Tonight the 87th Academy Awards will take place, and the “best” in film will be recognized and celebrated. I took some time to go through the nominations (as long as I saw most, if not at least one of the nominated films), and predict the winners. Along with the predicted winners, I also selected who should win, as we know often these are two very different things.
With that said, here are my predictions for the 2015 Oscars:
Best Picture:
I thought Boyhood had this locked up months ago, but Birdman has made quite a serious push with all the other guilds and awards these last few months. I still think Boyhood will pull it off, as Birdman seems to be a lot more polarizing. I’m guessing the Academy will lean towards Boyhood, which is perfectly alright with me. It’s been my favorite film of 2014 since I saw it at SXSW, and I’ve been with it ever since.
Who will win: Boyhood
Who should win: Boyhood
Best Director:
This one is tough, as there are heavy cases for both Boyhood director Richard Linklater as well as Birdman’s Alejandro González Iñárritu. While some consider Boyhood’s 12-year-plan a gimmick, the way Linklater was able to smoothly transition from each year is certainly worthy of note. Then you have Birdman, and the incredible “one tracking shot” that Iñárritu and his team (cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki) have conceived. There’s often a split between best picture and director (as odd as that always is) so I’m going to guess that Iñárritu takes home this prize, while losing out to best picture to Boyhood.
Who will win: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Who should win: Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman) + Richard Linklater (Boyhood)
Best Actor:
Another tough call, as both Birdman’s Michael Keaton and The Theory Of Everything’s Eddie Redmayne delivered the type of performances that Oscar voters eat up. Keaton’s was a major comeback in a movie practically celebrating actors. Then you got the transformative performance from Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking. While there seemed like a time that Keaton was starting to take the lead with this, I still think that Oscar voters will be completely swept up by Redmayne’s transformation and go with him.
Who will win: Eddie Redmayne (The Theory Of Everything)
Who should win: Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) – that snub is bs
Best Actress:
It’s Julianne Moore’s prize to lose. It seems like she’s been the favorite for some time now for her harrowing performance in Still Alice. While her performance is great, the movie itself was just pretty good for me. I wouldn’t be upset with Moore winning, but I honestly wouldn’t mind an upset for either Gone Girl’s Rosamund Pike or Two Days, One Night’s Marion Cotillard walking away with it. Hell, I was surprised Cotillard even got a nomination, so maybe there are enough supporters out there to pull it off.
Who will win: Julianne Moore
Who should win: Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) or Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night)
Best Supporting Actor:
J.K. Simmons has this bad boy locked up for Whiplash, and rightfully so. There’s not much more to say here. If the Academy rushes him off stage during his speech, I really hope Simmons goes into character just for a moment. NOT MY TEMPO
Who will win: J.K. Simmons
Who should win: J.K. Simmons
Best Supporting Actress:
Similarly, Boyhood’s Patricia Arquette has had this locked since the beginning, with no competition emerging at all. She’s just as safe a bet as Simmons. I’m still bummed about Rene Russo’s snub in this category (basically the story of Nightcrawler at the Oscars), as well as Jessica Chastain for A Most Violent Year.
Who will win: Patricia Arquette
Who should win: Patricia Arquette
Best Original Screenplay:
I think this will go to Wes Anderson for The Grand Budapest Hotel, as it will most likely not take home any of the other major prizes. Birdman is also a possibility (and never count out Boyhood), but I think that they will give this award to Wes as sort of a consolation prize.
Who will win: Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
Who should win: Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel), Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler)
Best Adapted Screenplay:
It seems like The Imitation Game is the safe bet here, it’s a real Oscar friendly picture, and I just don’t see any of the other nominated films can make a real push. It’s cool to see Inherent Vice and Whiplash nominated, with the latter being my pick, but I think this will be going to Graham Moore for The Imitation Game.
Who will win: Graham Moore (The Imitation Game)
Who should win: Damien Chazelle (Whiplash)
Best Cinematography:
Birdman. Enough said.
Best Animated Film:
Well I’m still bitter about The Lego Movie being snubbed (one of the worst snubs in recent memory), but I also really loved both How To Train Your Dragon 2 and Big Hero 6, with the latter really being a pleasant surprise. I think How To Train Your Dragon 2 with fly away with this one, but we all know who the real winner is.
Who will win: How To Train Your Dragon 2
Who should win: The Lego Movie
Best Foreign Language Film:
I didn’t get a chance to see all of these, but if I had to guess, my bet is on Ida. Leviathan seems to be the 2nd favorite, but Ida seems to be the favorite here.
Who will win: Ida
Best Documentary:
It’s Citizenfour’s to lose. And rightfully so. Laura Poitras’ journey with Edward Snowden was a bone chilling documentary that played off as a real life documentary. It was easily the most talked about doc of the year, for whatever it’s worth.
Who will win: Citizenfour
Best Song:
Selma missed out on a lot of major categories, so I think this one will go to it simply because of that. It’s fitting that The Lego Movie would get snubbed of another category. Let’s be real, The Academy wouldn’t want to hear “Everything Is Awesome” blaring from the speakers reminding them of their epic screw-up.
Who will win: “Glory” – Selma
Who should win: “Everything Is Awesome” – The Lego Movie
Best Original Score:
I have a feeling it’s going to The Imitation Game’s Alexandre Desplat, but he could also win for The Grand Budapest. My money is on the former, but it should really go to Hans Zimmer. His score for Interstellar was a triumph. It hit all the emotional strings, never losing its power. Hope you were able to catch it blasting at an Imax theater, if not, you really missed out.
Best Film Editing:
Boyhood. Editing over 12 years to seamless effect is quite a feat, and it will be recognized. Too bad for Whiplash, as any other year that really may have won.
Who will win: Sandra Adair (Boyhood)
Who should win: Sandra Adair (Boyhood) or Tom Cross (Whiplash)
Best Costume Design:
I’m going with The Grand Budapest Hotel here.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling:
The Grand Budapest Hotel here, as well. Though it would be cool to see Guardians of The Galaxy take home an Oscar.
Best Production Design:
Once again going with The Grand Budapest Hotel. Though Interstellar really shouldn’t be ignored either.
Best Animated Short Film:
The only one I saw was Feast, but it was enough for me to feel confident that it will take this one.
Best Sound Editing:
Could go to American Sniper or Birdman, but don’t forget Interstellar here. I’m going to predict American Sniper tkes this home.
Best Sound Mixing:
This one may go to American Sniper as well, but Whiplash should be awarded with it.
Best Visual Effects:
Interstellar. But any of these films are worthy. Guardians of The Galaxy could upset.
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