Final Oscar Predictions 2015

I'm very excited for this year, because there are so many categories in which there are tight races --especially Picture, Director and Actor. Has there been a year with so many nail biters? I don't recall one. With the last few years being a bit predictable, I'm glad to see this year being really competitive.

Best Picture
Take your pick. Toss a coin. Go for the guild winner, or the Globe/BAFTA winner. Which one will come out on top?
Will Win: Birdman
Could Win: Boyhood

Directing
Or will we see yet another split this year?
Will Win: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Birdman
Could Win: Richard Linklater, Boyhood

Actress
Will Win: Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Could Win: Ha! Yeah, right!

Actor
I think Redmayne, SAG winner, will come out on top, but people are making cases for Keaton and even Cooper winning.
Will Win: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Could Win: Michael Keaton, Birdman
Dark Horse: Bradley Cooper, American Sniper

Supporting Actress
Some are suggesting that Stone will upset here. I think that's unlikely.
Will Win: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Could Win: Emma Stone, Birdman

Supporting Actor
One of the easiest categories of the night, or so it seems.
Will Win: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Dark Horse: Edward Norton, Birdman

Original Screenplay
Another tough category, a toss-up between two.
Will Win: Birdman
Could Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Adapted Screenplay
Will Win: The Imitation Game
Could Win: Whiplash

Cinematography
Will Win: Birdman
Could Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Editing
Both are technical achievements, but the 12-year gimmick is hard to deny, even if Whiplash's crisp, precise, surgical editing is also hard to deny.
Will Win: Boyhood
Could Win: Whiplash

Production Design
Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Could Win: Mr. Turner

Costume Design
Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Could Win: Into the Woods

Hair and Makeup
I'm at a loss here. I could any of the three potentially winning... but I'll spring for Budapest, as it seems to be the under-the-line juggernaut this year. Maybe voters will just go: "tick! tick! tick!"
Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Could Win: Foxcatcher

Visual Effects
Will Win: Interstellar
Could Win: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Sound Mixing
Another tough category, but I'm going for the guild winner.
Will Win: Birdman
Could Win: Whiplash or American Sniper

Sound Editing
Will this be where American Sniper gets recognition? It's looking likely.
Will Win: American Sniper
Could Win: Birdman

Original Score
I'm springing for Jóhannson, because I've been a fan of his for a while now, but the wise money is probably on double-nominee Desplat... who may actually split his vote.
Will Win: The Theory of Everything
Could Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Original Song
Everyone is guessing "Glory", but their backups are wildly split. I'm guessing that The LEGO Movie may actually be pretty strong here.
Will Win: "Glory" from Selma
Could Win: "Everything is Awesome" from The LEGO Movie

Documentary Feature
Will Win: CITIZENFOUR
Could Win: Virunga

Foreign Language
Arguments have been made for ANY of the five winning. I'm really not sure.
Will Win: Leviathan
Could Win: Ida

Animated Feature
Without The LEGO Movie, it became wide open, but Dragon has been dominating lately.
Will Win: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Could Win: Big Hero 6

Live Action Short
Always the hardest to predict. Remember, voters must have seen all five in order to vote.
Will Win: Aya
Could Win: Boogaloo and Graham

Documentary Short
Will Win: Joanna
Could Win: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1

Animated Short
I'm hoping that my favourite of the bunch wins.
Will Win: Feast
Could Win: The Bigger Picture

Oscar Nominations Reaction

Mostly as expected this morning, with a few interesting switches here and there. Selma only received two nominations, better than Nightcrawler's one. The LEGO Movie was the only major snub here, in my evaluation, along with Life Itself -- something that Tapley and team called.

Best Picture
Interestingly, Foxcatcher misses here despite being nominated for Directing, Screenplay and two acting categories. Selma made it in after a hard campaign with lots of issues.
1. Boyhood
2. Birdman
3. The Imitation Game
4. The Grand Budapest Hotel
5. The Theory of Everything
6. American Sniper
8. Selma
9. Whiplash
7/8

Best Director
I love me my Bennett Miller, so I'm very happy to see him pop up here, and am also glad that Eastwood is out.
1. Richard Linklater, Boyhood
2. Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman
3. Mortem Tyldum, The Imitation Game
4. Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
10. Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher
4/5

Best Actress
One of only three categories I correctly predicted all nominees.
1. Julianne Moore, Still Alice
2. Reese Witherspoon, Wild
3. Roasmund Pike, Gone Girl
4. Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
5. Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night
5/5

Best Actor
1. Michael Keaton, Birdman
2. Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
3. Benedict Cumberpatch, The Imitation Game
6. Bradley Cooper, American Sniper
7. Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
3/5

