My Oscar Predictions, 2015
People usually ask me for advice on how to fill out their Oscar ballots. For them, I have crafted this cheat sheet. I will pick the person/film I believe is the favorite to win, along with a dark horse selection– that way, if you want to roll the dice on a few categories, you can do so.
My picks:
BEST PICTURE:
Birdman
Dark horse: Boyhood
BEST DIRECTOR:
Richard Linklater
Dark horse*: Alejandro Inarritu
*- I think Pic/Director will split. If you feel so inclined, flip-flop the two, and pick Boyhood and Inarritu.
BEST ACTOR:
Michael Keaton
Dark horse*: Eddie Redmayne
*- this is a total coin flip.
BEST ACTRESS:
Julianne Moore
Dark horse: none
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
J.K. Simmons
Dark horse: none
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Patricia Arquette
Dark horse: none
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Dark horse: Birdman
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Whiplash
Dark horse*: The Imitation Game
*- another coin flip, really. I’m hopeful for Whiplash.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Birdman
Dark horse: none
BEST COSTUME DESIGN:
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Dark horse: Into the Woods
BEST EDITING:
Boyhood
Dark horse: Whiplash
BEST MAKEUP/HAIR:
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Dark horse: Foxcatcher
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Dark horse: none
BEST SCORE:
The Theory of Everything
Dark horse: The Grand Budapest Hotel
BEST SONG:
“Glory,” Selma
Dark horse: “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me
BEST SOUND EDITING:
American Sniper
Dark horse: Interstellar
BEST SOUND MIXING:
American Sniper
Dark horse: Whiplash
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:
Interstellar
Dark horse: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Dark horse: Big Hero 6
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Citizenfour
Dark horse: none
BEST FOREIGN FILM:
Ida
Dark horse: Wild Tales
BEST ANIMATED SHORT:
Feast
Dark horse: The Dam Keeper
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
Joanna
Dark horse: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT:
The Phone Call
Dark horse: Parvaneh
The Password is Swordfish 