Final 2015 Oscar Predictions

1.

No change in position, but I am starting to see it as a favorite to win. It cleaned up the critic's awards circuit, and is getting love from the HFPA (Golden Glodes), SAG, PGA, and the BAFTAs.

2.

Damn, what a comeback. After many, including myself, presumed that it couldn't overcome it's March release date, The Grand Budapest Hotel has charged back with a vengeance. It's picked up nominations from all of the major precursors, including leading the way at the BAFTAs with 11 nods, and beat favorite Birdman at the Golden Globes. It appears to be a lock.

3.

Still a big threat.

4.

No change.

5.

No change.

6.

Selma has had a rough awards season. It was ineligible for SAG consideration, and missed out at the PGAs and BAFTAs entirely. It did do well at the Golden Globes and the Critic's Choice awards though, and with a strong dose of critical adoration (it currently has 98% on Rotten Tomatoes) I think it makes it into the category, though I don't think it's prospects of winning are as high as I once did.

7.

While it hasn't necessarily been doing very with the precursors, it only made that cut at the PGAs, I think that it's popping at just the right time.

8.

It may end up being pushed out in favor of something bigger, but thing's are looking pretty good for Whiplash

9.

This is tough, but I think Foxcatcher makes the cut. While it hasn't been the flashiest, it's been doing modestly, scoring BP nods at the Golden Globes and PGAs, and a string of other nods. But don't count out...

Other Possibilities

10.

11.

12.

Result: 8/8

1.

Richard Linklater- Boyhood
No change. Likely winner.

2.

Alejandro González Iñárritu- Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
No change. Absolute lock.

3.

Wes Anderson- The Grand Budapest Hotel
With Budapest Hotel's momentum at it's peak, look for Anderson to make the cut for his first Best Director nomination ever.

4.

Ava DuVernay- Selma
Like I said earlier, Selma hasn't had the best season. However, I don't think the academy would pass up the opportunity to nominate the first African-American woman ever, especially for such a deserving effort. (Watch me be wrong)

5.

Clint Eastwood- American Sniper
This is where it gets very tricky. There are numerous possibilities, with various directors surging at the moment. But I just think that Eastwood's name recognition, aided by Sniper's late surge, will win out here. This is probably wrong.

Other Possibilities

6.

Morten Tyldum- The Imitation Game

7.

Damien Chazelle- Whiplash

8.

David Fincher- Gone Girl

9.

Bennett Miller- Foxcatcher

10.

Dan Gilroy- Nightcrawler

Result: 3/5

1.

Julianne Moore- Still Alice
Likely winner.

2.

Reese Witherspoon- Wild

3.

Rosamund Pike- Gone Girl

4.

Felicity Jones- The Theory of Everything

5.

Jennifer Aniston- Cake
After being under the radar for months, Aniston seems like a solid bet here. She's been nominated at the SAGs, Critic's Choice, and Golden Globe awards.

Other Possibilities

6.

Amy Adams- Big Eyes

7.

Marion Cotillard- Two Days, One Night

Result: 4/5

1.

Michael Keaton- Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Still the frontrunner.

2.

Eddie Redmayne- The Theory of Everything
Still keeping it close between him and Keaton.

3.

Benedict Cumberbatch- The Imitation Game

4.

Jake Gyllenhaal- Nightcrawler
After looking like a longshot for most of the year, Gyllenhaal came roaring back. If he's not a lock, he's pretty damn close. Scoring at the SAGs, BAFTAs, Critic's Choice Awards, and the Globes; it would be a huge shock if he missed out.

5.

Ralph Fiennes- The Grand Budapest Hotel
This is probably my most out-there pick here, but with the film's recent success, and aided by his nominations at the Critic's Choice, BAFTA, and Golden Globes, I think Fiennes squeaks in.

Other Possibilities

6.

David Oyelowo- Selma
With Selma recent snubs, Oyelowo's chances have been hurt. While he's still got a strong chance, though really all the men in this section do, missing out at the SAGs and, more punishingly, the BAFTAs definitely hurts his odds.

7.

Steve Carell- Foxcatcher
Carell seemed like a lock just months ago; now things don't look very good. He's still a possibility, in not just this category. See below...

8.

