Even though there was a dip in frequency and quality of film experience for me this past year (compared to the previous year), I'm thankful I'm still able to be wowed at the theatre. I did cry buckets at The Look of Silence, go on a space trip at Interstellar, have a perma-smile whooshing through The Grand Budapest Hotel, get taken aback by the ASL language barrier for a non-deaf audience member like me while watching The Tribe, and wonder incredulously at just how far along the absurdity scale the car chase in Wild Tales would go. In the rush to get this post in before the Oscars ceremony, and having missed some films I'd wanted to see at TIFF (and not having them played at reasonable times/places afterwards), I'm sure this list will be modified once I see the Uncharted. Until then, I'm moderately confident that most of these spots are pretty solid. Ha, what endorsement! But, for serious, here's the top 10, and other stuff.
Force Majeure
01. The Look of Silence (Oppenheimer) ****1/2
Joshua Oppenheimmer returned to the crime scene in Indonesia to give us a necessary companion film to his previous documentary extraordinaire, The Act of Killing (Cinemaps' champ of 2013). This time, in place of shockingly content and dissociated perpetrators, we followed the grieving process of a mild-mannered optometrist whose older brother was one of these murderers' victims. Adi, our protagonist, agreed to confront his brother's killers in some of the most uncomfortable, heart-breaking, rage-provoking civil conversations I've ever borne witness to. There was so much pain, and yet so little cathartic opportunities for the audience on film
that I ended up with an overwhelming ball of anger in my ribcage by the
time the credits rolled. The making of these films in itself was the definition of courage, both from
the people who made it and the people whose stories were told. I learned through the Q & A at TIFF (Adi & Oppenheimer were there - they were given the longest standing ovation I've witnessed) that in return for this injustice to be brought to light, so that perhaps the many people whose lives forever scarred by this senseless atrocity could have some closure, Adi paid the price of political refugees: his own family fled from the area, his parents were placed elsewhere hidden by friends. While Killing allowed for shock and awe as human's darkness took center stage, Silence gave space for exorcism, with light, love, clarity, and an enduring, unbreakable desire to live.
02. The Grand Budapest Hotel (Anderson) ****
Nobody else could have made this but Wes Anderson. In the hand of a less talented but equally precious director, this would have been too cutesy to work as an adult picture. But, here I was, watching with giddy delight at the nostalgically retold fairytale of a bygone era for the riches. Everything felt as light and scrumptious as the pastries they made in the film. Most impressive was the framing of every picture: nary an element was out of place. It even retained the kinetic energy of films from early cinematic time. And just how good did Ralph Fiennes look?! In the so-far-duds-free Anderson oeuvre, I'd rank this somewhere between Rushmore and Fantastic Mr. Fox. I think that means I loves it.
03. Plemya (The tribe; Slaboshpitsky) ****
I got majorly educated watching this intense and unique thriller (that's right) about a deaf teenager's induction into a 'tribe' at a special boarding school for deaf students in Ukraine. I learned, from this experience, how frustrating it was to watch something in a completely different language that I had no translation at hands (pun intended) for. How do deaf people see films? I'd imagine they'd read subtitles, which, as a warning, you'd not get with this film. I also learned that I got used to guessing after a while, based on my basic understanding of people in general (and teenagers in particular). Except for the very big sensory difference (which came into play as instrumental to the characters' lives in unexpected ways), the basic needs to belong and to be loved were the same for all the world over. And these forces can really pull you in places you never thought possible. I'm so glad Slaboshpitsky steered clear of sentiments and made a gritty film about people struggling with challenges, and not necessarily the one I may assume they'd have.
04. Turist (Force Majeure; Östlund) ****
The film followed a Swedish family on their five-days ski vacation, with threats of disintegration bubbling ever so carefully underneath their seemingly perfect exterior. You know that expression, "shooting fish in a barrel?" This was like fishing starving fishes in a barrel, poking at them, releasing them, then throwing a hand grenade in there for good measures. It was cruelly relentless, and so on point. The laughs came easily - Östlund took the situation just far enough that it was still within the realm of possibility for us to recognize the relatable elements, but it was absurd enough that we could laugh at it. Well, some of us anyway (I had a brief conversation with someone who found it so brutal that it was not possible to laugh about it). Beautifully shot, well acted, and a great conversation fodder: what was the Academy problem not nominating it for best foreign picture?
