My Oscar Predictions 2015

It's finally here!!! It's Oscar time!!! Yes I love the Oscars. Yes I'm a dork. I know this and I'm o.k. with it. But you should already know that from my last post about my reaction to this year's Oscar nominations. Anyway, every year I make my predictions at oscar.go.com. Last year was the best I've ever done (20 right out of 24!). So will I do the same or better this year? Who can say? I'm hoping last year was no fluke and this year I do even better! A girl can dream can't she? Now on to my predictions!

Best Picture

And the nominees are:

American Sniper

Birdman or (the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Boyhood

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

Selma

The Theory of Everything

Whiplash

My pick: Boyhood. This is the big one. What was the best film of 2014 (at least according to the old white guys who make up the academy?)? It really seems like it could go to Boyhood or Birdman. Both have won lots of awards this season. But I just think that the fact that Boyhood took 12 years to make gives it the edge over Birdman. The academy LOVES crap like that! Now I have only seen one of the movies nominated for best picture this year (The Grand Budapest Hotel) so I can't really say what SHOULD win. But I wouldn't be upset if Selma or The Grand Budapest Hotel won this category. I mean they won't, but it would make me happy!

Actor in a Leading Role

And the nominees are:

Steve Carell (Foxcatcher)

Bradley Cooper (American Sniper)

Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game)

Michael Keaton (Birdman)

Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)

My pick: Michael Keaton. This is such a close category! Both Keaton and Redmayne have won a ton of awards for their respective performances. And Redmayne has lots of things going for him that the academy loves. He is playing a famous person (Stephen Hawking). But not just any famous person, a famous person with a disability! And the academy loves that! But Redmayne is a newcomer. While Keaton is a veteran actor who has never won an academy award (in fact he has never even been nominated!). And the academy loves a comeback! So this could really go either way, but I'm picking Keaton. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if Redmayne takes home the gold. And quick side note, I'm a HUGE Cumberbatch fan, so if he won I'd do a happy dance!

Actor in a Supporting Role

And the nominees are:

Robert Duvall (The Judge)

Ethan Hawke (Boyhood)

Edward Norton (Birdman)

Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher)

J.K. Simmons (Whiplash)

My pick: J.K. Simmons. Unlike the best actor category, this one is pretty much a sure thing. Yeah Simmons will take home the gold, no question. But like I said in my last post, I have loved Ruffalo since I was little, so a win for him would probably make me cry!

Actress in a Leading Role

And the nominees are:

Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night)

Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything)

Julianne Moore (Still Alice)

Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl)

Reese Witherspoon (Wild)

My pick: Julianne Moore. This is finally Moore's year! She is such an amazing actress and it's inconceivable that she hasn't won an Oscar yet! The only wildcard here is Witherspoon. I wouldn't be totally shocked if she won, but my money is still on Moore.

Actress in a Supporting Role

And the nominees are:

Patricia Arquette (Boyhood)

Laura Dern (Wild)

Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game)

Emma Stone (Birdman)

Meryl Streep (Into the Woods)

My pick: Patricia Arquette. This is another category that is really a sure thing. Arquette will win. No contest. But I do love Stone, so hope this is only the first of many nominations for her!

Animated Feature Film

And the nominees are:

Big Hero 6

The Boxtrolls

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Song of the Sea

The Tale of Princess Kaguya

My pick: How to Train Your Dragon 2. This one is tough. It's pretty much a tossup. I could see the award going to Big Hero 6 or How to Train Your Dragon 2. Big Hero 6 was a great film, and surprisingly emotional. And it is a Disney film, so it has weight behind it. But I think How to Train Your Dragon 2 has a slight edge, so that's my pick. Although I wouldn't be surprised in the least if Big Hero 6 takes this one. And again, why no Lego Movie?!!!! WHY?!!!!!!!!!

Cinematography

And the nominees are:

Birdman

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Ida

Mr. Turner

Unbroken

My pick: Birdman. This one I'm pretty sure about. Birdman is filmed almost entirely in single-shot. So it is a no brainer.

Costume Design

And the nominees are:

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Inherent Vice

Into the Woods

Maleficent

Mr. Turner

My pick: The Grand Budapest Hotel. This is a really tough one. Into the Woods had great costumes and so did Maleficent. But I think Budapest will take this one (fingers crossed!).

Directing

And the nominees are:

Birdman

Boyhood

Foxcatcher

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

My pick: Alejandro Inarritu for Birdman. I think this will be like last year (and the year before that) where the best picture and best director awards went to different films. But I could see Boyhood getting the win here. It really could go either way. Although if Anderson wins, I'll lose my mind!

