My Thoughts on the 2016 Academy Award Nominations (A.K.A: Why the Academy Wants to Make Me Cry)

It's that time of year again my friends! Oscar time!! The Academy Award nominations were announced on Thursday, and I've taken a few days to think on things. So here are my thoughts.

Ridley Scott didn't get a Best Director nomination, what the crap?! If you read my last blog post, you'll know that The Marian was one of my favorite films of last year. And Ridley Scott deserves a lot of credit for what he did with that movie. I just can't believe Lenny Abrahamson got nominated over Ridley Scott. I've heard next to no award buzz for The Room, in fact I didn't even realize it had already come out! I'm just really annoyed by this!

But I am really happy that Matt Damon got a Best Actor nomination for The Martian!! I still can't believe that he doesn't have an Oscar yet (I realize he does already have an Oscar, but it's for screenwriting, not acting, so I'm not counting that!)! He is a terrific actor and I know he probably won't win this, but still so happy he got recognized for his performance! If you haven't seen it yet, what is wrong with you?

The Best Actor category is one that's really going to mess with me this year. Most people think that Michael Fassbender is going to win for his performance in Steve Jobs. And that would make me soooo happy! I've loved Fassbender for years! I think he is one of the best working actors today, and he sooo deserves an Oscar! But I've been waiting wayyyy longer for Damon to get an Oscar, so this category has me really torn!! Why Academy?!! Why do you have to mess with my emotions like this?!! Do you want to make me cry with frustration? Do you?!

So glad that Saoirse Ronan (try pronouncing that name correctly John Travolta!) got a Best Actress nomination!! I really love her, and I can't wait to see the film Brooklyn, I've heard great things about it! And Cate Blanchett was nominated yet again. Not complaining, she's one of the best actresses of our generation. But it does seem like she's becoming the new Meryl Streep.  The Academy is like: "oh she was in something this year? Let's nominate her!" But I guess that's not a bad thing.

But you know what is a bad thing? The fact that Jennifer Lawrence got another Best Actress nomination. And for Joy, of all things?! I've haven't heard ANY award buzz for that film (other than the Golden Globes, but they have like zero credibility)! Alicia Vikander deserved to get in this category for Ex Machina (I've heard it's an INCREDIBLE film and a unforgettable performance). Ugh, I'm one of the few people who doesn't think Lawrence even DESERVED to win an Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook. Way to drop the ball Academy!

Yay! Alicia Vikander got a Supporting Actress nomination at least!! And I'm always happy when Kate Winslet gets a nomination! So good job Academy!

Wow, Sylvester Stallone got an Academy Award nomination. Best Supporting Actor, Sylvester Stallone, for playing Rocky. I have no words.

But yay! Mark Ruffalo got another Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor!! If you read my thoughts on last year's nominations, you know how much I love him!

Wow, Inside Out got a nomination for Best Original Screenplay! I did really enjoy the film, but I did not expect that to happen! Although the Academy does enjoy nominating Pixar films in this category: Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Wall-E, and Up all managed to get nominations. Was Inside Out as good as those films? Not in my personal opinion, but whatever. It does seem like the Academy nominates Pixar films in this category as kind of an apology for not nominating them for Best Picture. In fact the Academy has only nominated 2 Pixar films for the Best Picture category: Up and Toy Story 3. Neither won by the way. And no, Inside Out didn't get a Best Picture nomination, I don't think it deserved one. But I know a lot of people were upset by this.

Also interesting to see Straight Out of Compton get a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. I didn't think the Academy would recognize this film at all. Good for it though! Also surprising was Ex Machina getting a nomination in this category. Yay! Many people were hoping for it to get a Best Picture nomination, but oh well.

Also kind of surprising that Tarantino didn't get a nomination for The Hateful 8 screenplay. It seems like every time he makes a film, he at the very least gets nominated in this category.

