2015 Academy Award Predictions

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

For everyone who thinks American Sniper has it in the bag, sorry but you're wrong. It can win, but it's a stretch. For months, it's been a Boyhood vs. Birdman battle, and after the Golden Globes, The Grand Budapest Hotel joined them at the top. American Sniper is new, so everyone's flocking to it now, but these movies just have had so much time. It's why Selma is at a disadvantage because it came out so late. That movie in my opinion deserves to win. The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything have better chances in other categories, and they'll fight for Best Adapted Screenplay. My pick is Birdman, because Hollywood loves to reward movies about the industry, and a movie hasn't captured Broadway like Birdman did. Don't be surprised if Boyhood or The Grand Budapest Hotel wins. It's a very tough call.

Will Win: Birdman
Could Win: Boyhood or The Grand Budapest Hotel 
Should Win: Selma


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

This became more interesting when Ava DuVernay got snubbed for Selma. I don't think this is Bennett Miller's best work, I much preferred Moneyball, so they won't give it to him for this. Tyldum is too much of an outsider. Wes Anderson deserves it, but it won't happen tonight. I think they'll honor both sides of the Birdman-Boyhood battle by splitting Picture and Director. I predicted Birdman would take Best Picture, I think Richard Linklater will win here. He directed actors for 12 years, and that's worth an Oscar.

Will Win: Richard Linklater- Boyhood
Could Win: Alejandro González Iñárritu- Birdman
Should Win: Richard Linklater- Boyhood


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

By far, this is the hardest acting category to predict. Steve Carell was amazing, but he's out. Too much heat is on everyone else, and he's become overshadowed. Bradley Cooper was outstanding as Chris Kyle in American Sniper and I know everybody wants him to win, but he won't. It's a three-way match that's slowly become a two horse race. Eddie Redmayne or Michael Keaton? Poor Benedict Cumberbatch has found himself stuck in the middle. Redmayne transformed so much for playing Stephen Hawking, but since I saw Birdman, I've been all for the Keaton renaissance. He's just so good, and he's changed his career and acknowledged his failure with this movie, that I feel like they will reward him. But it's definitely tricky.

Will Win: Michael Keaton- Birdman
Could Win: Eddie Redmayne- The Theory of Everything (but really anyone)
Should Win: Benedict Cumberbatch- The Imitation Game


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

Julianne Moore. This shouldn't be so easy to call, as all five women gave extraordinary performances. Marion Cotillard is stripped raw for Two Days, One Night, but it's a foreign film, and she already won before for La Vie en Rose back in 2007. Reese Witherspoon also won before for Walk the Line, so the two of them are likely out. Felicity Jones can't win. Rosamund Pike is mesmerizing as the cold and calculated wife in Gone Girl, but her role is too out-of-the-box for an Oscar. Too much blood, and far too disturbing a role. Watch her win an MTV Award for "Most WTF Movie Moment" but that's as far as she'll go. Moore conveys so many emotions in her performance as a woman with Alzheimer's, and she's never won with five previous nominations. It's finally her time, and she deserves it.

Will Win: Julianne Moore- Still Alice
Could Win: Rosamund Pike- Gone Girl
Should Win: Julianne Moore- Still Alice


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

If you've seen Whiplash, you know that J.K. Simmons has this one in the bag. I mean, if anyone else wins, it'll probably be considered one of the biggest upsets in history. Simmons is so good as a ruthless teacher who will do anything to be able to say he produced one of the greats. As a second best, I put Edward Norton just because I want him to win. But it's Simmons' time. After decades of being the supporting man without a great role (including many Farmer's Insurance commercials) he finally got the role of a lifetime. He will be rewarded for it.

