2015 Oscar Predictions

Well, folks: today is the day. In just a few short hours we'll see who has been selected as the winners of the 87th Academy Awards. "Imagine What's Possible" is the theme of this year's show, which promises to be jam-packed with performers and a celebration of the best movies of 2014. This year, I'm thankful to say that most of the films selected are honoring art instead of politics, so I'm excited to see how many of my favorite films do. So, without further adieu, here are my predictions for tonight's show... IN ALL 24 CATEGORIES! Here we go, speed round:

Best Picture:

Click here for my breakdown of all the nominees. This race is still locked pretty tight between Birdman and Boyhood, with American Sniper the likeliest dark horse contender. It's box office and intense media coverage right now give it a slight edge, though Academy history is not on the side of popular favorites (sorry, Avatar, Star Wars). Due to the Academy's preferential voting methods, the near-unanimous love for Boyhood could give it the edge to move forward. A Best Picture win for that film seems fitting and deserved, and I'm betting it takes the gold tonight. Don't be surprised or upset if Birdman wins however, because like Boyhood, it represents an exciting innovation in cinema that the Oscars should recognize. Either one is fine with me (though obviously I want Boyhood to win the most).
Will Win: Boyhood
Could Win: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Should Win: Boyhood

Best Director:

Another 50/50 split between Birdman and Boyhood, this one is likely to go to Alejandro G Inarritu for his startling work with both a phenomenal cast and amazing cinematography. It's definitely a director's picture, and though Linklater's passion and commitment to the project cannot be ignored, I think the Academy is going to want to split the love between the two pictures. Like the past few years, there will be a Best Picture/Best Director split to shower the love between two great films. And if Birdman's going to get either, it's looking like it'll be Inarritu's day.
Will Win: Alejandro G. Inarritu, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Could Win: Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Should Win: Richard Linklater, Boyhood

Best Actor in a Leading Role:

Click here to see my full coverage of this category. The only real unpredictable acting category, at this point it looks like Redmayne will take the gold for his physical transformation as Stephen Hawking. However, if Birdman love and career victories prevail (and rightfully so in this case), we will see Keaton take his first-ever Academy Award. There seems to be a lot of love for him, but you cannot argue with SAG's and BAFTA's for Redmayne. Keaton had the more complex and emotionally challenging role, but Redmayne's is just too appetizing and flashing to overlook.
Will Win: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Could Win: Michael Keaton, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Should Win: Michael Keaton, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Best Actress in a Leading Role:

Click here to see what I have to say about all five nominees. Vote for Julianne Moore. Just trust me.
Will Win: Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Could Win: Reese Witherspoon, Wild
Should Win: Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

Check out my thoughts of the nominees here. Go for Simmons. Wait, you want to lose your office poll? In that case, GO ROBERT DUVALL!
Will Win: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Could Win: Edward Norton, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Should Win: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:

Check out what I think of all five people here. Wait, ANOTHER lock?? This ceremony may not be too exciting, after all...
Will Win: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Could Win: Emma Stone, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Should Win: Emma Stone, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Best Original Screenplay:

Again, with all three of the major nominees in contention here, Foxcatcher and Nightcrawler do not stand much of a shot. Much like Best Picture/Best Director will split to spread the love, the Academy will likely give auteur Wes Anderson his first Oscar for favorite The Grand Budapest Hotel. He's won a slew of guild awards so far, and this is a great way of honoring the man since Best Picture/Best Director are likely going to someone else. He has a lot of respect in the industry, so tonight is likely his for the taking (of this particular award, at least).
Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Could Win: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Should Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Not nearly as exciting or interesting as Best Original Screenplay is it's Adapted counterpart, which features fairly non-interesting written works. Since it's lost steam pretty much everywhere else, I'm placing my bets on The Imitation Game, solely because it won the WGA. Don't lose sight of potential favorite Theory or fan-favorite Whiplash though, because they could upset.
Will Win: The Imitation Game
Could Win: The Theory of Everything 
Should Win: Whiplash

Best Animated Feature:

After a rather major snub, there's really no precedent for what will Best Animated Feature (except maybe the Globes, but they don't really count). Just because the first one lost, and the series is highly regarded, I'm betting it's going to go to How to Train Your Dragon 2. Though Disney could bring Big Hero 6 to victory, and this could be a good year for one of the foreign films. Just not The Boxtrolls.
Will Win: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Could Win: Song of the Sea
Should Win: Big Hero 6

Best Documentary Feature:

Citizenfour. No competition, and there really shouldn't be, because it's easily the most accessible, entertaining, and informative documentary since Searching for Sugar Man.
Will Win: Citizenfour
Could Win: Virunga
Should Win: Citizenfour

