For film buffs across the world, one of the highlights is watching their favorite performers and movies of the past year go head-to-head at the most prestigious award ceremony, the Oscars. As in year’s past, this author fills out an Oscar ballot featuring in-depth analysis and personal insight in an effort to show who will win and who should win. 2014 has been another fantastic year in cinema so without further adieu, here are the predictions.
Best Picture
The Imitation Game
“The Imitation Game” is a fascinating, intellectual war drama and character study. It is well-crafted featuring brilliant production design and keen eye for the details of the period. Eschewing traditional narrative, it seamlessly integrates and balances time periods of Turing’s youth and his work during the war as well as his arrest in the early fifties. However, the subtle Benedict Cumberbatch is what makes the film stand out as he infuses the character with a meticulous blend of confidence, rigidity and sorrow. Cumberbatch plays fiercely brilliant logistician Alan Turing, who was called upon in WWII to crack the German Enigma code. Turing immediately puts off colleagues with his arrogance and only Joan Clarke respects his perspective and with her help, he is able to get the establishment to look beyond conventional methods and crack the code. For his extraordinary work, he was arrested in 1952 for gross indecency and chemically castrated. It's a compelling and tragic story, a story of triumph and prejudice.
American Sniper
The action scenes are harrowing, well-timed and sustain tension established from the very beginning of the movie when Kyle has to make an excruciating split-second decision whether or not to shoot a child with a grenade in his hand that could easily wipe out the whole convoy. Bradley Cooper, who has given excellent performances in the past (“Silver Linings Playbook”, “American Hustle”), delivers an engrossing, moving portrayal of Chris Kyle as a strong, yet complex hero. He impeccably embodied the character as he gained 30 pounds of muscle, added a thick, Texas accent and showed the inner-turmoil of Kyle as deals with the intensity of the battlefield and hiding his emotions at home. In wartime, he was a precise marksman, addicted to the thrill of battle and at home, he was a vulnerable shell of a man, driven by his desperate need to serve his country in spite of the rifts it causes. Eastwood engages the audience with a complex, gripping shot of what war can do to those who fight it and are surrounded by it.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson's movies have always been unique with quirky, eccentric characters and surreal surroundings. "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is no exception as it possesses all the attributes that make Anderson beloved by his admirers and disliked by those who find his films pretentious and complex. With unending charisma and a distinctive mustache, Ralph Fiennes plays the role of M. Gustave, an immaculately dressed, refined concierge at an illustrious hotel in the fictional Republic of Zubrowka. The eccentric Gustave, a lover of poetry and elderly women, may come off as a sophisticated gentleman and yet amuses audiences with his out of character bursts of profanity. After one of his favorite elderly female guests dies and leaves him a priceless painting, countless absurdities ensue from stealing and murder to imprisonment and unforgettable getaways. Also, the cinematography is superb as each of the story’s timeframes are filmed in different aspect ratios from variations of widescreen for the modern scenes and the traditional 1:33 for the 30s.
Whiplash
"Whiplash" is an exhilarating thrill ride from start to finish, an intense musical story of obsession, drive and inner turmoil built on two superior performances. Simmons is brilliant as the dictatorial and demeaning jazz band director Terrance Fletcher, and hasn't been this riveting since he was a white supremacist Vernon Schillinger in the HBO series "Oz." The early rehearsal scenes are gripping and tensely portrayed as Fletcher deliberately demands flawless execution, berating any and all who make a mistake and even those who don’t. The musical performances in the film are always compelling, and drive the drama forward to a large extent. A movie you feel as much as you see and director Chazelle shows music is very much a physical endeavor as Andrew literally sheds blood, sweat and tears in his pursuit of musical perfection. The question Chazelle poses is whether psychological torture is worth the price and does it take emotional, physical extremes to push people to reach extraordinary heights?