05. Relatos salvajes (Wild Tales, Szifrón) ****
Six short stories, each vying to be the wilder tale in the bunch, were expertly strung together to form a tapestry of modern relationships. And it could not be a more fun yarn spinning time. My favourite was not the wedding story that built to an exclamation mark at the end; it was the road-rage story to end all road-rage stories somewhere in the middle. Almodóvar would be so pleased.
06. Interstellar (Nolan) ****
Thank goodness for Nolan's insistence on EPICNESS. Go big, or go home, eh? His movies generally aren't terribly profound, but they make up for it in their ability to transport viewers to their reality. And transported, I was. Interstellar was no 2001: A Space Odyssey. But it was no one-trick technical Gravity either. Here, as with his other films, Nolan started with a concept, an idea of "what if?" and built a groundswell of technicality around it. But unlike his other central-concept films, he opted to iron out a few story knots and adopted a rare thing for his films: sentiment. Perhaps people reacted more strongly to this unexpected development for a Nolan film, but it was perhaps an effort to secure a wide audience for the more impressive technical achievements of the film. Going through with this film, I felt like I time traveled and went to space, experientially. Just what were people complaining about? Who cares? I went to space! Space, people! Could you not feel it? The visceral experience was incredible, I did not want to leave. What a trip.
07. Under the skin (Glazer) ***1/2
Forget that Scarlett Johansson was full on nude in this hypnotic film. She stripped down further than that - under the skin, indeed - and gave us an incredibly nuanced, unrecognizable performance as an alien performing 'human' to lure victims for their, um, innards? This was almost Birth-level performance (Glazer's previous film starring Nicole Kidman in one of her best roles). I can't tell you if you'd find "eroticism" in this; you'd definitely find "strange," and sometimes, shockingly, even "beautiful."
08. En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (A pigeon sat on a branch reflecting on existence; Andersson) ***1/2
That title, I don't know. But this was straight bananas, all impeccably framed.
09. Hanja (Snowpiercer; Bong) ***1/2
So much more fun and off-kilter than Chris Evans' presence would ever suggest (he, of such Serious variety), and deserving praise for execution in tight quarters. The post-apocalyptic sci-fi film would best be taken in figurative, symbolic sense as it tackled class-ism and politics; under realistic scrutiny, it may fall apart. I was happy to see it on screen finally, as I'd heard about its production from the director way back when I mingled with him (the perks of being a part of an international film festival, le sigh).
10. Ida (Pawlikowski) ***1/2
If I had to put into words what Ida's journey was about, I'd say it mirrored the film itself: a precisely aware form that gently inquired about the holocaust, and then went on its way. C'est la vie.
Godzilla
Grin and Pulse The most fun I had watching a movie this past year
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Interstellar
Wild Tales
Godzilla
The Lego Movie
Director Confident storytelling, with a touch of "wow"
Joshua Oppenheimer, The Look of Silence
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Miroslav Slaboshpitsky, Plemya (The Tribe)
Ruben Östlund, Turist (Force Majeure)
Christopher Nolan, Interstellar
Performance I feel you
Scarlett Johansson, Under the Skin
Yana Novikova, The Tribe
Antoine Olivier Pilon, Mommy
J. K. Simmons, Whiplash
Erica Rivas, Wild Tales
Philip Seymour Hoffman, A Most Wanted Man
Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice
Josh Brolin, Inherent Vice
Tilda Swinton, Snowpiercer
Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Writing Create interesting, layered, cohesive universe; would make for a great read on its own
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ruben Östlund, Turist (Force Majeure)
Damien Szifrón, Wild Tales
Miroslav Slaboshpitsky, Plemya (The Tribe)
Roy Andersson, A pigeon sat on a branch reflecting on existence
Interstellar
Editing Interesting, effective cuts and stitches that support and move the story visually
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Interstellar
Under the Skin
Wild Tales
A pigeon sat on a branch reflecting on existence
Cinematography Takes my breath away
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Interstellar
A pigeon sat on a branch reflecting on existence
Godzilla
Ida
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Art Direction / Production Design Transportive, impactful set design
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Snowpiercer
Interstellar
A pigeon sat on a branch reflecting on existence
Birdman
Effects Movie Magic
Interstellar
Godzilla
Edge of Tomorrow
Snowpiercer
Under the skin
Sound Amplify the visuals and enrich my sensory experience
Godzilla
Whiplash
Edge of Tomorrow
American Sniper
Birdman
Score Was it memorable?
