The 87th Academy Awards nominations came in this morning. Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel tied for the most nominations this year with 9. Right on their heels is The Imitation Game with 8.
There are snubs, as usual. Though I haven't seen Selma yet, director Ava DuVernay and actor David Oyelowo did not receive nominations, which should have been expected. The LEGO Movie somehow failed to get an Animated Feature Film nomination, which is a disappointment. Nightcrawler surprisingly only got one nomination in the Best Original Screenplay category and nothing else. The Best Actress group seemed to miss a couple key performers like Jennifer Aniston in Cake and Amy Adams in Big Eyes. Rosamund Pike's nomination was the only category that got Gone Girl on the list. Douglas Crise not getting a nomination for editing Birdman is a total snub. While I don't think it's a snub, I am shocked that "Life Itself," the Roger Ebert doc didn't get nominated for Best Documentary. And finally, I for one am disappointed that Interstellar didn't get a cinematography nomination. That's ridonk.
Some good things include Whiplash getting nominated for Best Picture, as well as J.K. Simmons getting the supporting actor nod. Whiplash's script also got a nomination, but in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. That doesn't make sense. I assume the Academy's reasoning for this is because a short film was shot first, but the same thing goes for 2008's Frozen River, yet that got a Best Original Screenplay nomination in 2009. Anyway, I also liked that Foxcatcher got a Makeup and Hairstyling nomination. And finally, good on the Academy for nominating The Tale of Princess Kaguya over The Wind Rises for the animation category.
Neil Patrick Harris is hosting for the first time this year, but he's not new to the gig or the stage. He's hosted the Tony Awards for 4 years now, the Emmy Awards for 2 years, and he performed a musical number in 2010 at the 82nd Academy Awards show when Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin hosted. He should be a good fit, but we'll see how much time he'll have to be funny and creative with the timing pressure.
Below are my opinions on who I think should win and who I think will win in each category. Every year is difficult to predict, so I reserve the right to change any of my predictions before the Oscars begin. This is my ninth time doing this and my best score is 21 for 24 (88%), which I got last year and will be tough to beat. I remain to be undefeated in our predictions contest since starting our Oscar party that we hold every year.
Performance by an actor in a leading role:
Steve Carell in “Foxcatcher”
Bradley Cooper in “American Sniper”
Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Imitation Game”
Michael Keaton in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything”
Who I want to win:
What a great group of nominees here. If I were a member of the voting Academy, I would pick Steve Carell as I loved his total transformation.
Who I think will win:
I'm going to guess Michael Keaton, though Eddie Redmayne could steal it. This is the most difficult to predict out of the acting categories this year.
Performance by an actor in a supporting role:
Robert Duvall in “The Judge”
Ethan Hawke in “Boyhood”
Edward Norton in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Mark Ruffalo in “Foxcatcher”
J.K. Simmons in “Whiplash”
Who I want to win:
J.K. Simmons. Easily. My favorite performance of the year.
Who I think will win:
He'll probably get it.
Performance by an actress in a leading role:
Marion Cotillard in “Two Days, One Night”
Felicity Jones in “The Theory of Everything”
Julianne Moore in “Still Alice”
Rosamund Pike in “Gone Girl”
Reese Witherspoon in “Wild”
Who I want to win:
Marion Cotillard has had a standout year with "Two Days, One Night" and "The Immigrant." I'd give it to her here.
Who I think will win:
Julianne Moore won the Globe, so I'm going to guess she wins here, too.
Performance by an actress in a supporting role:
Patricia Arquette in “Boyhood”
Laura Dern in “Wild”
Keira Knightley in “The Imitation Game”
Emma Stone in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Meryl Streep in “Into the Woods”
Who I want to win:
Though I didn't care for "Boyhood," Patricia Arquette was pretty much its saving grace. I'd vote for her.
Who I think will win:
Arquette could take it.