John Williams got another Best Score nomination for Star Wars: the Force Awakens! That brings his total Oscar nominations to 50. The only person with more Oscar nominations is Walt Disney, he got 59. You can totally tie him John Williams! I believe in you!! I just love him, but who doesn't?!

What?! Fifty Shades of Grey got a nomination for Best Song?!!! Are you kidding me?!! It got a nomination, but the beautiful and poignant song "See You Again" from Furious 7 didn't?!! What are you smoking Academy?!!! I can't even talk about this anymore I'm so upset!!

Best Makeup seems like it had slim pickings this year doesn't it? I guess no one got painted green or turned into an orc this year, huh?

Yay!!! Cinderella got a nomination for Best Costume!!! It sooooo deserved it!!! It has to win right? RIGHT?!!! Don't screw with me Academy!!!

Well the Best Animated Feature category seems pretty standard. No GIANT snubs like last year (I'm never going to let the fact that the Lego Movie wasn't even NOMINATED go, like ever!)! Although I was surprised The Peanuts Movie didn't get a nomination. It had really good reviews, but it's not like it had any hope of winning. It's Inside Out's category all the way!!

I do think that Star War: the Force Awakens should have at least gotten a nomination for Best Picture. Especially since there can be 10 films in this category now. I'm not saying it was the best film of the year, but it got great reviews and people really loved it. Plus I know it got better reviews than Bridge of Spies and that got a nomination, so what gives Academy?! I of all people think that a STAR WARS film deserved to get nominated, and that's saying a lot!!

Anyway those are my thoughts on the 2016 Oscar nominations. Don't forget to watch the awards on February 28th!!! Also if you wanted the full nominations list here is a link: http://collider.com/2016-oscar-nominations-announced/.

My Top 5 Movies of 2015

Well 2015 has come and gone. And since everyone else seems to be making a top 10 list of their favorite films of the past year, I figured I'd get in on it too. However you probably noticed from the title that this is a top 5 list not a top 10. And the reason for that is that I only saw about 12 films last year (that were released in 2015 that is). So a top 10 least didn't seem like it would really make that much sense. But a top 5 list? That I can do.

So for starters, this is a list of my favorite films of 2015. I realize these might not necessarily be the best (and best is a very subjective thing anyways) but these are the films I enjoyed the most this past year. Basically what I'm saying is that I know that most of these films aren't going to win a best picture Oscar or anything like that, but they do win a place on my list. Also I've only seen most of these films once, so the order of my list might change later on. Rewatchability can be an important factor to consider. Also I'll try and be as vague as possible, so no spoilers here if you haven't seen these films!

Side note, I know the Oscar nominations came out today but I'm still processing my thoughts on the snubs and surprises, so look for that rant in the next couple of days!

Anyway, on to the list!

5. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

I love the MI movies, they always have great action and amazing stunts (mostly because Tom Cruise is a crazy person, but that makes for some unforgettable stunts!)! And this one was no exception, in the first 10 minutes Cruise is hanging of the back of a plane while it takes off (that's not a spoiler, you see that in the trailer!)! While I did think the last MI movie was slightly better, this one was still fun and I enjoyed it immensely. And there is an underwater scene that is AMAZING!! Plus Simon Pegg had more screen time than the last film and when is that ever a bad thing?

4. Cinderella

For those of you that know me, this should come as no surprise. I'm a HUGE fairy tale geek and a TOTAL Disneyphile. Plus it had Cate Blanchett as the wicked stepmother, I mean COME ON!! Also Sir. Kenneth Branagh directed this, and he did a fantastic job! Lily James was superb as the title character (I've loved her since Downton Abbey so I'm very pleased she's getting big movie roles!). Richard Madden was a terrific prince (I'm totally in love with him now btw). To sum up: it has an incredible cast and it is wonderfully directed. It takes elements from the Disney animated version, the fairy tale, and it manages to show a fresh new take on the classic tale. It's so good I saw it twice in the theater! The music is also amazing (it has a little bit of singing but nowhere near as much as the animated film). Overall a great new version of Cinderella that both kids and adults can enjoy!