Documentary Feature

And the nominees are:

CitizenFour

Finding Vivian Maier

Last Days in Vietnam

The Salt of the Earth

Virunga

My pick: CitizenFour. The award will most likely go to the film about Edward Snowden. This one is a sure thing.

Documentary Short Subject

And the nominees are:

Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1

Joanna

Our Curse

The Reaper (La Parka)

White Earth

My pick: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1. This one is tough. But I think the film that shines a light on veteran suicide is the one to beat.

Film Editing

And the nominees are:

American Sniper

Boyhood

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

Whiplash

My pick: Boyhood. Like I said Boyhood took over 12 years to make. So I think it will win again in this category.

Foreign Language Film

And the nominees are:

Ida

Leviathan

Tangerines

Timbuktu

Wild Tales

My pick: Ida. This film is shot in black and white and is about post-Holocaust survival. And it was nominated for more than one Oscar. So yeah pretty sure about this one.

Makeup and Hairstyling

And the nominees are:

Foxcatcher

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Guardians of the Galaxy

My pick: The Grand Budapest Hotel. This category is always so weird. I'm betting on Grand Budapest (which made Tilda Swinton look ANCIENT!). Even though it might go to Foxcatcher (even though the only great makeup in this film was Steve Carell's nose). Guardians SHOULD win for painting people green and grey but I don't have much hope for that.

Original Score

And the nominees are:

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

Interstellar

Mr. Turner

The Theory of Everything

My pick: The Grand Budapest Hotel. This one is really tough. I could see the Theory of Everything winning. But I just can't believe that Alexandre Desplat hasn't won an Oscar yet! And this year he is up for both Budapest and Imitation. So please let him win for one of those academy! Side note: if Interstellar wins (even though I LOVE Hans Zimmer) I will throw something!

Original Song

And the nominees are:

Everything is Awesome! (The Lego Movie)

Glory (Selma)

Grateful (Beyond the Lights)

I'm Not Gonna Miss You (Glen Campbell...I'll Be Me)

Lost Stars (Begin Again)

My pick: Everything is Awesome! This song is great and since it is the ONLY nomination The Lego Movie received it SHOULD win! However I know Glory from Selma will probably take it. But I'm going to hold out hope for Awesome!

Production Design

And the nominees are:

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

Interstellar

Into the Woods

Mr. Turner

My pick: The Grand Budapest Hotel. It was just such a great film! And the design was spectacular! Please don't give this to Interstellar! You hear me academy?!

Animated Short Film

And the nominees are:

The Bigger Picture

The Dam Keeper

Feast

Me and My Moulton

A Single Life

My pick: Feast. This one is the obvious choice. It's a Disney short, and it is about an adorable dog! Come on! But I could see The Dam Keeper winning here. And I wouldn't be upset if A Single Life won!

Live Action Short Film
And the nominees are:
Aya
Boogaloo and Graham
Butter Lamp (La Lampa au Beurre de Yak)
Parvaneh
The Phone Call
My pick: The Phone Call. It has a great (and recognizable) actress in the lead role. But I would like this to go to Boogaloo and Graham, which is about 2 adorable boys and their chickens!

Sound Editing
And the nominees are:
American Sniper
Birdman
The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies
Interstellar
Unbroken
My pick: American Sniper. Everyone is predicting Sniper to win this one. So I'll go with it. But if the Hobbit wins, I'll be over the moon!

Sound Mixing
And the nominees are:
American Sniper
Birdman
Interstellar
Unbroken
Whiplash
My pick: American Sniper. Same as sound editing.

Visual Effects
And the nominees are:
Captain America 2: the Winter Soldier
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Guardians of the Galaxy
Interstellar
X-Men: Days of Future Past
My pick: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. But let's be real here, Interstellar will probably win, because it's set in SPACE. I wish Guardians or X-Men would win though.

Adapted Screenplay
And the nominees are:
American Sniper
The Imitation Game
Inherent Vice
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash
My pick: Whiplash. Man this one is hard! I just don't know! It could go to Imitation Game or Theory of Everything. But I think this will be the one Oscar Whiplash will win.

Original Screenplay
And the nominees are:
Birdman
Boyhood
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Nightcrawler
My pick: The Grand Budapest Hotel. This one is really hard too! But I have to go with Wes Anderson for Budapest. He has yet to win an Oscar for any of his films (so wrong!). And he would have won for Moonrise Kingdom a few years ago if it weren't for Django Unchained! Please give him this award! PLEASE!!!!!

Well there you have it! My picks for the 2015 Academy Awards! Now I probably won't be right about everything (but in a perfect world I would!). So excited!!! Man I LOVE the Oscars!!!!!