Best Supporting Actress
So, Laura Dern made it after all!
1. Particia Arquette, Boyhood
2. Meryl Streep, Into the Woods
3. Emma Stone, Birdman
4. Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
8. Laura Dern, Wild
4/5

Best Supporting Actor
The easiest category to call turned up no surprises today.
1. J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
2. Edward Norton, Birdman
3. Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
4. Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
5. Robert Duvall, The Judge
5/5

Best Original Screenplay
Wow, this is Nightcrawler's only nomination!
1. Boyhood
2. Birdman
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel
4. Nightcrawler
6. Foxcatcher
4/5

Best Adapted Screenplay
1. The Imitation Game
3. The Theory of Everything
4. American Sniper
5. Whiplash
7. Inherent Vice
4/5

Best Cinematography
1. Birdman
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel
3. Mr. Turner
5. Unbroken
9. Ida
4/5

Best Film Editing
1. Boyhood
2. The Imitation Game
4. Whiplash
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel
8. American Sniper
4/5

Best Production Design
1. The Grand Budapest Hotel
2. Into the Woods
3. Interstellar
4. The Imitation Game
6. Mr. Turner
4/5

Best Costume Design
1. Into the Woods
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel
4. Mr. Turner
5. Maleficent
-. Inherent Vice
4/5

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
1. Guardians of the Galaxy
2. Foxcatcher
4. The Grand Budapest Hotel
2/3

Best Original Score
1. The Theory of Everything
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel
3. The Imitation Game
4. Interstellar
-. Mr. Turner

Best Original Song
1. "Glory", Selma
2. "Everything is Awesome", The LEGO Movie
3. "Lost Stars", Begin Again
8. "I'm Not Gonna Miss You", Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
-. "Grateful", Beyond the Lights
3/5

Best Sound Mixing
1. American Sniper
2. Birdman
4. Whiplash
6. Unbroken
7. Interstellar
3/5

Best Sound Editing
1. Interstellar
3. American Sniper
5. Unbroken
6. Birdman
7. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
3/5

Best Visual Effects
1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
2. Interstellar
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
5. X-Men: Days of Future Past
9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
4/5

Best Animated Feature Film
The biggest surprise here is the lack of The LEGO Movie.
2. How to Train Your Dragon 2
3. The Boxtrolls
4. Big Hero 6
6. The Tale of Princess Kaguya
7. Song of the Sea
3/5

Best Documentary Feature
1. CITIZENFOUR
3. Last Days in Vietnam
4. Virunga
7. Finding Vivian Maier
8. The Salt of the Earth
3/5

Best Foreign Language Film
1. Leviathan (Russia)
2. Ida (Poland)
3. Timbuktu (Mauritania)
4. Wild Tales (Argentina)
5. Tangerines (Estonia)
5/5

Oscar Nomination Predictions

Best Picture
1. Boyhood
2. Birdman
3. The Imitation Game
4. The Grand Budapest Hotel
5. The Theory of Everything
6. American Sniper
7. Nightcrawler
8. Selma
9. Whiplash
10. Foxcatcher
11. Gone Girl
12. Wild
13. Unbroken

Best Director
1. Richard Linklater, Boyhood
2. Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman
3. Mortem Tyldum, The Imitation Game
4. Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
5. Clint Eastwood, American Sniper
6. Damien Chazelle, Whiplash
7. James Marsh, The Theory of Everything
8. Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler
9. Ava DuVernay, Selma
10. Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher

Best Actress
I'm springing for Marion Cotillard here above Jennifer Aniston and even Amy Adams, which is probably a foolish move. A rather thin category this year.
1. Julianne Moore, Still Alice
2. Reese Witherspoon, Wild
3. Roasmund Pike, Gone Girl
4. Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
5. Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night
6. Jennifer Aniston, Cake
7. Amy Adams, Big Eyes
8. Hilary Swank, The Homesman

Best Actor
Possibly the tightest race in the whole game, expect a snub or two to occur on Thursday morning.
1. Michael Keaton, Birdman
2. Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
3. Benedict Cumberpatch, The Imitation Game
4. Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
5. David Oyelowo, Selma
6. Bradley Cooper, American Sniper
7. Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
8. Timothy Spall, Mr. Turner
9. Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel
10. Ben Affleck, Gone Girl

Best Supporting Actress
1. Particia Arquette, Boyhood
2. Meryl Streep, Into the Woods
3. Emma Stone, Birdman
4. Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
5. Rene Russo, Nightcrawler
6. Naomi Watts, St. Vincent
7. Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year
8. Laura Dern, Wild
9. Tilda Swinton, Snowpiercer
10. Kristen Stewart, Still Alice

