Gurus o’ Gold: The Final Vote – Every Category (1 of 2)
| Rank | Last Chart | Best Picture | Adams | Ellwood | Gray | Hammond | Howell | Karger | Olsen | Poland | Pond | NathanielR | Stone | Thompson | Wloszczyna | Whipp | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
Boyhood |
1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 97 | |
| 2 | 2 |
Birdman |
2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 96 | |
| 3 | 3 |
American Sniper |
3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 69 | |
| 4 | 4 |
The Grand Budapest Hotel |
4 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 67 | |
| 5 | 5 |
The Imitation Game |
5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 56 | |
| 6 | 8 |
Whiplash |
8 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 31 | |
| 7 | 6 |
Selma |
6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 28 | |
| 8 | 7 |
The Theory of Everything |
7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 24 |
| Rank | Last Chart | Best Actor | Adams | Ellwood | Gray | Hammond | Howell | Karger | Olsen | Poland | Pond | NathanielR | Stone | Thompson | Wloszczyna | Whipp | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
Eddie Redmayne The Theory of Everything |
1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 62 | |
| 2 | 2 |
Michael Keaton Birdman |
2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 52 | |
| 3 | 3 |
Bradley Cooper American Sniper |
3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 42 | |
| 4 | 4 |
Benedict Cumberbatch The Imitation Game |
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 26 | |
| 5 | 5 |
Steve Carell Foxcatcher |
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 13 |
| Rank | Last Chart | Best Actress | Adams | Ellwood | Gray | Hammond | Howell | Karger | Olsen | Poland | Pond | NathanielR | Stone | Thompson | Wloszczyna | Whipp | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
Julianne Moore Still Alice |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 65 | |
| 2 | 2 |
Reese Witherspoon Wild |
2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 45 | |
| 3 | 3 |
Felicity Jones The Theory of Everything |
4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 34 | |
| 4 | 4 |
Rosamund Pike Gone Girl |
3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 28 | |
| 5 | 5 |
Marion Cotillard One Day, Two Nights |
5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 23 |
| Rank | Last Chart | Best Supporting Actor | Adams | Ellwood | Gray | Hammond | Howell | Karger | Olsen | Poland | Pond | NathanielR | Stone | Thompson | Wloszczyna | Whipp | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
J. K. Simmons Whiplash |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 65 | |
| 2 | 2 |
Edward Norton Birdman |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 51 | |
| 3 | 3 |
Ethan Hawke Boyhood |
3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 35 | |
| 4 | 4 |
Mark Ruffalo Foxcatcher |
4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 28 | |
| 5 | 5 |
Robert Duvall The Judge |
5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 16 |
| Rank | Last Chart | Best Supporting Actress | Adams | Ellwood | Gray | Hammond | Howell | Karger | Olsen | Poland | Pond | NathanielR | Stone | Thompson | Wloszczyna | Whipp | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
Patricia Arquette Boyhood |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 65 | |
| 2 | 2 |
Emma Stone Birdman |
2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 50 | |
| 3 | 3 |
Keira Knightley The Imitation Game |
3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 36 | |
| 4 | t4 |
Meryl Streep Into The Woods |
5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 23 | |
| 5 | t4 |
Laura Dern Wild |
4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 21 |
| Rank | Last Chart | Best Director | Adams | Ellwood | Gray | Hammond | Howell | Karger | Olsen | Poland | Pond | NathanielR | Stone | Thompson | Wloszczyna | Whipp | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
Alejandro G. Inarritu Birdman |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 62 | |
| 2 | 1 |
Richard Linklater Boyhood |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 55 | |
| 3 | 3 |
Wes Anderson The Grand Budapest Hotel |
3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 39 | |
| 4 | 4 |
Morten Tyldum The Imitation Game |
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 25 | |
| 5 | 5 |
Bennett Miller Foxcatcher |
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 14 |
| Rank | Last Chart | Best Original Screenplay | Adams | Ellwood | Gray | Hammond | Howell | Karger | Olsen | Poland | Pond | NathanielR | Stone | Thompson | Wloszczyna | Whipp | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
The Grand Budapest Hotel |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 62 | |
| 2 | 3 |
Birdman |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 53 | |
| 3 | 2 |
Boyhood |
3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 41 | |
| 4 | 4 |
NIghtcrawler |
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 25 | |
| 5 | 5 |
Foxcatcher |
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 14 |
| Rank | Last Chart | Best Adapted Screenplay | Adams | Ellwood | Gray | Hammond | Howell | Karger | Olsen | Poland | Pond | NathanielR | Stone | Thompson | Wloszczyna | Whipp | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
The Imitation Game |
1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 60 | |
| 2 | 2 |
Whiplash |
2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 52 | |
| 3 | 3 |
Amercan Sniper |