Boyhood
Filmed over 12 years in 40 days, the movie focuses on one family’s journey through life as they encounter everything a family can go through from love and marriage to pain and divorce. The audience feels like its peering through a window and viewing the intimate details of their lives. The story isn't particularly dramatic or centered around traumatic events. Instead, its strength lies in its simplicity and reminds us that life is a collection of small, mundane moments that can stick with us forever and have the most emotional value. The movie is a prime example that sometimes the simplest stories can be the most moving because they're so easy to relate to. Shot in 35mm format, the movie feels like a documentary and sometimes scripted, line readings sound forced but the catch is that everything comes together seamlessly with Linklater’s realistic style.
Selma
Selma is a sharply acted, vivid biopic with a superbly researched, elegant script by Paul Webb that gives the audience a powerful reminder of what MLK did for this country and what still needs to be done in America regarding civil rights. David Oyelowo’s mesmerizing performance is soulful and stirring, not only mimicking MLK’s oratories and mannerisms but capturing his unyielding drive and determination. The audience also gets a rich, intimate portrait of King as a true man – one who has self-doubts, insecurities and purpose. Director Ava DuVernay does an exceptional job humanizing and bringing to life the riveting, horrific events of 1965 like Bloody Sunday, making Selma one of the most intimate, visceral depictions of the civil rights movement.
Birdman
“Birdman” is a witty, ingenious, and raw film packed with enough creative twists to keep the audience enthralled with its intimate look at the fractured and fragile psyche of a fallen Hollywood star. In his most prominent role in years, Michael Keaton showcases untapped depth and diversity as the fictional Riggan Thompson. The script is impeccable and the stellar cast is flawless as the actors exhibit their talents in their deep, multi-dimensional characters. In particular, Norton and Stone give outstanding performances, capturing the absurdity and quirks in human behavior. Also, acquiring the incredibly talented Emmanuel Lubezki was a stroke of genius. Racing down narrow hallways and upstairs to find another dramatic moment, the film is miraculously made to look like it was one continuous take even though it’s not. The best treat of the film though is Grammy-winning jazz drummer Antonio Sanchez’s almost exclusively percussive jazz score which enriches the film without distracting from the action.
The Theory of Everything
The Theory of Everything is not only an exquisite portrait of astrophysicist Stephen Hawking and his unrelenting drive to succeed but focuses on the contentious relationship between him and Jane. Filled with youth and promise, Hawking was diagnosed at 21 with the motor neuron disease that would take away essentially all voluntary movement. To show this, Redmayne underwent a drastic transformation and dieted to the brink of starvation to play the scrawny Hawking. As the disease progresses and Hawking can no longer speak or is able to rely on facial expressions, Redmayne still conveys hisc incredible brilliance and his unbroken spirit. Resembling Daniel Day Lewis in My Left Foot, Redmayne’s performance is mesmerizing, empathetic and heartfelt. Jones is just as good with a truly humanized, flawed character instead of one that is always seen in a positive light for supporting her husband and children.
Who Will Win: Boyhood
Who Should Win: Birdman
While Boyhood is considered a cinematic landmark achievement and has won countless critics awards and the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Drama, Birdman is a cinematographic masterpiece and swept the top honors from the Producers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild(SAG) and finally, the Directors Guild of America(DGA.) Those three awards almost always forecast victory in the Best Picture Oscar race but it will go to the film that critics feel is an innovating, visceral journey even though this author feels Boyhood is over-hyped.
Best Actor
Bradley Cooper – American Sniper
Michael Keaton – Birdman
Eddie RedMayne – The Theory of Everything
Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
Steve Carell – Foxcatcher
Who Will Win: Eddie RedMayne
Who Should Win: Michael Keaton
From Dustin Hoffman to Daniel Day-Lewis, the Academy loves transformative performances that deal with disease or disability. RedMayne goes above and beyond from contorting his body in a wheelchair to using Hawkings own voice synthesizer. However, Michael Keatons resurgent role deserves the accolades and delivers a rich experience that’s even more complex in many sensual ways that can’t be measured. Keaton received the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical but lost the SAG to Redmayne and will come up short on Sunday.