Best animated feature film of the year:
“Big Hero 6” Don Hall, Chris Williams and Roy Conli
“The Boxtrolls” Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable and Travis Knight
“How to Train Your Dragon 2” Dean DeBlois and Bonnie Arnold
“Song of the Sea” Tomm Moore and Paul Young
“The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” Isao Takahata and Yoshiaki Nishimura
Who I want to win:
It sucks that "The LEGO Movie" was not nominated because "Big Hero 6" would be my runner-up, and it just doesn't feel like an Oscar-worthy movie.
Who I think will win:
Unfortunately, it was a weak year for animated features, and so "How to Train Your Dragon 2" seems like it will take it.
Achievement in cinematography:
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Emmanuel Lubezki
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Robert Yeoman
“Ida” Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski
“Mr. Turner” Dick Pope
“Unbroken” Roger Deakins
Who I want to win:
I'd go with Lubezki since the camera work had to have been quite the achievement.
Who I think will win:
Ha. There's Mr. Deakins 12th nomination without a win. Poor guy. He'll probably have to wait a bit longer as I think Emmanuel Lubezki will take it.
Achievement in 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
Who I want to win:
I would give it to "The Grand Budapest Hotel."
Who I think will win:
It'll come down to "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "Maleficent" here with the former winning, I think.
Achievement in directing:
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Alejandro G. Iñárritu
“Boyhood” Richard Linklater
“Foxcatcher” Bennett Miller
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Wes Anderson
“The Imitation Game” Morten Tyldum
Who I want to win:
Keep in mind that I still haven't seen "Hotel" and "Game" here, so for now, I'd go with Alejandro G. Iñárritu.
Who I think will win:
It'll be between Iñárritu and Anderson, but I think Iñárritu will take home his first prize.
Best documentary feature:
“CitizenFour” Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky
“Finding Vivian Maier” John Maloof and Charlie Siskel
“Last Days in Vietnam” Rory Kennedy and Keven McAlester
“The Salt of the Earth” Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and David Rosier
“Virunga” Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara
Who I want to win:
Alright, so we have the Edward Snowden doc, two docs featuring photographers, a Vietnam War doc, and an animal conservation doc. Hard to say for me since I haven't seen any of these, but I am most curious to watch "Find Vivian Maier" due to my love of photography. It is about a nanny whose previously unknown cache of 100,000 photographs earned her a posthumous reputation as one of the most accomplished street photographers.
Who I think will win:
"CitizenFour" will win.
Best documentary short subject:
“Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1” Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry
“Joanna” Aneta Kopacz
“Our Curse” Tomasz Sliwinski and Maciej Slesicki
“The Reaper (La Parka)” Gabriel Serra Arguello
“White Earth” J. Christian Jensen
Who I want to win:
No opinion as I haven't seen any of them or know anything.
Who I think will win:
Total shot in the dark... "Crisis Hotline."
Achievement in 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
Who I want to win:
It was probably challenging to edit a movie that's filmed in bits over the course of 12 years. I'd give it to Sandra Adair for "Boyhood."
Who I think will win:
"Boyhood."
Best foreign language film of the year:
“Ida” Poland
“Leviathan” Russia
“Tangerines” Estonia
“Timbuktu” Mauritania
“Wild Tales” Argentina
Who I want to win:
Haven't gotten around to seeing any of these yet, but I will try.
Who I think will win:
"Ida" and "Leviathan" are the favorites to win here, but I think "Ida" will edge it out.
Achievement in 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
Who I want to win:
"Foxcatcher." Without a doubt in my mind.
Who I think will win:
You know, I'd like to think that the Academy will agree with me here. We'll see.
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (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
Who I want to win:
I would give it to Hans Zimmer. His work just does something for me.
Who I think will win:
Really hard to say! It could be Alexandre Desplat or Jóhann Jóhannsson. Desplat got nominated twice, so maybe him for "Hotel."
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song):
“Everything Is Awesome” from “The Lego Movie”
Music and Lyric by Shawn Patterson
“Glory” from “Selma”
Music and Lyric by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn
“Grateful” from “Beyond the Lights”
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from “Glen Campbell...I’ll Be Me”
Music and Lyric by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond
“Lost Stars” from “Begin Again”
Music and Lyric by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois
Who I want to win:
Everything is awesommmmmmmmmmeeeeeeee!