3. The Martian

This is where it starts getting really tough, this film and the number 2 film were neck and neck for me. But for the moment my number 3 film is Ridley Scott's amazing film: The Martian. Let me start out by saying that I have read the book (and LOVED it btw) so I went in to this film with HIGH expectations. And I was not disappointed. While I would say the book is better (surprise, surprise) it is only slightly better. Matt Damon was the PERFECT choice to play the lead character, a astronaut stranded on Mars. The film was directed beautifully and all the supporting actors were amazing! And there is a scene that was funny in the book but was 10 times funnier in the film! I laughed so hard my sides hurt! That's really what people need to remember when watching this film, it has dramatic subject matter (man vs. nature) but it is really funny! I know Damon probably won't win the Oscar for this performance (the Best Actor category is really stacked this year) but that shouldn't detract from what an INCREDIBLE job he did. Especially considering the majority of this film is just him all alone on a desert planet. It's basically Cast Away meets Apollo 13, and why wouldn't you want to see that? To sum up: WATCH THIS MOVIE!!!

2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I know some of you just died of shock: a Star Wars film is ON my list of favorite films of the year?! And not just ON my list, it's NUMBER 2?!! Look I've always been very upfront about my dislike of Star Wars (other than Han Solo and R2-D2 there's not much I like about Star Wars). But I was actually hopeful about this film, J.J. Abrams directed it, and he's one of my favorite working directors right now. It had Andy Serkis and Lupita Nyong'o in it, and they're awesome. So I had my fingers crossed. And honestly I was just hoping it would be better than the Prequels (a low bar I know). But I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie! It introduced great new characters (I totally want to be best friends with Rey and am in love with Finn!), was really funny, and had Harrison Ford in it (and he wasn't phoning in his performance for once!). There were great action sequences, amazing dialogue, and terrific performances. All things that I need to really enjoy a film. So yes, hell has officially frozen over, I like a Star Wars movie! The end of days is probably just around the corner. But who knows? Maybe the next one will suck.

Drum roll please!

1. The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Look I realize that not a lot of people actually saw this film, and that's a real shame, because it's AMAZING!! I just LOVED this movie sooooo much!!!! It has a great director (Guy Ritchie), a great cast (I want to be BFF's with Alicia Vikander after seeing this film!), and the best soundtrack since Guardians of the Galaxy!! The film is full of action, humor, and amazing outfits! It's a spy film set during in the 60's so you know the costumes and music have to be pretty awesome!! I remember watching this film and halfway through thinking "I can't wait to watch this again!" And that to me is why this film is my number 1!!! I saw it twice in the theater and made my family buy it for me for Christmas!! So yeah, I really, really, really liked this movie!!! A side note: it was based on a cheesy 60's television show, and yes I have seen many episodes of that show. This film managed to take the cool elements from the show, disregard the cheesiness, and infuse it with Guy Ritchie's unique style. I just wish this film did well enough to get a sequel. But you never know, stranger things have happened!!

So there you have it, my favorite 5 films of 2015. Some films that I really enjoyed but that didn't make this list were: Age of Ultron (just barely missed the cut, but still really liked this film), Inside Out (a really nice new Pixar movie, just not as good as Up or the Incredibles, if it was it'd be on my list!), and Jurassic World (not a great movie, but a really fun one!). Anyway, that's all for now, stay tuned for my reaction to the Oscar nominations!!

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

My Oscar Predictions 2014

Alright everybody it's time for The Academy Awards! This is my superbowl people! I have watched the Oscars every year (without fail) since 2001. Even when I didn't have a T.V. or cable. I would beg friends and random acquaintances to let me watch the awards on their T.V.'s. Basically the point I am trying to get across is this is a BIG DEAL for me!

Anyway I've made my predictions on oscar.go.com (the way I do every year) and I decided since I have a movie blog I might as well post them here. I will also post a blog after the awards (probably way after) and discuss how many of my picks were right (and how many were wrong). On a side note the best I've ever done at predicting was 18 right out of 24 (the year Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won 11 awards). So keep that in mind (and don't get mad at me if you bet I'd be right in all 24 categories, you shouldn't be gambling anyway).

Well enough chit chat, on to my predictions!

Best Picture

The nominees are:

American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

My pick: 12 Years a Slave. Many people have predicted that Gravity (the space movie with Sandra Bullock) will win this award. To those people I say "are you nuts?" You think a space movie is going to win over a movie about slavery based on a true story? Have you even seen the Oscars before? People are saying that because Gravity made more at the box office it is the clear winner. Yeah, that's why James Cameron's Avatar (which made over 2 billion dollars at the box office and is the highest grossing film of all time at the moment) won the year it was nominated right? Oh it didn't win? The Oscar went to a film about the war in the middle east? You don't say?! Who could have predicted that? The Academy almost never cares about the box office of a particular movie. That's not to say that there is no chance Gravity will win, but the odds are definitely not in its favor.

Actor in a Leading Role

The nominees are:

Christian Bale (American Hustle)
Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

My pick: Matthew McConaughey. This has been a great year for McConaughey. He has had several critically acclaimed performances: Mud, Dallas Buyers Club, and Wolf of Wall Street. He has totally reinvented himself from romantic comedy star to a serious actor. And the Academy loves it when stars reinvent themselves. Especially if it involves weight loss. McConaughey lost over 40 pounds for this role. He plays a man diagnosed with AIDS. All of those factors pretty much makes him a lock for this award. But you never know. The Academy might decide to finally give it to DiCaprio. But I doubt it.

Actor in a Supporting Role

The nominees are:

Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)
Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

My pick: Jared Leto. Leto plays a transgender woman who is HIV-positive. Do I even need to explain this one? But if I had my way Fassbender would win. He is one of the best actors working today and he deserves an Oscar.

Actress in a Leading Role

The nominees:

Amy Adams (American Hustle)
Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
Judi Dench (Philomena)
Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

My pick: Cate Blanchett. Blanchett is in a word sublime. ALWAYS! She is a phenomenal actress and she deserves another Oscar. And quick question: is Blanchett a vampire? Because it doesn't seem like she has aged since 2001. Suspicious.

Actress in a Supporting Role

The nominees:

Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)
Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
June Squibb (Nebraska)

My pick: Lupita Nyong'o. This is probably the closest race of the night with Lawrence and Nyong'o neck and neck. But I have to go with Nyong'o. I just don't think the Academy will give Lawrence an Oscar 2 years in a row. Now it could still be Lawrence (she is very popular right now) but I'm still going with Nyong'o.

Animated Feature Film

The nominees:

The Croods
Despicable Me 2
Ernest & Celestine
Frozen
The Wind Rises

My pick: Frozen. This isn't even a contest. Although I am confused as to how The Croods got nominated over Monster's University. I've seen both and The Croods really shouldn't have been nominated.

Cinematography

The nominees are:

The Grandmaster
Gravity
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
Prisoners

My pick: Gravity. Yeah, it was set in space and I just don't see anything else winning this award.

Costume Design

The nominees:

American Hustle
The Grandmaster
The Great Gatsby
The Invisible Woman
12 Years a Slave

My pick: The Great Gatsby. This is a really tough one. I could see this going to Gatsby, 12 Years, or Hustle. But I'm going with Gatsby because it's a Baz Lurhmann film set in the 20's.

Directing

The nominees:

American Hustle
Gravity
Nebraska
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

My pick: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity. I think this will be a year where the best picture and best director awards go to different films. Like last year. I could see Steve McQueen getting it for 12 Years, because he has been snubbed before. But I don't think so.

