For my first post of 2015, I’ll be sharing my predictions – NOT MY PREFERENCES – for 21 of the 24 categories of the 87th Academy Awards. Why 21, you ask? Because I haven’t seen any of the nominees for Best Live Action Short, Best Animated Short and Best Short Documentary, and I highly doubt that I will before the Academy Award ceremony on Sunday February 22nd. Similar to my 2014 Oscar predictions post, I’ll include a runner-up (i.e. nominee that I think has a huge chance of snatching the Oscar from the respective “prediction”) in each of the categories mentioned in this write-up. And similar to my first blog post in 2014 where I counted down my most anticipated movies of that year, THIS post will be an excuse for me to post pictures and videos (well, actually ONE video) instead of actually writing reviews for these films (which, between you and me, is REALLY not necessary). And in case you were wondering – YES, I have seen all of the movies on this list, and as such, they come highly recommended by yours truly. So without further ado, I present to you my Oscar predictions of 2015 – or as I’ve decided to call it after listening to the AWESOME soundtrack from the Oscar-nominated “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance”) – You NEED to listen to this soundtrack, by the way. It’s the SHIT!!!:
MY 2015 OSCAR PREDICTIONS
OR
(AN EXCUSE TO POST PICTURES AND VIDEOS – WELL, ACTUALLY ONE VIDEO – INSTEAD OF ACTUAL REVIEWS – WHICH REALLY AREN’T NECESSARY – THANKS TO THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF LAZINESS)
Best Original Screenplay: “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Runner-up: “Birdman”
Best Adapted Screenplay: “The Imitation Game”
Runner-up: “The Theory of Everything”
Best Visual Effects: “Interstellar”
Runner-up: “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Best Sound Editing & Best Sound Mixing: “American Sniper”
Runner-up for both: “Interstellar”
Best Original Song: “Glory” (from “Selma”)
See? Told you there’d be a video!
Runner-up: “Everything is Awesome” (from “The Lego Movie”)
Best Original Score: “Interstellar”
Yes, that’s the cover for the “Interstellar” soundtrack. Listen to this soundtrack as soon as humanely possible.
Wait…..were you expecting a YouTube playlist?! One video, I said. ONE VIDEO!
Runner-up: “Birdman”….oops, my bad, I meant “Whiplash”….OOPS, my bad. I meant “The Theory of Everything”
Best Foreign Language Film: “Leviathan”
Runner-up: “Ida”
Best Editing: “Boyhood”
Runner-up: “Birdman”
Best Documentary Feature: “Citizenfour”
Runner-up: “Finding Vivian Maier”
Best Costume Design: “Into the Woods”
Runner-up: “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Best Makeup & Hairstyle: “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Runner-up: “Foxcatcher”. Steve Carrell’s big-ass prosthetic nose alone is worthy of an Oscar nomination!
Best Production Design: “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Runner-up: “Interstellar”
Best Cinematography: “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Runner-up: “Birdman”
Best Animated Feature: “How to Train Your Dragon 2”
Runner-up: “The Lego Movie” ….. oops, my bad. I meant “Big Hero 6”
Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette (“Boyhood”)
Runner-up: Emma Stone (“Birdman”)
Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons (“Whiplash”)
Runner-up: There is no runner-up. J.K. Simmons is going to WIN this award! You and I BOTH know that!
Best Actress: Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”)
Runner-up: Rosamund Pike (“Gone Girl”)
Best Actor: Michael Keaton (“Birdman”)
Runner-up: Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Imitation Game”)
Best Director: Richard Linklater (“Boyhood”)
Runner-up: Alejandro G. Iñárritu (“Birdman”)
Best Picture: My top 2 picks for the Best Picture Oscar are “Birdman” and “Boyhood”. Though there is the slight possibility that “Birdman” could win, I really think that “Boyhood” will take the title. 12-year production schedule aside, this movie boasts solid acting, multi-layered characters, smart writing and a simple yet profound message about being appreciative of the moments, good or bad, that shape your life. It’s relatable, it’s heartwarming, it’s groundbreaking, it’s phenomenal, it’s unforgettable, it’s more than two and a half hours long and you should definitely see it because it’s one of the best movies of 2014 – and dare I say, the DECADE thus far, and well deserving of the Academy Award for Best Picture.
So what are your thoughts on my Oscar predictions list? What were your favourite and least favourite Oscar-nominated films this year? Which 2015 Oscar snub is still pissing you off? (Mine is “The Lego Movie”. I mean, COME ON!! Not even a Best Animated Feature nomination? What the fuck?!) And who do you think will be going home with an Academy Award (earned, not stolen). Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
– Matthew
BBB RADIO 