Interstellar
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Under the skin
Only lovers left alive
Uncharted Films I've yet to see that could make a dent on the list above
Winter sleep
Tale of the princess kaguya
Babadook
A girl walks home alone at night
Clouds of Sils Maria
Maps to the Stars
Charted
****1/2
The Look of Silence (Oppenheimer)
****
The Grand Budapest Hotel (Anderson)
Plemya (The tribe; Slaboshpitsky)
Turist (Force Majeure; Östlund)
Relatos salvajes (Wild Tales, Szifrón)
Interstellar (Nolan)
***1/2
Under the skin (Glazer)
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (A pigeon sat on a branch reflecting on existence; Andersson)
Hanja (Snowpiercer; Bong)
Ida (Pawlikowski )
Whiplash (Chazelle)
Foxcatcher (Miller)
Gone Girl (Fincher)
Leviafan (Leviathan; Zvyagintsev)
Mommy (Dolan)
Boyhood (Linklater)
Guardians of the Galaxy (Gunn)
***
A most wanted man (Corbijn)
Deux jours, une nuit (Two days, one night; Dardenne & Dardenne)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Russo & Russo)
The Lego Movie (Miller & Lord)
Edge of Tomorrow (Liman)
Godzilla (Edwards)
Song of the sea (Moore)
Virunga (von Einsiedel)
Nightcrawler (Gilroy)
Birdman (Iñárritu)
X-men: Days of the Future Past (Singer)
**1/2
Obvious Child (Robespierre)
The Imitation Game (Tyldum)
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Reeves)
American Sniper (Eastwood)
Inherent Vice (Anderson)
The Interview (Rogen & Goldberg)
Locke (Knight)
**
The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies (Jackson)
The Hunger Games: The Mockingjay Pt. 1 (Lawrence)
Only lovers left alive (Jarmusch)
The Raid 2: Berandal (Evans)
Lucy (Besson)
*
Adieu au langage (Goodbye to lanuage: 3D; Godard)
Philip Lord, LEGO's director/writer tweeted this pic with a statement: "It's okay. Made my own."
Not the nominees reactions - we're talking about the ones that matter: ours!
Editor: Biggest flub: See title of this post.
Biggest snub: Forget Selma, which
wasn't happening anyway. You want to talk shocking snub? The LEGO movie.
What. The. Heck. I've seen Song of the Sea, it was cute. CUTE. Quaint,
even. In spite of my hatred for product placement, whatever, I think
LEGO was actually a really decent movie. I am shocked. Although, in some ways, it
really does say something about the Academy conservatism and snootiness.
I guess they just didn't want to nominate something that calls itself
the-toy-it's-trying-to-sell movie. A total undeserving snub.
Righteous Win in Predix: Marion Cotillard. Even she didn't expect it. But I knew. The Academy loves her.
"Well
that's just plain strange turn of events": "Foxcatcher getting Director
without Picture" duking it out with "Why the heck did Selma get a best
picture without anything else?" (Song does not count all that much)
Sad
little Snub: I was rooting for Force Majeure, and more than a little
surprised that it didn't get nominated. It was such a crowd pleaser.
Maybe a little off kilter, but funny as heck. It could be that the
ending threw people off? That Timbuktuu has better be good.
Another Sad even littler Snub: Ralph Fiennes. He should've gotten in considering how Budapest seems to be picking up so many nominations. :(
Griz:
[Are you] too distraught and depressed that The LEGO Movie wasn’t
nominated for Best Animated Film?! I wouldn’t blame you!! Holy crap,
what a snub! That’s gotta be the biggest one in a long, long time, in
any category. What a blunder. Even if an animation voter didn’t love the
story and such, surely they could see the unique style and animation
approach of it? It’s hard to fault any of the films that were nominated
(Song of the Sea, yay, no matter what you say!) but damn.. Everything is
NOT awesome.