Best Foreign Language Film:

This is a really great category. Ida is the shortest, a throwback to Polish New Wave, black-and-white, about WWII, and is up for Best Cinematography. Leviathan is a controversial film about Russian politics today, and Wild Tales is a huge crowd-pleasing comedy. Due to Netflix's ease of access and short run time, I'm thinking it's going to be Ida.
Will Win: Ida
Could Win: Leviathan
Should Win: Ida

Best Original Score:

The yucky Theory of Everything score is fairly mundane, as is it's runner-up competition Imitation Game. The Grand Budapest Hotel is the most interesting in these fairly average compositions, so I hope that wins. Though don't bet on it; despite two nominations this year, Desplat is going to lose to favorite Johannsson.
Will Win: The Theory of Everything 
Could Win: The Imitation Game
Should Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Original Song:

The Academy is not going to miss an opportunity to pick a winner from Selma, and seeing as this is the Best Picture nominee's only other mention... well, we'll see you on the podium Common and John Legend. I personally hope Begin Again gets a chance to shine!
Will Win: "Glory", Selma 
Could Win: "Everything is Awesome", The Lego Movie 
Should Win: "Lost Stars", Begin Again

Best Cinematography:

Chivo! Better known as Emanuel Lubezki, Birdman's newly-minted Oscar-winner (for Gravity last year) is going to take home the gold again this year. But for some more truly gorgeous photography, look no further than Ida and Mr. Turner, crazy works of cinematography that proudly made their way to the final five. Grand Budapest is also kind of fun with the way Anderson plays with aspect ratios and symmetry, though how Unbroken made it in is beyond me.
Will Win: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Could Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Should Win: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Best Costume Design:

The popular Collen Atwood for dressing Meryl? Or Canonero for getting costumes to work within the quirky world of Wes Anderson? My bets are on the more popular of the two films.
Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Could Win: Into the Woods
Should Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Editing:

Though the frenetic American Sniper and Whiplash could sneak in a few votes, Boyhood's pretty much got this one in the bag. After all, it's already a major commitment to do a film for 12 years, but to make it look so seamless? Pure editing perfection.
Will Win: Boyhood
Could Win: Whiplash
Should Win: Boyhood

Best Makeup and Hairstyling:

Will it be Steve Carrell's nose, Tilda Swinton's near-unrecognziable facial, or the creation of the most fun aliens in the galaxy? I certainly hope it's the last one, though don't underestimate Grand Budapest Hotel's sweep in the technical categories.
Will Win: Guardians of the Galaxy
Could Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Should Win: Guardians of the Galaxy

Best Production Design:

If you've seen The Grand Budapest Hotel, or really any Wes Anderson movie, you know how gorgeous the production design of the film is. Fantasy forests and space operas ain't got nothin on a reimagining of WWII and symmetrical color pallets.
Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Could Win: Into the Woods
Should Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel


Best Sound Editing/Best Sound Mixing:

Sound editing involves the creation of new sounds, while mixing features the balancing of previously-established noises with the dialogue and music. While the difference is very clear, most Oscar voters don't recognize that, so they typically choose the same winner. In this case, they'll actually honor American Sniper's war footage.
Will Win: American Sniper
Could Win: Interstellar
Should Win: American Sniper for Editing, Whiplash for mixing

Best Visual Effects:

Interstellar is polarizing in terms of opinions, but the visual effects are pretty staggering to behold. However, I'm praying that Dawn of the Planet of the Apes pulls through, because of the breakthroughs of both films in the series made in terms of motion capture.
Will Win: Interstellar
Could Win: Guardians of the Galaxy
Should Win: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Best Live Action Short Film:

I saw all five of these yesterday, and by far the best one was The Phone Call, about a suicide hotline (deep and emotionally heartbreaking material). That it also stars two Oscar honorees, Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent, is icing on the cake.
Will Win: The Phone Call
Could Win: Aya
Should Win: The Phone Call

Best Documentary Short Film:

A suicide hotline for veterans will also prevail here.
Will Win: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
Could Win: Joanna

Should Win: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1

Best Animated Short Film:

After robbing Disney Animated Studios last year, AMPAS is going to honor the studio's Feast this year, which was widely seen attached to Big Hero 6. Plus it features a puppy!
Will Win: Feast
Could Win: A Single Life
Should Win: Feast

Well, there you go: all 24 category predictions. Enjoy the show tonight, and remember that this is an honoring of the best films of 2014. Good luck to all your favorites! Thank you!