Documentary Feature

The nominees:

The Act of Killing
Cutie and the Boxer
Dirty Wars
The Square
20 Feet from Stardom

My pick: 20 Feet from Stardom. The award should probably go to Act of Killing from what I hear but I have a feeling the Academy will award the feel good film about overlooked divas. But I could be wrong.

Documentary Short Subject

The nominees:

CaveDigger
Facing Fear
Karama Has No Walls
The Lady in No. 6: Music Saved My Life
Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall

My pick: The Lady in No. 6. This film is about the oldest living Holocaust survivor (who just passed away at the age of 110). Do I really need to explain why this will win?

Film Editing

The nominees:

American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
12 Years a Slave

My pick: Captain Phillips. I'll be honest, I really don't have lot of faith in this pick. It could easily go to Gravity. But I'm thinking this will be the one and only award Captain Phillips will get.

Foreign Language Film

The nominees:

The Broken Circle Breakdown
The Great Beauty
The Hunt
The Missing Picture
Omar

My pick: The Hunt. Again not too much faith in this pick. Watch it be the one year I don't pick the film that won the Golden Globe (The Great Beauty) and have that film win the Oscar just to spite me.

Makeup and Hairstyling

The nominees:

Dallas Buyers Club
Bad Grandpa
The Lone Ranger

My pick: Dallas Buyers Club. This is the weirdest group ever. I don't have any idea how Lone Ranger even got nominated. But I'm going with the safe bet. Just because I don't think the Oscar will go to Bad Grandpa.

Original Score

The nominees:

The Book Thief
Gravity
Her
Philomena
Saving Mr. Banks

My pick: Gravity. This one is a tough too. I could see this going to Philomena or Saving Mr. Banks. But I pick Gravity because there isn't anything else to hear in space except this score.

Original Song

The nominees:

Happy (Despicable Me 2)
Let it Go (Frozen)
The Moon Song (Her)
Ordinary Love (Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom)

My pick: Let it Go. This song is great and I have the feeling the Academy will give yet another Oscar to a Disney song. But I wouldn't be all that shocked if Happy walked away with the award. That song is everywhere right now.

Production Design

The nominees:

American Hustle
Gravity
The Great Gatsby
Her
12 Years a Slave

My pick: The Great Gatsby. Again I'm going with the Baz Lurhmann film.

Animated Short Film

The nominees:

Feral
Get a Horse!
Mr. Hublot
Possessions
Room on the Broom

My pick: Get a Horse! Can we all just admit that Disney rules the world now?

Live Action Short Film

The nominees:

Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn't Me)
Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just before Losing Everything)
Helium
Pitaako Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)
The Voorman Problem

My pick: Helium. It involves a dying boy and a magical world. It just feels like the safe bet. Of course don't rule out Voorman.

Sound Editing

The nominees:

All is Lost
Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug
Lone Survivor

My pick: Gravity. Safe bet.

Sound Mixing

The nominees:

Inside Llewyn Davis
Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug
Lone Survivor

My pick: Gravity. Same as sound editing.

Visual Effects

The nominees:

Gravity
The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug
Iron Man 3
The Lone Ranger
Star Trek: Into Darkness

My pick: Gravity. Come on, it's SPACE!

Adapted Screenplay

The nominees:

Before Midnight
Captain Phillips
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

My pick: 12 Years a Slave. I think the best picture winner and screenplay will go together. They don't always but I'm betting on this film.

Original Screenplay

The nominees:

American Hustle
Blue Jasmine
Dallas Buyers Club
Her
Nebraska

My pick: American Hustle. This one is also really close to call. But I'm betting that this will be the one and only Oscar this film goes home with. But Her is definitely  a contender.

Well there you have it my picks for the Oscars 2014. I'll probably get only half of them right if history is any indication but oh well. It's always fun.

Update: I got 20 out of 24 right!!! A personal best!! GO ME!!!!