Yay for The Grand Budapest Hotel! Wes
Anderson’s first nomination for Best Director, would ya believe it? I
really didn’t think it was going to be a player at all at the Oscars a
few months ago, beyond a few tech categories. So glad it wasn’t
forgotten about. Oh, and Robert Yeoman got his first Oscar nomination
too, I’ve adored his cinematography (especially for Wes Anderson, of
course) for so long, so that’s a thrill.
Lots of weird
stuff going on with these nominations though. Bradley Cooper got in for
actor, but Clint Eastwood missed out despite a DGA nomination. Bennett
Miller got nominated for Best Director, but Foxcatcher didn’t make it
into Best Picture, despite 8 BP nominees?! What the hell? OH OH OH, and
Gone Girl got ONE nomination. Just one for Nightcrawler too, poor Jake
Gyllenhaal. And only two for Selma, which makes it even more bizarre
that it got into Best Picture. How can a movie so unloved in all
categories (except for song) get a Best Picture nomination? The power of
Oprah, I guess.
Inherent Vice got a bit of love too,
which neither of us were predicting.. You can’t ever count out P.T.
Anderson! I know you weren’t in love with it, but I’m still excited to
see it.
I
thought long and hard about it, but ended up going with Amy Adams
because she generally gets nominated for every freaking thing. I
should’ve at least had Cotillard as an alt, why did I ever think Aniston
had a shot?
Anyway, ignoring the LEGO Movie snub, I’d
say these were pretty good nominees? Not too much bait stuff, although
surely some more worthy contenders missed out too.
Also,
since when does Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu go by Alejandro G.
Inarritu? The Gonzalez part is the only part of his name that people
could ever pronounce! If anything he should go by A. Gonzalez I.
Maybe I should change this site to Awards Auteur, because all I do recently is keep up with the awards season. I have to sort myself out soon? In the mean time, here are the predix from me and my friend, Griz (in Purple).
Post announcement (PA) comments in Blue.
PICTURE
American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood Foxcatcher Gone Girl
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game NightcrawlerSelma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash
American Sniper Birdman Boyhood Gone Girl The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Nightcrawler Selma The Theory of Everything Whiplash
Predix: Will it be Foxcatcher or Selma? I'm going with the PGA noms, and the fact that Selma seems to be losing steam. However, there is one thing going for Griz's pick against Foxcatcher: that picture is pretty darn cold.
PA: I think Selma totally had a political nomination in the Best Picture
category. The Academy couldn't have loved it that much if it got in nowhere else. If anything, this was probably the Academy trying to overcompensate for it not making the card on other categories. Foxcatcher, I can understand the lack of love for it somewhat. It's a really cold film. You may admire it (which is probably why Miller got in for directing) but I don't think you'd lurve it.
DIRECTOR
Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel Clint Eastwood - American SniperBennett Miller - Foxcatcher
Alejandro González I ñárritu - Birdman
Richard Linklater - Boyhood
Morten Tyldum - The Imitation Game
Alt: David Fincher - Gone Girl
Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel Clint Eastwood - American Sniper Alejandro González I ñárritu - Birdman Richard Linklater - Boyhood Morten Tyldum - The Imitation Game
Alt: David Fincher - Gone Girl
Predix: The DGA kinda set the ball in motion? It's too bad about Tyldum. The Imitation Game is not at all well directed. Though, I suppose it is better directed than it is written, which is not saying much.
PA: Eastwood inexplicably got left out of the race. I'd say the ONLY reason why Sniper is even IN the race is because of this man. Unless they really love Cooper...
ACTRESS
Marion Cotillard - Two days, One night
Felicity Jones - The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore - Still Alice
Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon - Wild
Alt: Jennifer Aniston - Cake
Amy Adams - Big Eyes Felicity Jones - The Theory of Everything Julianne Moore - Still Alice Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl Reese Witherspoon - Wild
Alt: Jennifer Aniston - Cake
Predix: I haven't seen Cake, but I feel nervous going against SAG noms. I still think there's a sheen on her that says TV ACTRESS FRIEND. We'll see in a few hours! Meanwhile, there's Marion Cotillard and Amy Adams, one in a more well reviewed film than the other, both perennial favourites. Let's split!
PA: Vindicated! My reasoning actually played out this time!