My Thoughts on the 2015 Academy Award Nominations (a.k.a Why Everything Isn't Awesome)

So yesterday the Academy Award nominations were announced. In case you didn't know this about me, I LOVE the Oscars! I watch them every year, it is essentially my superbowl. Anyway as I was saying the nominations were announced yesterday. As usual there were cries of snubs and racism. But what are the Oscars without a dash of controversy and a smidgen of racism? We wouldn't have anything to talk/complain about if the Academy was made up of more than just old white men (who all apparently grew up without playing with toy building bricks!!!). But I digress.

Now I should stop here and clarify that I haven't seen the majority of films nominated. In my defense, most of these films aren't even on DVD yet. So I think I should get a pass. Anyway, I can't really say a certain actor/actress or film shouldn't have been nominated, but I can tell you my general impressions about the nominations.

First things first, NO LEGO MOVIE?! WHY?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes the biggest (some might say the only real) snub of the 2015 Oscars: The Lego Movie didn't get a nomination for best animated film (although the song "Everything is Awesome" did get nominated for best song, so that's something I guess). I cannot express how upset I am by this. The Lego Movie was one of the best animated films in recent memory (especially surprising since it didn't have Pixar or Disney's names attached to it). And the fact that it didn't even get a nomination? Most people (including myself) thought it was a lock to WIN for this category. It is just so messed up. Especially considering last year the film The Croods got nominated in this category. And that film was pretty horrible! I just cannot imagine what the Academy was thinking. Are they robots? Because that is the only logical explanation. The Academy must be comprised of robots or some other creatures that never had a childhood. Because everyone, at some point as a child, PLAYED WITH FREAKIN' LEGOs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! O.k. moving on (side note: I am happy that Big Hero 6 got nominated, it was a really cute film!).

The other big controversy regarding the nominations was the lack of diversity. All white actors and actresses nominated this year. I was surprised by the fact that David Oyelowo was not nominated for best actor for his portrayal as MLK JR. I have heard nothing but great things about his performance and was hoping he would get a nomination. But I'm not that surprised, the Academy has never been accused of being diverse. I mean only 1 woman has ever won in the best director category (and only 4 have ever even been nominated). And only one black actress has EVER won in the lead actress category. So yeah, diverse the Academy is not.

Anyway moving on to some of my other impressions about the nominations. I was disappointed that Ralph Fiennes didn't get nominated for lead actor for The Grand Budapest Hotel. He was incredible in that film! For once I didn't find him creepy, and that's saying something. But I wasn't all that surprised because the lead actor category was stacked this year. I am very happy that Benedict Cumberbatch received his first Oscar nomination (for lead actor in The Imitation Game). He is one of the best actors working today so bravo! I'm also really happy that Mark Ruffalo got his second Oscar nomination (for supporting actor in Foxcatcher). I have been in love with Ruffalo since I was about 10 years old, so yeah really happy about this. I am also very excited that Emma Stone got her first Oscar nomination (for supporting actress in Birdman). I think she is one of the best (and funniest) young actresses working right now, so yay for her!!!

Another thing that made me really happy was Wes Anderson's 1st nomination for best director for The Grand Budapest Hotel. Wes Anderson is one of my all time favorite directors, I LOVE his films! And The Grand Budapest Hotel is one of the only nominated films I've seen so I am allowed to have an opinion on this! Also The Grand Budapest Hotel got 9 nominations total including best picture!! So happy for this film, it was so unique and surprising that it deserves all this love and more! Wes Anderson is also nominated for best original screenplay for this film and I so hope that he takes home the bald gold statue for it!!!

Other thoughts on the nominations: Guardians of the Galaxy is up for best make-up! Deservedly so, considering someone had to paint Zoe Saldana's entire body green every day! Another thing that made me happy, 2 of my favorite composers are up for best score (Alexandre Desplat and Hans Zimmer)! Desplat is actually nominated twice in this category for The Imitation Game and The Grand Budapest Hotel! Yay, go Desplat!!  I also am very glad that at least the song from The Lego Movie (Everything is Awesome) got a nomination. It doesn't erase my anger about the animated feature snub, but it does make me smile to think that that song will be performed at the Oscars this year! I was slightly upset that Lorde wasn't nominated for her song in the film Mockingjay Part 1 (Yellow Flicker Beat is the song title). I really like that song. Oh well. I also wish the last Hobbit film had gotten more nominations (it only got one for sound editing). I also think the song from the last Hobbit film deserved a nomination. But what are you gonna do, am I right?

Anyway, those are my thoughts about the nominations for the 87th Academy Awards. In case you were wondering what other films were nominated, the full list of nominees is below. And don't forget the Oscars air February 22nd this year!

