very special but she has some outstanding moment in
Birdman. She is worth to be remembered but not Oscar-worthy. Meryl Streep this time is nominated again and I really love her work in
Into the Woods. Her acting and singing prove that she is an all-round actress who can barely fail to be extraordinary in any movies she casts in. Out of the five nominees, I have watched all of their performances.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Song of the Sea
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Will Win: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Could Win: Big Hero 6
Should Win: Big Hero 6
Personal Favorite: Big Hero 6
Deliberation: The Lego Movie is the frontrunner before the announcement of the nomination. Everybody is shocked by the snub of it. After that, critics discuss the possibility of winning for each nominee. It seems that
How to Train Your Dragon 2 and
Big Hero 6 are far better than their fellows. The first one is a good sequel and its previous production lost to the legend
Toy Story 3. The later one is another production from Disney Animations, which won big last year for
Frozen, critically and financially. Foreign animations are easy nominees but difficult winners. Out of the five nominees, I have watched two of them (not including
How to Train Your Dragon 2,
Song of the Sea and
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya).
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Emmanuel Lubezki,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Robert Yeoman,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski,
Ida
Dick Pope,
Mr. Turner
Roger Deakins,
Unbroken
Will Win: Emmanuel Lubezki,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Could Win: Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski,
Ida
Should Win: Emmanuel Lubezki,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Personal Favorite: Emmanuel Lubezki,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Milena Canonero,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Mark Bridges,
Inherent Vice
Colleen Atwood,
Into the Woods
Anna B. Sheppard and Jane Clive,
Maleficent
Jacqueline Durran,
Mr. Turner
Will Win: Milena Canonero,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Could Win: Colleen Atwood,
Into the Woods
Should Win: Milena Canonero,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Personal Favorite: Colleen Atwood,
Into the Woods
Deliberation: Out of the five nominees, I have watched two of their performances (not including Milena Canonero, Mark Bridges and Jacqueline Durran)
BEST DIRECTING
Alejandro G. Iñárritu,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Richard Linklater,
Boyhood
Bennett Miller,
Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Morten Tyldum,
The Imitation Game
Will Win: Richard Linklater,
Boyhood
Could Win: Alejandro G. Iñárritu,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Should Win: Richard Linklater,
Boyhood
Personal Favorite: Richard Linklater,
Boyhood
Deliberation: Richard Linklater is the frontrunner so far as many people focus on the 12 years he spent in the single movie. Even though he does not win the guild, it does not mean that his chance is cut to immediately. Alejandro G. Iñárritu is just a millimeter away from him to reach to the podium tonight. He makes the film very unique and marvelous. However, the split in director-picture in recent years can still continue. Other directors are good but not, again, the same level as the mentioned two this year. Out of the five nominees, I have watched four of their performances (not including Wes Anderson).
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Citizenfour
Finding Vivian Maier
Last Days in Vietnam
The Salt of the Earth
Virunga
Will Win: Citizenfour
Could Win: Last Days in Vietnam
Should Win: Citizenfour
Personal Favorite: Finding Vivian Maier
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
Joanna
Our Curse
The Reaper (La Parka)
White Earth
Will Win: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
Could Win: Our Curse
Should Win: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
Personal Favorite: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
BEST FILM EDITING
Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach,
American Sniper
Sandra Adair,
Boyhood
Barney Pilling,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
William Goldenberg,
The Imitation Game
Tom Cross,
Whiplash
Will Win: Tom Cross,
Whiplash
Could Win: Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach,
American Sniper
Should Win: William Goldenberg,
The Imitation Game
Personal Favorite: Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach,
American Sniper
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Leviathan (Russia)
Tangerines (Estonia)
Timbuktu (Mauritania)
Wild Tales (Argentina)
Ida (Poland)
Will Win: Ida
Could Win: Leviathan
Should Win: Ida
Personal Favorite: Wild Tales
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard,
Foxcatcher
Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White,
Guardians of the Galaxy
Will Win: Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Could Win: Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard,
Foxcatcher
Should Win: Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Personal Favorite: Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
BEST MUSIC, ORIGINAL SCORE
Alexandre Desplat,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alexandre Desplat,
The Imitation Game
Hans Zimmer,
Interstellar
Gary Yershon,
Mr. Turner
Jóhann Jóhannsson,
The Theory of Everything
Will Win: Jóhann Jóhannsson,
The Theory of Everything
Could Win: Alexandre Desplat,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Should Win: Jóhann Jóhannsson,
The Theory of Everything
Personal Favorite: Jóhann Jóhannsson,
The Theory of Everything
BEST MUSIC, ORIGINAL SONG
"Everything Is Awesome", Music and Lyric by Shawn Patterson,
The Lego Movie
"Glory", Music and Lyric by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn,