3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 39 | |
| 4 | 4 |
The Theory of Everything |
4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 29 | |
| 5 | 5 |
Inherent Vice |
5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 15 |
| Rank | Last Chart | Best Cinematography | Adams | Ellwood | Gray | Hammond | Howell | Karger | Olsen | Poland | Pond | NathanielR | Stone | Thompson | Wloszczyna | Whipp | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
Birdman |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 65 | |
| 2 | 2 |
The Grand Budapest Hotel |
3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 50 | |
| 3 | 3 |
Unbroken |
2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 32 | |
| 4 | 4 |
Mr Turner |
5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 28 | |
| 5 | 5 |
Ida |
4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 20 |
| Rank | Last Chart | Best Production Design | Adams | Ellwood | Gray | Hammond | Howell | Karger | Olsen | Poland | Pond | NathanielR | Stone | Thompson | Wloszczyna | Whipp | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
The Grand Budapest Hotel |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 65 | |
| 2 | 2 |
Into The Woods |
2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 47 | |
| 3 | 3 |
Mr. Turner |
4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 36 | |
| 4 | 4 |
The Imitation Game |
5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 27 | |
| 5 | 5 |
Interstellar |
3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 20 |
| Rank | Last Chart | Best Costume Design | Adams | Ellwood | Gray | Hammond | Howell | Karger | Olsen | Poland | Pond | NathanielR | Stone | Thompson | Wloszczyna | Whipp | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
The Grand Budapest Hotel |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 65 | |
| 2 | 2 |
Into The Woods |
2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 47 | |
| 3 | t3 |
Maleficent |
3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 36 | |
| 4 | t3 |
Mr. Turner |
4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 28 | |
| 5 | 5 |
Inherent Vice |
5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 19 |
| Rank | Last Chart | Best Editing | Adams | Ellwood | Gray | Hammond | Howell | Karger | Olsen | Poland | Pond | NathanielR | Stone | Thompson | Wloszczyna | Whipp | Votes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
Boyhood |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 59 | |
| 2 | 2 |
Whiplash |
1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 53 | |
| 3 | t3 |
American Sniper |
2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 34 | |
| 4 | t3 |
he Grand Budapest Hotel |
4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 31 | |
| 5 | 5 |
The Imitation Game |
5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 18 |
Pre-Venice/Telluride/Toronto Best Picture Field
Post-Venice/Telluride/Toronto Best Picture Field
After New York…
Just Before Selma & American Sniper
Just After Selma & American Sniper
Gurus o’ Gold: A Week From Thanksgiving, aka Screener Time
Thanksgiving Week
The Rise of Selma
Gurus o’ Gold-n-Globes)
The Top 8 Categories Heading Into The Holiday Break
Academy Members, Please Watch…
Back From The Holidays, Polls Close Thursday
One Last Guess Before Nominations
Nomination Day
A Week After Nominations… Any Changes?
Final Voting Starts This Week
6 Days Of Voting Left
Well, well, well……..look at them finally admitting American Sniper is in this race.
One objection: there will not be a split. Not with PGA, DGA going to only one film.
Sorry. It’s time to let go and say BYE BYE to Boyhood.
Who Will and Should Win?
Picture
American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash
Who Will Win: Birdman
I think that “Boyhood” is too much of an indie to take home the big prize and it is slightly overhyped by the fact that it was shot over twelve years. Between the two, “Birdman” is the worthy winner and likely more suited to the Academy’s taste – after all it is a movie about actors that is original in every aspect of it not just the way it was shot.
Who Should Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson’s crowning achievement and the most entertaining movie of the year that is simply a breakthrough in storytelling and filmmaking that is engaging with the right mix of drama and comedy.
Director
Alejandro G. Inarritu – Birdman
Richard Linklater – Boyhood
Bennett Miller – Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Morten Tyldum – The Imitation Game
Who Will Win: Alejandro G. Inarritu
There is lots of love for Linklater but I think it is more for the daringness of his project. Inarritu did something original and his DGA win pretty much seals his Oscar.
Who Should Win: Alejandro G. Inarritu
Anderson did wonders with “Budapest Hotel” but there is no denying the originality of Inarritu’s directorial style for “Birdman” especially with the film shot as if it is just one single take.
Actor
Steve Carell – Foxcatcher
Bradley Cooper – American Sniper
Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
Michael Keaton – Birdman
Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything
Who Will Win: Eddie Redmayne
A tight race between Redmayne and Keaton but I think the Academy will go with Redmayne who delivered the most challenging and transformative performance of the five as Stephen Hawking in a good yet overrated film. However, there is a chance that Keaton – the frontrunner from the start of the awards season only to have Redmayne’s chances increase with the latter’s SAG win – wins as the Academy loves this kind of a comeback role.