Best Picture
“American Sniper”
“Birdman”
“Boyhood”
“The Grand Budapest Hotel”
“The Imitation Game”
“Selma”
“The Theory of Everything”
“Whiplash”

Best Actor
Steve Carell, “Foxcatcher”
Bradley Cooper, “American Sniper”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Imitation Game”
Michael Keaton, “Birdman”
Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”

Best Actress
Marion Cotillard, “Two Days, One Night”
Felicity Jones, “The Theory of Everything”
Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”
Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”
Reese Witherspoon, “Wild”

Best Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall, “The Judge”
Ethan Hawke, “Boyhood”
Edward Norton, “Birdman”
Mark Ruffalo, “Foxcatcher”
J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”

Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”
Laura Dern, “Wild”
Keira Knightley, “The Imitation Game”
Emma Stone, “Birdman”
Meryl Streep, “Into the Woods”

Best Director
Alejandro González Iñárritu, “Birdman”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”
Bennett Miller, “Foxcatcher”
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Morten Tyldum, “The Imitation Game”

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”

Best Adapted Screenplay
“American Sniper,” by Jason Hall
“The Imitation Game,” by Graham Moore
“Inherent Vice,” by Paul Thomas Anderson
“The Theory of Everything,” by Anthony McCarten
“Whiplash,” by Damien Chazelle

Best Original Screenplay
“Birdman,” by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. & Armando Bo
“Boyhood,” by Richard Linklater
“Foxcatcher,” by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness
“Nightcrawler,” by Dan Gilroy

Best Cinematography
“Birdman,” Emmanuel Lubezki
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Robert Yeoman
“Ida,” Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski
“Mr. Turner,” Dick Pope
“Unbroken,” Roger Deakins

Best Visual Effects
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”
“Guardians of the Galaxy”
“Interstellar”
“X-Men: Days of Future Past”

Best Documentary Feature
“Citizenfour”
“Finding Vivian Maier”
“Last Days in Vietnam”
“The Salt of the Earth”
“Virunga”

Best Documentary Short Subject
“Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1″
“Joanna”
“Our Curse”
“The Reaper (La Parka)”
“White Earth”

Best Film Editing

“American Sniper,” Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach
“Boyhood,” Sandra Adair
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Barney Pilling
“The Imitation Game,” William Goldenberg
“Whiplash,” Tom Cross

Best Original Song
“Everything Is Awesome,” from “The Lego Movie,” by Shawn Patterson
“Glory,” from “Selma, by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn”
“Grateful,” from “Beyond the Lights,” by Diane Warren
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” from “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me,” by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond
“Lost Stars,” from “Begin Again,” by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois

Best Production Design
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Adam Stockhausen and Anna Pinnock
“The Imitation Game,” Maria Djurkovic and Tatiana Macdonald
“Interstellar,” Nathan Crowley and Gary Fettis
“Into the Woods,” Dennis Gassner and Anna Pinnock
“Mr. Turner,” Suzie Davies and Charlotte Watts

Best Live Action Short Film
“Aya”
“Boogaloo and Graham”
“Butter Lamp (La Lampe au Beurre de Yak)”
“Parvaneh”
“The Phone Call”

Best Animated Short Film
“The Bigger Picture”
“The Dam Keeper”
“Feast”
“Me and my Moulton”
“A Single Life”

Best Sound Editing
“American Sniper,” Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
“Birdman,” Martin Hernández and Aaron Glascock
“The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies,” Brent Burge and Jason Canovas
“Interstellar,” Richard King
“Unbroken,” Becky Sullivan and Andrew DeCristofaro

Best Sound Mixing
“American Sniper,” John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff and Walt Martin
“Birdman,” Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and Thomas Varga
“Interstellar,” Gary A. Rizzo, Gregg Landaker and Mark Weingarten
“Unbroken,” Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and David Lee
“Whiplash,” Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley

Best Costume Design
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Milena Canonero
“Inherent Vice,” Mark Bridges
“Into the Woods,” Colleen Atwood
“Maleficent,” Anna B. Sheppard and Jane Clive

“Mr. Turner,” Jacqueline Durran

Best Foreign Language Film
“Ida” (Poland)
“Leviathan” (Russia)
“Tangerines” (Estonia)
“Timbuktu” (Mauritania)
“Wild Tales” (Argentina)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
“Foxcatcher,” Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier
“Guardians of the Galaxy,” Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White

Best Original Score
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Alexandre Desplat
“The Imitation Game,” Alexandre Desplat
“Interstellar,” Hans Zimmer
“Mr. Turner,” Gary Yershon
“The Theory of Everything,” Jóhann Jóhannsson