Selma
"Grateful", Music and Lyric by Diane Warren,
Beyond the Lights
"I'm Not Gonna Miss You", Music and Lyric by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond,
Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
"Lost Stars", Music and Lyric by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois,
Begin Again
Will Win: "Everything Is Awesome", Music and Lyric by Shawn Patterson,
The Lego Movie
Could Win: "Glory", Music and Lyric by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn,
Selma
Should Win: "Lost Stars", Music and Lyric by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois,
Begin Again
Personal Favorite: "Grateful", Music and Lyric by Diane Warren,
Beyond the Lights
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Adam Stockhausen (Production Design), Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration),
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Maria Djurkovic (Production Design), Tatiana Macdonald (Set Decoration),
The Imitation Game
Nathan Crowley (Production Design), Gary Fettis (Set Decoration),
Interstellar
Dennis Gassner (Production Design), Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration),
Into the Woods
Suzie Davduction (Production Design), Charlotte Watts (Set Decoration),
Mr. Turner
Will Win: Adam Stockhausen (Production Design), Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration),
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Could Win: Nathan Crowley (Production Design), Gary Fettis (Set Decoration),
Interstellar
Should Win: Adam Stockhausen (Production Design), Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration),
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Personal Favorite: Dennis Gassner (Production Design), Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration),
Into the Woods
BEST SHORT FILM - ANIMATED
The Dam Keeper
Feast
Me and My Moulton
A Single Life
The Bigger Picture
Will Win: Feast
Could Win: A Single Life
Should Win: The Bigger Picture
Personal Favorite: Me and My Moulton
BEST SHORT FILM - LIVE ACTION
Aya
Boogaloo and Graham
Butter Lamp (La Lampe au Beurre de Yak)
Parvaneh
The Phone Call
Will Win: The Phone Call
Could Win: Boogaloo and Graham
Should Win: The Phone Call
Personal Favorite: The Phone Call
BEST SOUND EDITING
Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman,
American Sniper
Martín Hernández and Aaron Glascock,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Brent Burge and Jason Canovas,
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Richard King,
Interstellar
Becky Sullivan and Andrew DeCristofaro,
Unbroken
Will Win: Martín Hernández and Aaron Glascock,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Could Win: Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman,
American Sniper
Should Win: Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman,
American Sniper
Personal Favorite: Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman,
American Sniper
BEST SOUND MIXING
John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff and Walt Martin,
American Sniper
Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and Thomas Varga,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Gary A. Rizzo, Gregg Landaker and Mark Weingarten,
Interstellar
Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and David Lee,
Unbroken
Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley,
Whiplash
Will Win: Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley,
Whiplash
Could Win: Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and Thomas Varga,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Should Win: Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and Thomas Varga,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Personal Favorite: Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and Thomas Varga,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Bryan Grill and Dan Sudick,
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett and Erik Winquist,
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Stephane Ceretti, Nicolas Aithadi, Jonathan Fawkner and Paul Corbould,
Guardians of the Galaxy
Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher,
Interstellar
Richard Stammers, Lou Pecora, Tim Crosbie and Cameron Waldbauer,
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Will Win: Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher,
Interstellar
Could Win: Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett and Erik Winquist,
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Should Win: Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett and Erik Winquist,
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Personal Favorite: Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett and Erik Winquist,
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
BEST WRITING, ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Jason Hall,
American Sniper
Graham Moore,
The Imitation Game
Paul Thomas Anderson,
Inherent Vice
Anthony McCarten,
The Theory of Everything
Damien Chazelle,
Whiplash
Will Win: Graham Moore,
The Imitation Game
Could Win: Jason Hall,
American Sniper
Should Win: Damien Chazelle,
Whiplash
Personal Favorite: Damien Chazelle,
Whiplash
BEST WRITING, ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Armando Bo,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Richard Linklater,
Boyhood
E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman,
Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson and Hugo Guinness,
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Dan Gilroy,
Nightcrawler
Will Win: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Armando Bo,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Could Win: Dan Gilroy,
Nightcrawler
Should Win: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Armando Bo,
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Personal Favorite: Dan Gilroy,
Nightcrawler