Who Should Win: Eddie Redmayne
One of the strongest year in recent memory for actors and I am still bewildered that the likes of David Oyelowo (“Selma”) and Ralph Fiennes (“ Budapest Hotel”) didn’t make the cut although their performances are better than the five nominees in my opinion. Carell is great but it is is more of a supporting role and Cooper (while delivering a career-best performance that is more worthy of awards consideration than last year’s “American Hustle”) is a last minute addition who should just be happy to be part of the pack. Cumberbatch is great but it is just not his year yet. So it boils down to Keaton and Redmayne. Although I loved “Birdman” yet only liked “Theory”, there is no denying the strength of Redmayne’s emotional and physical transformation to portray Hawking’s genius and humor despite his devastating physical state.
Actress
Marion Cotillard – Two Days, One Night
Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore – Still Alice
Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon – Wild
Who Will Win: Julianne Moore
There has a lot of mention that 2014 was weak year for female lead roles but I must say that the Academy picked a perfect list of strong performances (probably because choice was easy). It would be a big surprise if Moore doesn’t win for her demanding, emotionally draining role as a linguistics professor with early onset Alzheimer. Plus she is one of the best living actresses and her Oscar is way overdue (she was nominated four times before).
Who Should Win: Julianne Moore
A part of me wanted to say Cotillard who was a surprise nominee for her devastatingly real portrayal of an impoverished, depressed mother who asks her co-workers to vote for her to stay on the job instead of getting their bonuses in this little French film. Another film wanted to say Witherspoon in a career-best, whole-rounded, challenging performance as Cheryl Strayed who hiked the Pacific Coast Trail. But I will go with Moore partly because she is one of my all-time favorite actresses and should have gotten her Oscar ages ago. But most importantly, her performance is excellent and possibly the most resonating and moving of the five. It elevates the little movie to a completely different level.
Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall – The Judge
Ethan Hawke – Boyhood
Edward Norton – Birdman
Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons – Whiplash
Who Will Win: J.K. Simmons
A very strong category (with the exception of Ruffalo). Edward Norton is great and delivers the strongest role in “Birdman” in my view. But there is no denying Simmons’ strength in a soon-to-be-classic performance that showcases the thin line between a mentor and a monster. He also virtually won all other awards.
Who Should Win: J.K. Simmons
Please see above – I just loved this performance.
Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette – Birdman
Laura Dern – Wild
Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
Emma Stone – Birdman
Meryl Streep – Into the Woods
Who Will Win: Patricia Arquette
A weak category that makes it easy to single out Arquette who is the heart and soul of “Boyhood” as the loving mother who makes awful guy choices. Like Simmons, she also swept the majority of pre-Oscars awards.
Who Should Win: Patricia Arquette
I believe there are only two really good roles here” Arquette and the always-reliable, three-time-winner Streep. But I also have to choose Arquette for her subtly strong performance in “Boyhood”. She plays the most interesting character in the movie and just steals all scenes she is in.
Animated Feature
Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Song of the Sea
The Tale of Princess Kaguya
Who Will Win: How to Train Your Dragon 2
There was a lot of backlash on the absence of “The Lego Movie” from the list of nominees. It should have been there, yes. But it shouldn’t have won. “How to Train Your Dragon 2” is the one that should and will win with “Big Hero 6” a close second. The movie improves on the popular original, has great animation and is entertaining and extremely moving.
Who Should Win: How to Train Your Dragon 2
I haven’t seen “Song” or “Princess” but “Dragon 2” was undoubtedly one of the best family movie-going experiences of the year.
Documentary Feature
Citizenfour
Finding Vivian Maier
Last Days in Vietnam
The Salt of the Earth
Virunga
Who Will Win: Citizenfour
I haven’t seen any of the movies in this category but given the great acclaim for Citizenfour, it would be a big surprise if it doesn’t win.
Foreign Language Film
Ida (Poland)
Leviathan (Russia)
Tangerines (Estonia)
Timbuktu (Mauritania)
Wild Tales (Argentina)
Who Will Win: Ida
I also haven’t seen any of the nominees but it looks like “Ida” has this one locked. It was probably the most seen of the five by Academy members too.
Adapted Screenplay
American Sniper
The Imitation Game
Inherent Vice
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash
Who Will Win: Whiplash
“Whiplash” will benefit from Academy rules that led it to be nominated in this category not in Original Screenplay (because there was a short movie by writer-director Damien Chazelle preceding the movie that was only done to secure funding for this movie). Chance of an upset from “The Imitation Game” (which could be its only Oscar win) especially after its WGA win –.
Who Should Win: Whiplash
One of the best movies of the year with a great original script. It benefits from landing in the relatively weak Adapted Screenplay category.