Best Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall – The Judge
Ethan Hawke – Boyhood
J.K. Simmons – Whiplash
Edward Norton – Birdman
Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher
Who Will/Should Win: J.K. Simmons
He is favored to win this year having already won the Golden Globe, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild Award and the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor. Simmons keeps viewers on the edge with his foul mouthed yet intimidating presence, creating palpable tension with the audience as much as he does with Andrew (Miles Teller) when he has few words of encouragement or shows any side of gentleness.
Best Director
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu – Birdman
Richard Linklater – Boyhood
Wes Anderson – Grand Budapest Hotel
Bennett Miller – Foxcatcher
Morten Tyldum – The Imitation Game
Who Will/Should Win: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Richard Linklater won for directing at the Golden Globe and British Academy Film Awards but Inarritu nabbed the DGA and the winner takes the Oscar virtually almost all of the time. Yes, critics have essentially agreed that Linklater’s bold, audacious odyssey was wildly successful and deserves to be recognized but Birdman is the better film- which this author definitely believes.
Best Actress
Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl
Julianne Moore – Still Alice
Marion Cotillard – Two Days, One Night
Reese Witherspoon – Wild
Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything
Who Will/Should Win: Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore was a double-nominee for Best Actress in “Far from Heaven” and Best Supporting Actress in “The Hours” 12 years ago. She lost both categories but she will finally get her shining moment on Sunday. As a 50-year-old linguistics professor diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease, Moore delivers a powerful performance that leaves audiences emotionally spent. Winning the Golden Globe and SAG awards, she is also highly respected in the industry and considered seriously long overdue for her contributions.
Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette – Boyhood
Emma Stone – Birdman
Laura Dern – Wild
Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
Meryl Streep – Into the Woods
Who Will/Should Win: Patricia Arquette
Patricia Arquette delivers a natural, heartbreaking performance as a struggling single mother, who always seems to come up short. She’s already won critics’ awards, the Golden Globe, and, most crucially, the SAG prize making this category hers to lose.
Best Original Screenplay
Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris & Armando Bo – Birdman
Richard Linklater – Boyhood
E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman – Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Dan Gilroy – Nightcrawler
Who Will Win: Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
Who Should Win: Inarritu and company (Birdman)
If recent films that have won in this category like “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Midnight in Paris”, and “Her” are any indication, the Original Screenplay award will go to the film that is the most clever, unique and colorful. "The Grand Budapest Hotel" has been one of the front-runners in this category for a while, especially after it won the BAFTA and the Writers Guild of America.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Jason Hall – American Sniper
Graham Moore – The Imitation Game
Paul Thomas Anderson – Inherent Vice
Anthony McCarten – The Theory of everything
Damien Chazelle – Whiplash
Who Will Win: Graham Moore (The Imitation Game)
Who Should win: Damien Chazelle (Whiplash)
It is one of the toughest categories to choose as anyone but Paul Thomas Anderson could easily win. The Imitation Game is seen as the frontrunner as it nabbed the WGA but Theory surprised at the BAFTA’s. Also, lurking closely behind is the semi-autobiographical "Whiplash", which probably has a better chance in the adapted category as opposed to the original category, but it's still probably going to come up short.
Best Animated Feature
Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How To Train Your Dragon 2
Song of the Sea
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Who Will/Should Win: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Golden Globe winner "How To Train Your Dragon 2,"is the frontrunner but only one sequel has ever won this award when "Toy Story 3" did in 2010, and that film was one of the most successful animated franchises. "Dragon 2" was a subpar film. Even so, it should pull off the victory.
Best Documentary Feature
CitizenFour
Finding Vivian Maier
Last Days in Vietnam
The Salt of the Earth
Who Will Win: CitizenFour
Who Should Win: CitizenFour
While all the documentaries covered fascinating subject matters, Laura Poitras Citizenfour was the most riveting and globally-relevant film about a very reclusive, polarizing Edward Snowden. Don’t see anything else topping that.
Best Foreign Language Film
Ida
Leviathan
Tangerines
Timbuktu
Wild Tales
Who Will Win: Ida
Who Should win: Leviathan
Ida is the front runner and is also nominated in the cinematography group but Golden Globe winner "Leviathan" is the most compelling out of the group.
Best Score
Alexandre Desplat - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alexandre Desplat - The Imitation Game
Hans Zimmer – Interstellar
Gary Yershon – Mr. Turner
Johann Johannson – The Theory of Everything
Who Will Win: Johann Johannson (The Theory of Everything)
Who Should Win: Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
Will Jóhann Jóhannsson give Alexandre Desplat his eighth Oscar loss in 9 years? The Golden Globes selected Jóhannsson for his beautiful "Theory of Everything" score, and that will be the case Sunday as Johannson wins.
Best Song
Glory – Selma
Everything is Awesome – The Lego Movie
Grateful – Beyond the Lights
I;m Not Gonna Miss You – Glen Campbell I’ll Be Me
Lost Stars – Begin Again
Who Will Win: Glory
Who Should Win: Glory
The primary chance for Oscar voters to reward Selma though "Everything is Awesome" and "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" have chances.
Best Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki – Birdman
Robert Yeoman – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski - Ida
Dick Pope – Mr. Turner
Roger Desline – Unbroken
Who Will Win/Who Should Win: Emmanuel Lubezki (Birdman)
How did he make it look like one continuous shot?
Best Visual Effects
Xmen: Days of Future Past
Interstellar
Guardians of the Galaxy
Captain Aerica: The winter Solider
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Who Will/Should Win: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
"Interstellar" is narrowly the favorite here, but "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" had some sick looking apes with incredible detail
Best Production Design
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Mr. Turner
Intersetellar
Who Will/Should win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Incredible job transforming a defunct German department store into the illustrious hotel.
Best Costume Design
Grand Budapest Hotel
Inherent Vice
Into the Woods
Maleficent
Mr. Turner
Who Will/Should Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Colorful, diverse outfits throughout the film though Into the Woods could get the W.
Best Makeup & Hairstyle
Foxcatcher
Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy
Who Will/Should Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Any can win but this author thinks The Grand Budapest Hotel nabs this category.
Document short
Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
Joanna
Our Curse
The Reaper
White Earth
Who Will Win: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
Who Should Win: Joanna
It hits closest to home as it’s about veterans and PTSD but its hard to vote against Joanna, a woman dying of cancer who is writing about her last days for her young son, Jas.
Best Film Editing
Boyhood
Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
American Sniper
Whiiplash
Who Will Win: Boyhood
Who Should Win: Whiplash
Whiplash is the most exhilaratingly edited that won the BAFTA but Boyhood took the top editing award.
Best Sound Editing
American Sniper
Birdman
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Unbroken
Interstellar
Who Will Win: American Sniper
Who Should Win: Birdman
Its American Snipers to lose but Birdman was so clever and nuanced regarding sound.
Best Sound Editing
American Sniper
Birdman
Interstellar
Unbroken
Whiplash
Who Will/Should Win: Whiplash
Whiplash stands out as it’s the most musically driven.
Best Short Film
Boogaloo and Graham
Aya
Parvenah
Butter Lamp
The Phone Call
Who Should/Will Win: Parvenah
With Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins and Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent, The Phone Call has star power but Parvenah is a better story as it centers on an Afghan girl befriending a Swiss girl who helps her on her way.
Best Animated Short
The Bigger Picture
The Dam Keeper
Feast
Me & My Moulton
A Single Life
Who Will Win: Feast
Who Should Win: The Bigger Picture
Going with Disneys cute Feast, though the Bigger Picture is the most ambitious film as it utilizes 2-D characters and won the BAFTA.