ACTOR
Steve Carell - Foxcatcher
Benedict Cumberbatch - The Imitation Game Jake Gyllenhaal - NightcrawlerBradley Cooper - American Sniper
Michael Keaton - Birdman
Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything
Alt: David Oyelowo - Selma
Benedict Cumberbatch - The Imitation Game Jake Gyllenhaal - Nightcrawler David Oyelowo - Selma Michael Keaton - Birdman Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything
Alt: Steve Carell - Foxcatcher
Predix: This is a heavy weight category - 2014 was a year filled with many strong male performances to choose from. I'm going with SAG here, but David Oyelowo could easily take that spot. The nomination that would make me so happy though would be Ralph Fiennes for The Grand Budapest Hotel. Please please please!
PA: I guess they do really love BCoop. He has been nominated, what, thrice in a row now? Jake Gyllenhaal got shafted. Although, I have to say, his character is a little close to Steve Carrell's in that "weird psycho dude" way, and Steven's was in a better 'produced' film so maybe that hurt his chance.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Patricia Arquette - Boyhood Jessica Chastain - A Most Violent YearLaura Dern - Wild
Keira Knightley - The Imitation Game
Emma Stone - Birdman
Meryl Streep - Into the Woods
Alt: Tilda Swinton - Snowpiercer
Patricia Arquette - Boyhood Jessica Chastain - A Most Violent Year Keira Knightley - The Imitation Game Emma Stone - Birdman Meryl Streep - Into the Woods
Alt: Rene Russo - Nightcrawler
Predix: I don't get the Rene Russo buzz. Beautiful lady, over the top character / performance. I could probably say the same thing about Swinton, but she was way funnier.
PA: I'm just happy the Russo thing didn't happen - not because I don't like her, but because that would've been a bad nomination. But then again, I'm pretty sure Keira got in because of the picture she was in (Game's gonna win it, watch out Boyhood!), not because of her performance (el blando). I suppose Laura Dern was a surprise nomination - I didn't see that coming, probably because I haven't seen the movie. Too bad about Tilda Swinton though.
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Robert Duvall - The Judge
Ethan Hawke - Boyhood
Edward Norton - Birdman
Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons - Whiplash
Alt: Josh Brolin - Inherent Vice
Robert Duvall - The Judge Ethan Hawke - Boyhood Edward Norton - Birdman Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher J.K. Simmons - Whiplash
Alt: Josh Brolin - Inherent Vice
Predix: This category looks pretty set. Poor Tatum.
PA: A perfectly predicted category! I would pick Brolin over Hawke though - I've never been a fan of Hawke's characterization.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Birdman
Boyhood
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Nightcrawler
Alt: Selma
Birdman Boyhood Foxcatcher The Grand Budapest Hotel Nightcrawler
Alt: Selma
PA: Selma should've picked up a spot here if it was a player. And we knew it wasn't.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
American Sniper Gone GirlInherent Vice
The Imitation Game
The Theory of Everything Wild
Alt: Whiplash
American Sniper Gone Girl The Imitation Game The Theory of Everything Whiplash
Alt: Wild
Predix: Thank goodness Griz alerted me to the Whiplash debacle. It may mean Whiplash would get shafted, depending on how the Academy members voted?
PA: I'm actually surprised that Vice got in for this particular category, because it is something of a mess, especially from a traditional point of view. If I had read more about Whiplash, I would've probably predicted it over Wild. The Academy does like to award nominations to quirky writers / directors here.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE Force Majeure (Sweden)
Ida (Poland)
Leviathan (Russia)
Tangerines (Estonia)
Wild Tales (Argentina)
Alt: Timbuktu (Mauretania)
Force Majeure (Sweden) Ida (Poland) Leviathan (Russia) Tangerines (Estonia) Wild Tales (Argentina)
Alt: Timbuktu (Mauretania)
PA: I looked at Timbuktu trailer, and I don't get it. I should celebrate Wild Tales getting in though - who knew a collection of short, crazy Argentinian films would make it to the Oscars of all places?
ANIMATED FEATURE
Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How To Train Your Dragon 2 The LEGO Movie Song of the Sea
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Alt: The Book of Life
Big Hero 6 The Boxtrolls How To Train Your Dragon 2 The LEGO Movie Song of the Sea
Alt: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya PA: As the kids say these days, I can't even.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Citizenfour Life Itself Finding Vivian Maier
Last Days in Vietnam Tales of the Grim SleeperThe salt of the Earth
Virunga
Alt: The Overnighters
Citizenfour Finding Vivian Maier Last Days in Vietnam Tales of the Grim Sleeper Virunga
Alt: The Overnighters
Predix: A truly blind set of guesses. I'm sad The Look of Silence didn't make the list though.