Original Screenplay
Birdman
Boyhood
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Nightcrawler
Who Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
A very competitive category with good chances of upsets from the greatly loved 12-year-saga “Boyhood” and one of the year’s most original movies “Birdman”. But “Budapest Hotel” should and will likely win this category (cemented by its SAG win). It is a masterpiece in storytelling that it feels as if it was adapted from a novel. Plus Wes Anderson was nominated in this category twice before.
Who Should Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Cinematography
Birdman
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ida
Mr. Turner
Unbroken
Who Will Win: Birdman
You can’t have a conversation about “Birdman” without mention of its unique single-take feel with credit primarily to go to the great Emmanuel Lubezki who will likely win for the second year in a row (last year he won for his remarkable work on “Gravity”). He also shot one of the most memorable and, well, best-shot Times Square sequences with Keaton in his undies.
Who Should Win: Birdman
Costume Design
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Inherent Vice
Into the Woods
Maleficent
Mr. Turner
Who Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
A close race between “Budapest Hotel” and “Woods”. The Academy has deservedly shown a lot of love for “Budapest” and this is one of the categories where it will earn the love. The costumes are unique and colorful. Milena Canonero is also a veteran working since the 1970s with three Oscars to her credit (“Barry Lyndon”, “Chariots of Fire”, “Marie Antoinette”).
Who Should Win: Into the Woods
You got to hand it to Colleen Atwood when it comes to challenging costumes (she also has three Oscars – “Chicago”, “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “Alice in Wonderland”). “Woods” was underrated and not loved enough, which doesn’t work to its favor especially when there is a movie with more love and challenging costumes. But Atwood managed to re-create costumes of most-known Grimm Brothers fairytales in one movie to perfection.
Editing
American Sniper
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Whiplash
Who Will Win: Whiplash
Although there is a lot of love and push for first-time nominee and longtime Richard Linklater collaborator Sandra Adair, I would pick another first timer – Tom Cross for “Whiplash”, which is possibly the most artistic of the five. Adair had a tough job going through footage shot over twelve years and delivering one cohesive end result. But Cross’s editing was key (especially in the movie’s enigmatic finale) in creating a thriller out of a movie about a guy who wants to be a top drummer.
Who Should Win: Whiplash
I would have loved to see “Birdman” here (there must be credit to the editor for making the movie feel unedited) but I would have probably still gone with “Whiplash”.
Makeup and Hairstyling
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy
Who Will Win: Guardians of the Galaxy
A tough one to call as it is not a very strong category with an obvious snub for “Into the Woods”. “Budapest” could win, however, given the amount of love for the movie but other than the Tilda Swinton transformation, the makeup is not that obvious. “Galaxy” had the greatest amount and most challenging makeup of the three.
Who Should Win: Guardians of the Galaxy
Original Score
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitiation Game
Interstellar
Mr. Turner
The Theory of Everything
Who Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alexandre Desplat was nominated six times before and this year he is nominated twice for “Budapest Hotel” and “The Imitation Game”, which runs the risk of his votes being split. But, again, “Budapest Hotel” was the most nominated and with the absence of the supposed winner “Birdman” (tied for most nominations) from the list for silly Academy rules (it sampled too much classical music!), it has it sealed. I also think it is high time for Desplat to win for his memorable, happy-go-lucky score for the movie. Johann Johannson’s classical score for “Theory” could be the upset.
Who Should Win: Interstellar
The brilliant almost single-note score from Hans Zimmer is one of the best thing’s about Nolan’s space saga. But it is too subtle for the Academy to recognize.
Original Song
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
Who Will Win: Glory
It is an outrage that Selma only got two nominations and this is the only category (since the other is Best Picture) where the academy can redeem itself.
Who Should Win: Lost Stars
I just love that song and Adam Levine’s high-pithed falsetto at the bridge. It is also a significant song in the movie that is played three times!
Production Design
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Into the Woods
Mr. Turner
Who Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
“Budapest Hotel” was one of the most-colorful and best-looking films of the year with several beautiful settings especially the title hotel. It will and should win.
Who Should Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Sound Editing
American Sniper
Birdman
The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies
Interstellar
Unbroken
Who Will Win: American Sniper
The Academy just loves to award war movies in the sound categories (will disregard “Unbroken” for obvious reasons) and this is possibly where the only love for Best Picture nominee and surprise hit “Sniper” will be showcases.
Who Should Win: The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies
Peter Jackson fantasy films are always the most challenging in the sound-editing domain if you ask me and this one is no exception.
Sound Mixing
American Sniper
Birdman
Interstellar
Unbroken
Whiplash
Who Will Win: Whiplash
Usually one film nabs both sound awards but it would be a shame if “Whiplash” doesn’t win this one – it is a movie about music and sound plays a great role in creating its immersive, tense vibe.
Who Should Win: Whiplash
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
Who Will Win: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
“Apes” represents another leap forward for motion-capture technology. The apes look real and their numbers are just far more than ever.
Who Should Win: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Some critics seem to confuse better with boring