Who I think will win:
"Glory" could also take it.
Best motion picture of the year:
“American Sniper” Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan, Producers
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher and James W. Skotchdopole, Producers
“Boyhood” Richard Linklater and Cathleen Sutherland, Producers
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson, Producers
“The Imitation Game” Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky and Teddy Schwarzman, Producers
“Selma” Christian Colson, Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Producers
“The Theory of Everything” Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce and Anthony McCarten, Producers
“Whiplash” Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook and David Lancaster, Producers
Who I want to win:
I would vote for "Whiplash" in a heartbeat. My favorite film of the year.
Who I think will win:
I think "Birdman" will win this year.
Achievement in production design:
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
“The Imitation Game” Production Design: Maria Djurkovic; Set Decoration: Tatiana Macdonald
“Interstellar” Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Gary Fettis
“Into the Woods” Production Design: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
“Mr. Turner” Production Design: Suzie Davies; Set Decoration: Charlotte Watts
Who I want to win:
I would like to see "Hotel" take this one.
Who I think will win:
And "Hotel" just might.
Best animated short film:
“The Bigger Picture” Daisy Jacobs and Christopher Hees
“The Dam Keeper” Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi
“Feast” Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed
“Me and My Moulton” Torill Kove
“A Single Life” Joris Oprins
Who I want to win:
"Feast" was adorable. I'd pick that.
Who I think will win:
"The Bigger Picture."
Best live action short film:
“Aya” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis
“Boogaloo and Graham” Michael Lennox and Ronan Blaney
“Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak)” Hu Wei and Julien Féret
“Parvaneh” Talkhon Hamzavi and Stefan Eichenberger
“The Phone Call” Mat Kirkby and James Lucas
Who I want to win:
Haven't seen any of them.
Who I think will win:
"Boogaloo and Garaham." I don't know.
Achievement in sound editing:
“American Sniper” Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Martín Hernández and Aaron Glascock
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” Brent Burge and Jason Canovas
“Interstellar” Richard King
“Unbroken” Becky Sullivan and Andrew DeCristofaro
Who I want to win:
"Interstellar" had great sound. And I know someone who worked on it!
Who I think will win:
"American Sniper" has a good shot at this.
Achievement in sound mixing:
“American Sniper” John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff and Walt Martin
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” 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
Who I want to win:
"Whiplash," for sure.
Who I think will win:
"American Sniper" because usually the same movie wins both awards.
Achievement in visual effects:
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Bryan Grill and Dan Sudick
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett and Erik Winquist
“Guardians of the Galaxy” Stephane Ceretti, Nicolas Aithadi, Jonathan Fawkner and Paul Corbould
“Interstellar” Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher
“X-Men: Days of Future Past” Richard Stammers, Lou Pecora, Tim Crosbie and Cameron Waldbauer
Who I want to win:
"Interstellar" definitely deserves this one.
Who I think will win:
"Interstellar."
Adapted screenplay:
“American Sniper” Written by Jason Hall
“The Imitation Game” Written by Graham Moore
“Inherent Vice” Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson
“The Theory of Everything” Screenplay by Anthony McCarten
“Whiplash” Written by Damien Chazelle
Who I want to win:
Even though this is the wrong category for "Whiplash," I'd still vote for it.
Who I think will win:
"The Imitation Game" might take this one since it won the WGA award.
Original screenplay:
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bo
“Boyhood” Written by Richard Linklater
“Foxcatcher” Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Screenplay by Wes Anderson; Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness
“Nightcrawler” Written by Dan Gilroy
Who I want to win:
I would want "Birdman" to win this. Great dialogue.
Who I think will win:
"Birdman."
Once again, this list can change at any time between now and the big show, but once the show starts on February 22nd, these predictions stick. Check back on my blog after the show to see the results and my final thoughts. While you wait, check out my predictions and results from the last eight years:
2014 Predictions | Results
2013 Predictions | Results
2012 Predictions | Results
2011 Predictions | Results
2010 Predictions | Results
2009 Predictions | Results
2008 Predictions | Results
2007 Predictions | Results
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