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