PA: I believe I made a mistake with my Alt. (it should've been Finding Vivian Maier) but whatever, I'm not changing it (I hope you're happy, Griz :p ). I really should rent some of these.
EDITING Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Whiplash
Alt: American Sniper
American Sniper Birdman Boyhood The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game
Alt: Nightcrawler
Predix: The Imitation Game is least deserving of a nom here, but this is an important category for Best Picture winner so it has to be here if it's going to win the whole deal.
PA: DUH! I should've thought about this more and realized that editing for Birdman would've been a silly nomination, considering its claim to fame in NOT editing.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Birdman
The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation GameIda
Mr. Turner
Unbroken
Alt: Interstellar
Birdman The Grand Budapest Hotel Interstellar Mr. Turner Unbroken
Alt: The Imitation Game
PA: I really should've paid more attention to this category (in my defense, this was really late at night, at the end of a 12 hours day that preceded by two weeks straight of such days). Of course it made sense that Ida picked up a nom here. It's in black and white!
PRODUCTION DESIGN Birdman
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Into the Woods
Interstellar
Alt: Mr. Turner
Big Eyes The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Into the Woods Mr. Turner
Alt: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
PA: So here's a strike against Birdman winning Best Picture. This is one of its more noticeable 'goods' and to lose out to an inferior Game here is not a good sign. If this says anything, it's that Game's got game and Birdman's pooped.
VISUAL EFFECTS
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Guardians of the Galaxy The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five ArmiesCaptain America: The Winter Soldier
Interstellar Godzilla!!!!!
Alt: X-Men: Days of Future Past
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Guardians of the Galaxy The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Interstellar X-Men: Days of Future Past
Alt: Godzilla PA: Alas, wishful thinking doesn't make it true. Sorry, Godzilla. I don't get the Captain America nomination here though. How is it any better than Godzilla? It's not. This category sucks.
SOUND MIXING
American Sniper
Interstellar Into the Woods
Unbroken
Whiplash
Alt: Birdman
American Sniper Birdman Guardians of the Galaxy The Imitation Game Unbroken
Alt: Interstellar
PA: Into the Woods: D.O.A.
SOUND EDITING
American Sniper Guardians of the GalaxyBirdman
Interstellar
Unbroken Whiplash
Alt: The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
American Sniper Birdman Guardians of the Galaxy Interstellar Unbroken
Alt: The Grand Budapest Hotel
MAKE UP & HAIRSTYLING
Foxcatcher
Guardians of the Galaxy The Theory of Everything
Alt: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Foxcatcher Guardians of the Galaxy The Theory of Everything
Alt: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Predix: I thought about Planet of the Apes, and I'm like, this is the Oscars. They don't care for Make up! They care for prosthetic acting! Hence, un-deserving Foxcacther probably gets it. Way to go, Carell's nose.
PA: Yup, the nose triumphs, once again. It's nice to see Budapest here though - it means, the Academy actually likes this movie!
COSTUME
The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation GameInherent Vice The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five ArmiesMaleficent
Into the Woods
Mr. Turner
Alt: Guardians of the Galaxy
The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Into the Woods Maleficent Mr. Turner
Alt: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
PA: I don't get Vice's nomination here. Hobbit wuz robbed.
SCORE Gone GirlMr. Turner
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
The Theory of Everything
Alt: Birdman
Birdman The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Interstellar The Theory of Everything
Alt: Gone Girl
PA: I'm a little surprised at the over-performance of Mr. Turner.
SONG
Begin Again Big EyesBeyond the Lights
The LEGO Movie
Selma The Hunger GamesGlen Campbell: I'll be me
Alt: Annie
Begin Again Big Eyes Boyhood The LEGO Movie Selma
Alt: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
PA: This category once again goes bananas. I should've known there would be something out of the left field like ... um, Glen Campbell: I'll be me. Is that even a movie?
My special guest, Griz, helpfully contributes (in purple) as usual. Actual winners tomorrow evening will be in red.