Best Supporting Actor
Another rather thin category this year, isn't it? J.K. Simmons is well on his way to his first nomination, and first win, for Whiplash.
1. J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
2. Edward Norton, Birdman
3. Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
4. Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
5. Robert Duvall, The Judge
6. Christoph Waltz, Big Eyes
7. Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
8. Miyavi, Unbroken
9. Tom Wilkinson, Selma
10. Chris Pine, Into the Woods

Best Original Screenplay
1. Boyhood
2. Birdman
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel
4. Nightcrawler
5. Selma
6. Foxcatcher
7. Mr. Turner
8. A Most Violent Year
9. The LEGO Movie
10. Interstellar

Best Adapted Screenplay
There's been some issues with Whiplash's placement as either Adapted or Original, which is why I've placed it so low. I wouldn't be shocked if Guardians of the Galaxy makes a surprise visit here.
1. The Imitation Game
2. Gone Girl
3. The Theory of Everything
4. American Sniper
5. Whiplash
6. Wild
7. Inherent Vice
8. Unbroken
9. Still Alice
10. Guardians of the Galaxy

Best Cinematography
1. Birdman
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel
3. Mr. Turner
4. The Imitation Game
5. Unbroken
6. Interstellar
7. Selma
8. Nightcrawler
9. Ida
10. The Theory of Everything

Best Film Editing
1. Boyhood
2. The Imitation Game
3. Birdman
4. Whiplash
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel
6. Nightcrawler
7. Gone Girl
8. American Sniper
9. The Theory of Everything
10. Selma

Best Production Design
1. The Grand Budapest Hotel
2. Into the Woods
3. Interstellar
4. The Imitation Game
5. Birdman
6. Mr. Turner
7. Big Eyes
8. The Theory of Everything
9. Inherent Vice
10. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Best Costume Design
1. Into the Woods
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel
3. The Imitation Game
4. Mr. Turner
5. Maleficent
6. The Theory of Everything
7. Big Eyes
8. Belle
9. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
10. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
I'm really not sure of the order of the top 4, although I expect that Guardians is the only lock.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy
2. Foxcatcher
3. The Theory of Everything
4. The Grand Budapest Hotel
5. Maleficent
6. Noah
7. The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Best Original Score
1. The Theory of Everything
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel
3. The Imitation Game
4. Interstellar
5. Gone Girl
6. Unbroken
7. Under the Skin
8. The Judge

Best Original Song
1. "Glory", Selma
2. "Everything is Awesome", The LEGO Movie
3. "Lost Stars", Begin Again
4. "Yellow Flicker Beat", The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
5. "Big Eyes", Big Eyes
6. "Split the Difference", Boyhood
7. "Opportunity", Annie
8. "I'm Not Gonna Miss You", Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
9. "Mercy Is", Noah
10. "Miracles", Unbroken

Best Sound Mixing
1. American Sniper
2. Birdman
3. Into the Woods
4. Whiplash
5. Guardians of the Galaxy
6. Unbroken
7. Interstellar
8. Fury
9. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
10. Transformers: Age of Extinction

Best Sound Editing
1. Interstellar
2. Whiplash
3. American Sniper
4. Guardians of the Galaxy
5. Unbroken
6. Birdman
7. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
8. Fury
9. Godzilla
10. Transformers: Age of Extinction

Best Visual Effects
1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
2. Interstellar
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
4. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
5. X-Men: Days of Future Past
6. Godzilla
7. Maleficent
8. Transformers: Age of Extinction
9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
10. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Best Animated Feature Film
1. The LEGO Movie
2. How to Train Your Dragon 2
3. The Boxtrolls
4. Big Hero 6
5. The Book of Life
6. The Tale of Princess Kaguya
7. Song of the Sea
8. Rio 2
9. Mr. Peabody and Sherman
10. The Penguins of Madagascar

Best Documentary Feature
1. CITIZENFOUR
2. Life Itself
3. Last Days in Vietnam
4. Virunga
5. Jodorowsky's Dune
6. The Overnighters
7. Finding Vivian Maier
8. The Case Against 8
9. The Salt of the Earth
10. Tales of the Grim Sleeper

Best Foreign Language Film
1. Leviathan (Russia)
2. Ida (Poland)
3. Timbuktu (Mauritania)
4. Wild Tales (Argentina)
5. Tangerines (Estonia)
6. Force Majeure (Sweden)
7. Accused (The Netherlands)
8. The Liberator (Venezuela)
9. Corn Island (Georgia)