Bradley Cooper- American Sniper
While he has been left out of the conversation for the most part, American Sniper is gaining in traction and Cooper could ride the momentum.

Result: 3/5

1.

J.K. Simmons- Whiplash

2.

Edward Norton- Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

3.

Mark Ruffalo- Foxcatcher

4.

Ethan Hawke- Boyhood

5.

Steve Carell- Foxcatcher
The recent BAFTA nominations proposed a possibility that I don't think anyone saw coming; they nominated Carell in the supporting category. It's happened before, back in 2008 Kate Winslet campaigned for Supporting Actress for The Reader, but was instead nominated, and won, for Best Actress. While this is likely not to happen, the fifth spot in this category is pretty in flux. While Duvall scored at the Critic's choice, Golden Globes, and SAGs, there's not much love for The Judge, and a lot of outright hate. This type of oddity is rare, but it's just crazy enough for me to hop on the bandwagon.

Other Possibilities

6.

Robert Duvall- The Judge

7.

Josh Brolin- Inherent Vice

Result: 4/5

1.

Patricia Arquette- Boyhood

2.

Keira Knightley- The Imitation Game

3.

Emma Stone- Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

4.

Meryl Streep- Into the Woods

5.

Jessica Chastain- A Most Violent Year

Other Possibilities

6.

Renee Russo- Nightcrawler
If there's anyone I think that can truly break-in to this category, it would be Russo. The love that Nightcrawler has been getting is heavy, and she just recently picked up a BAFTA nod. While I'm still going with Chastain for the No. 5 spot, don't be surprised to see Russo's name pop up.

7.

Laura Dern- Wild

Result: 4/5

1.

Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo- Birdman
Birdman is still the frontrunner here, but the No. 2 film here is definitely giving it a run.

2.

Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness- The Grand Budapest Hotel
Like I've said already; it's got a LOT of momentum.

3.

Richard Linklater- Boyhood

4.

Dan Gilroy- Nightcrwler
Nightcrawler is another film that has had a surprisingly strong post-season. With this category being in flux in the wake of recent precursor awards, and Whiplash's move to Adapted, Gilroy looks like a strong bet here.

5.

Dan Futterman & E. Max Frye- Foxcatcher
The fifth spot is pretty much wide open. Any of the films on the "other possibilities" list could come in here, but with Foxcatcher scoring at the WGAs, I'm leaning in it's favor.

Other Possibilities

6. Paul Webb- Selma
7. Mike Leigh- Mr. Turner
8. JC Chandor- A Most Violent Year
9. Ira Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias- Love Is Strange
9. Chris Rock- Top Five

Result: 5/5

1.

Graham Moore- The Imitation Game

2.

Anthony McCarten- The Theory of Everything

3.

Damien Chazelle- Whiplash
To people curious why Whiplash is in adapted instead of original, I shared your confusion at first. Being perfectly honest, after hearing the reason why, I'm still a little confused. Here it is; Back at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, director Damien Chazelle presented an 18-minute short that he made to entice potential investors. This is something that many filmmakers have done in the past, and it usually doesn't have in barring during awards season. Unfortunately, this mistake was noticed until recently, and nothing can be done about it now. Even with that clusterfuck though, Whiplash is definitely still in the mix. Hell, it may even have a better chance here, where the category is quite thin.

4.

Gillian Flynn- Gone Girl

5.

Jason Hall- American Sniper
With American Sniper gaining some momentum, a WGA nomination, and a weaker crowd here, Hall has a strong shot at making it into the final crowd.

Other Possibilities

6. Paul Thomas Anderson- Inherent Vice
7. Nick Hornby- Wild
8. James Gunn and Nicole Perlman- Guardians of the Galaxy
9. Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland- Still Alice
10. Jon Stewart- Rosewater

Result: 4/5

1.

Heavy frontrunner.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Other Possibilities

6.

7.

Result: 4/5

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Result: 4/5

1.

The last two years, this category has been won be the sentimental choice; Searching for Sugar Man in 2012 and 20 Feet from Stardom last year. Life Itself could definitely occupy that position this year. While I won't go as far as to say that it's going to win, I'm calling it the favorite.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Result: 2/5

1.

Johann Johannsson- The Theory of Everything

2.

Alexandre Desplat- The Imitation Game

3.

Alexandre Desplat- The Grand Budapest Hotel

4.

Hans Zimmer- Interstellar

5.

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross- Gone Girl

Other Possibilities

6. Alexandre Desplat- Unbroken
7. Thomas Newman- The Judge
8. Marco Beltrami- The Homesman

Result: 4/5

1.

"Glory"- Selma

2.

"Lost Stars"- Begin Again

3.

"Everything Is Awesome"- The Lego Movie

4.

"Yellow Flicker Beat"- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part I

5.

"Big Eyes"- Big Eyes

Other Possibilities

6. "Mercy Is"- Noah
7. "Miracles"- Unbroken
8. "I'm Not Gonna Miss You"- Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
9. "The Last Goodbye"- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
10. "Ryan's Song"- Boyhood

Result: 3/5

1.

Emmanuel Lubezki- Birdman
At this point, it's looking like Lubezki's to lose. This would be his second win in a row.

2.

Dick Pope- Mr. Turner

3.

Robert D. Yeoman- The Grand Budapest Hotel

4.

Roger Deakins- Unbroken

5.

Bradford Young- Selma

Other Possibilities

6.

Oscar Faura- The Imitation Game

7.

Hoyte Van Hoytema- Interstellar

8.

Benoit Delhomme- The Theory of Everything

9.

Robert Elswit- Inherent Vice

10.

Jeff Cronenweth- Gone Girl

Result: 4/5

1.

Adam Stockhausen & Anna Pinnock- The Grand Budapest Hotel

2.

Dennis Gassner & Anna Pinnock- Into The Woods

3.

Suzie Davies & Charlotte Watts- Mr. Turner

4.

Nathan Crowley, Garry Fettis & Paul Healy- Interstellar

5.

Maria Djurkovic- The Imitation Game

Other Possibilities

6.

Kevin Thompson & George DeTitta Jr.- Birdman

7.

Dan Hennah & Ra Vincent- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

8.

Jon Hutman & Lisa Thompson- Unbroken

9.

Dylan Cole, Gary Freeman & Lee Sandales- Maleficent

10.

Mark Friedberg & Elizabeth Keenan- Selma

Result: 5/5

1.

Colleen Atwood- Into The Woods

2.

Milena Canonero- The Grand Budapest Hotel

3.

Anna B. Sheppard- Maleficent

4.

Jacqueline Durran- Mr. Turner

5.

Ruth E. Carter- Selma

Other Possibilities

6.

Sammy Sheldon Differ- The Imitation Game

7.

Bob Buck, Ann Maskrey- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

8.

Mark Bridges- Inherent Vice

9.

Janty Yates- Exodus: Gods and Kings

10.

Steven Noble- The Theory of Everything

Result: 4/5

1. Sandra Adair- Boyhood
2. Douglas Crise- Birdman
3. William Goldenberg- The Imitation Game
4. Joel Cox & Gary Roach- American Sniper
5. Barney Pilling- The Grand Budapest Hotel

Other Possibilities6. Tom Cross- Whiplash
7. Kirk Baxter- Gone Girl
8. Spencer Averick- Selma
9. Jinx Godfrey- The Theory of Everything
10. John Gilroy- Nightcrawler

Result: 4/5

1. American Sniper
2. Interstellar
3. Fury
4. Godzilla
5. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Other Possibilities6. Unbroken
7. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
8. Into the Woods
9. Transformers: Age of Extinction
10. Gone Girl

Result: 3/5

1. Into the Woods
2. American Sniper
3. Birdman
4. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
5. Get on Up

Other Possibilities6. Transformers: Age of Extinction
7. Fury
8. Unbroken
9. Godzilla
10. Interstellar

Result: 2/5

1.

Foxcatcher

2.

Guardians of the Galaxy

3.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Other Possibilities

4.

Maleficent

5.

The Theory of Everything

6.

Noah

7.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Seriously?

Result: 3/3

1.

Interstellar

2.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

3.

Guardians of the Galaxy

4.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

5.

Godzilla

Other Possibilities

6.

Transformers: Age of Extinction
Please don't.

7.

Maleficent

8.

X-Men: Days of Future Past

9.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

10.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Result: 3/5