Will Win: J.K. Simmons- Whiplash
Could Win: Edward Norton- Birdman (but not really)
Should Win: 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

This is another strong category that's tough to pick from. My personal favorite is Emma Stone in Birdman, because she did so much by doing so little in that movie. Her performance was subtle, but it stuck with you. Laura Dern is incredible as the dead mother haunting her daughter in Wild, and Keira Knightley brings so much gravitas and charm to The Imitation Game. Meryl Streep was great in Into the Woods, but the mixed reception to the movie as well as the fact that she's won three times and been nominated nineteen times. Patricia Arquette however, will win, because of her commitment to her role (12 years!) and because she's just so great in Boyhood. Many women cover up their aging process, but she lets you see how she ages over the years, and her role as a strong mother who can't seem to escape abuse at the hand of her husband hit hard with many people, myself included

Will Win: Patricia Arquette- Boyhood
Could Win: Emma Stone- Birdman
Should Win: Emma Stone- Birdman


Best Original Screenplay
Birdman
Boyhood
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Nightcrawler

I'm taking a shot in the dark and saying Birdman, because I think Best Picture and Best Screenplay come hand in hand. Original Screenplay is script, characters, and story, and I believe Birdman has unforgettable characters, a wacky story, and great lines.

Will Win: Birdman
Could Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel or Boyhood
Should Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel


Best Adapted Screenplay
American Sniper
The Imitation Game
Inherent Vice
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash 

Again, Screenplay is script, characters, and story, but Adapted Screenplay is based off another medium. The Imitation Game will win for its incredible story, and its flawless conversion from the page to the screen.

Will Win: The Imitation Game
Could Win: The Theory of Everything
Should Win: The Imitation Game


Best Animated Feature
Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Song of the Sea
The Tale of Princess Kaguya 

Well we all know The LEGO Movie deserves it. But it was snubbed. So the equally deserving How to Train Your Dragon 2 (which I forgot was so enjoyable) will win here. The first one deserved it, but lost to the equally inspiring Toy Story 3, and the sequel is just as good, if not better, than the first.

Will Win: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Could Win: Big Hero 6
Should Win: How to Train Your Dragon 2



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

Alexandre Desplat (whoever that is?) will win tonight. He's been nominated over 10 times and has never won. Both his scores from The Imitation Game and The Grand Budapest Hotel are two of the years best, and while my favorite is the synthetic sounds for the former, the latter will win just because of how greatly it captures Budapest and the crazy setting of The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel- Alexandre Desplat
Could Win: The Imitation Game- Alexandre Desplat
Should Win: The Imitation Game- Alexandre Desplat


Best Original Song
"Everything is Awesome"- The LEGO Movie- Tegan & Sara with The Lonely Island
"Glory- Selma- Common & John Legend
"Grateful"- Beyond the Lights- Rita Ora
"I'm Not Gonna Miss You"- Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me- Glen Campbell
"Lost Stars"- Begin Again- Adam Levine

This is a no-brainer. After excluding Selma everywhere, even if they haven't heard the song the Academy has to redeem itself here. Plus "Glory" is just a phenomenal song that would have won anyways. I like "Everything is Awesome", but let's be serious. Best Song winner? Nope.

Will Win: "Glory"
Could Win: "Everything is Awesome" (but not really)
Should Win: "Glory"


Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy

This category is impossible. I'm picking a random one. Foxcatcher has great prosthetics, but I don't think it will win because the makeup isn't complex enough. The Grand Budapest Hotel ages Tilda Swinton 40+ years and its makeup for her is incredibly complicated. But that's one character. Guardians of the Galaxy makes every character look incredible. At the end of the day, my pick only reveals that I know nothing about makeup and am not qualified to pick it.

Will Win: Guardians of the Galaxy
Could Win: Any of them
Should Win: Any of them


Best Costume Design
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Inherent Vice
Into the Woods
Maleficent
Mr. Turner

The Grand Budapest Hotel will win because nobody wants to reward Into the Woods because it was a bad movie, and that's how Oscar politics work. But it undoubtedly had the best costumes.

Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Could Win: Into the Woods
Should Win: Into the Woods


Best Set Design
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Into the Woods
Mr. Turner

The Grand Budapest Hotel relied on its setting. It's over-the-top, and extravagant, and even a little pretentious. But the whole movie is elevated by the beautiful settings, and they truly distinguish the movie from the rest of the pack.

Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Could Win: Into the Woods
Should Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel


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

I want Dawn of the Planet of the Apes to win because it deserves it, and because I love that movie. But I think Interstellar had great effects too. I just wish I could remember a single thing from that movie. It didn't stick with me at all. I would even pick Guardians of the Galaxy over it, and that didn't bring anything new to the table.

Will Win: Interstellar
Could Win: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Should Win: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes