Academy Award Predictions


Tonight is the Academy Awards. After tonight we'll know who all the winners are, but it's still not too late to make a few fearless predictions.

Best Picture:
Will Win — "Boyhood"
Should Win — "Whiplash," "Birdman"

* I think "Boyhood" will get the big prize. Critics and industry insiders are enamored of the effort, if not the story. But my favorite among the group was "Whiplash." Even if I wasn't going for "Whiplash," the other presumptive front-runner, "Birdman," feels like a more worthy choice.

Best Actor:
Will Win — Michael Keaton, "Birdman"

* This is a tight race, and Eddie Redmayne could sneak in, but I think Keaton is the best choice and will be the winner.

Best Actress:
Will Win — Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"

* Moore is an Academy favorite who delivered a devastating and heart-breaking performance as a woman struck with early onset Alzheimer's Disease. She should and will take home the trophy.

Best Supporting Actor:
Will Win — J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"

* The best performance in this category, hands down. Simmons should be a lock.

Best Supporting Actress:
Will Win — Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"
Should Win — Laura Dern, "Wild"

* Arquette was fine and made the most of her meaty role in "Boyhood." She's something of a lock to win, too. But I think it should be Dern, who was sweetly heart-breaking in "Wild."

Best Director: 
Will Win — Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu, "Birdman"

* This is a close race, and could actually tell us something about Best Picture. Richard Linklater could get this award for his work on "Boyhood," which would be a nod that "Birdman" won Best Picture. If "Boyhood" is really getting the top prize, I think Academy members will honor Inarritu for his work on "Birdman."

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Will Win —Damien Chazelle, "Whiplash"

* Another close race, and you could see a couple of nominees getting the nod here — particularly Anthony McCarten for "The Theory of Everything." But I think Chazelle will be rewarded as a bright young filmmaker.

Best Original Screenplay:
Will Win — Wes Anderson, "Grand Budapest Hotel"

* The teams for "Boyhood" and "Birdman" are in the mix here, but I think Anderson gets the nod for his beloved little indie film.

Best Animated Film:
Will Win — "Big Hero 6"

* I liked this movie, and I think it will edge out "How to Train Your Dragon 2."

Best Cinematography:
Will Win — Emmanuel Lubezki, "Birdman"

Best Achievement in Costume Design:
Will Win — "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Best Documentary Feature:
Will Win — "CitizenFour"

Best Documentary Short Subject:
Will Win — Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1"

Best Film Editing:
Will Win — "Boyhood"

Best Foreign Language Film:
Will Win — "Ida," Poland

Best Hair and Makeup:
Will Win — "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Best Original Score:
Will Win — Johann Johannsson, "The Theory of Everything"

Best Original Song:
Will Win — "Glory," from "Selma"

Best Production Design:
Will Win — "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Best Animated Short Feature:
Will Win — "Feast"

Best Live Action Short Feature:
Will Win — "Boogaloo and Graham"

Best Sound Editing:
Will Win — "American Sniper"

Best Sound Mixing:
Will Win — "American Sniper"

Best Visual Effects:
Will Win — "Interstellar"

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