PICTURE (DRAMA)
The imitation game Alternate: Boyhood
It is so clear to me that The Imitation Game would be the picture to beat. It feels congratulatory good to feel bad watching this film. I'm not convinced Boyhood has enough heart string tugging or star power to win the whole deal. <--- I'll be right at the Oscars...
Boyhood
Alt: The Imitation Game
PICTURE (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Birdman Alt. Into the Woods
I really want to have faith in Budapest winning, but it may be too quirky for Globes. <--- Oh ye of no faith, said I!
Birdman Alt: The Grand Budapest Hotel
DIRECTOR
Alejandro González Iñárritu - Birdman Alt. Richard Linklater - Boyhood
I predict it'll go to the most obviously directed of the two (predicted) eventual picture winners. <--- I'm not doing too well at this, am I.
Richard Linklater - Boyhood
Alt: Alejandro González Iñárritu - Birdman
ACTRESS (DRAMA)
Reese Witherspoon - Wild Alt. Julianne Moore - Still Alice
I feel like going Wild with this one. I think the Globes still likes stars, and I'm not entirely convinced Moore would take this glitter ball when someone more popular like Reese is in the race. I could be wrong, but what an upset it would be if I was right?! <--- I really shouldn't have gone wild. Though, this means Julianne Moore is definitely winning the Oscars!
Julianne Moore - Still Alice
Alt: Reese Witherspoon - Wild
ACTOR (DRAMA) Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything Alt. Benedict Cumberbatch - The Imitation Game
Spread the wealth? Spread the wealth. <--- FINALLY. I predicted something right. Jeez.
Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything
Alt: Benedict Cumberbatch - The Imitation Game
ACTOR (COMEDY/MUSICAL) Michael Keaton - Birdman Alt. Ralph Fiennes - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Batman in his underwear, fleeing in embarrassment. It's acting! I'm rooting for Ralph Fiennnnnnes, of course. That stache is pure gold in acting.
Michael Keaton - Birdman
Alt: Ralph Fiennes - The Grand Budapest Hotel
ACTRESS (COMEDY / MUSICAL) Amy Adams - Big Eyes Alt. Julianne Moore - Maps to the stars
I don't know why I'm predicting a double snub for Julianne - I like her! May be I'm not feeling the hype, and maybe she'd be a victim of split votes. Plus, Amy Adams. How could they not like Amy Adams?
Amy Adams - Big Eyes
Alt: Emily Blunt - Into the Woods
SUPPORTING ACTRESS Patricia Arquette - Boyhood Alt. Meryl Streep - Into the Woods
I know I'm predicting against the Streep, but Boyhood may need this thing because it's not winning anything else except Screenplay.
Patricia Arquette - Boyhood
Alt: Meryl Streep - Into the Woods
SUPPORTING ACTOR J. K. Simmons - Whiplash Alt. Ed Norton - Birdman
This category has been predetermined - Simmons' gonna get it. Nobody here is a big enough star to upset the critical weight that Simmons carries for this film.
J.K. Simmons - Whiplash
Alt: Edward Norton - Birdman
SCREENPLAY
Boyhood Alt. The Imitation Game
I don't feel confident with this pick, at least not as much as I'd like. I hope the Imitation Game doesn't get it - that would be decidedly not funny.
Birdman Alt: Boyhood
FOREIGN FILM FEATURE
Ida X Leviathan Alt. Force Majeure
I haven't seen Ida, but judging on how it's the only sure thing on anyone's list so far, and with its subject matter, how can it miss? However, I wouldn't mind Force Majeure taking it. That movie's HILARIOUS.
Ida (Poland)
Alt: Force Majeure (Sweden)
ANIMATED FEATURE
Lego Movie X How to train your dragons 2 (?!WTH?) Alt. Big Hero 6
Other than Lego Movie and Song of the Sea, I have no clue how the other ones stack up. The Lego Movie was such a surprise hit, I think they'd reward it. Future self: steal this same reasoning for the eventual Oscars winner prediction in this category.
The LEGO Movie
Alt: The Boxtrolls
SCORE
Gone girl X The Theory of Everything Alt: Interstellar
This is a good place to throw something like Gone Girl a bone, though Interstellar may upset (not likely, I don't think. It's so dead this award season for some reason.).
Birdman
Alt: The Imitation Game
SONG Selma Alt. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1
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