Okay, a lot of interesting stuff. I’ve already mentioned the trailers for Unbroken and Wild in a previous post, but I cannot stop watching this Into The Woods teaser. Could it still get in? I think that depends on the reviews once it comes out. Well, there’s a lot of updating to do, so let’s not waste any more time!

BEST PICTURE

Big Eyes
Birdman
Boyhood
Foxcatcher
Gone Girl
Inherent Vice
Interstellar
Into The Woods
Unbroken

Surprisingly, the trailer for The Imitation Game is pretty good, but I had a difficult time seeing if I should go with that, Into The Woods, or Trash. It’s insanely tight, ask about it tomorrow and I may change this lineup. And seeing how everybody seems to be in love with Boyhood, I’d say it’s a sure thing for a nomination. As for the win, I’ll go with Unbroken. It seems to be just the ind of thing Academy voters go for.

BEST DIRECTOR

Paul Thomas Anderson, Inherent Vice
David Fincher, Gone Girl
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Birdman
Angelina Jolie, Unbroken
Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher

Christopher Nolan or Richard Linklater could get in if they campaign right, but as of now, this lineup looks about right. I’ll give Jolie the win for now, but look out – actor turned directors often have a head time impressing the Academy.

BEST ACTOR

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Jack O’Connell, Unbroken
Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice

Really tough to narrow down. I came ‘this’ close to predicting Eddie Redmayne, who looked pretty amazing in the Theory Of Everything trailer but Ultimately what Cumberbatch has over Redmayne is Harvey Weinstein’s backing.

BEST ACTRESS

Amy Adams, Big Eyes
Jessica Chastain, The Disappearance Of Elanor Rigby
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Meryl Streep, Into The Woods
Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Interestingly, many have declared this category weak since Suite Française was pushed to next year. I think these five actresses should be able to pull off a strong category. The only question now is when are we gonna get a Big Eyes trailer?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Josh Brolin, Inherent Vice
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J. K. Simmons, Whiplash
Tom Wilkinson, Selma

Probably the most wide open of the acting categories. Simmons looked brilliant in the Whiplash trailer, but he doesn’t seem like really an Oscar winner to me.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year
Anna Kendrick, Into The Woods
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Emma Stone, Birdman

This is a really tricky category. Hopefully Arquette is able to get in. Since Davis isn’t getting the notices she needed for ‘Get On Up’, I’ve removed her. As for the win, I have no idea. I’ll go with kendrick.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Big Eyes
Birdman
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Interstellar
Mr. Turner

I think I’ll leave the category as is. Although in all seriousness, It’s possible that Lego Movie gets on if they campaign hard enough. Look at this page to see how clever the script really is.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Foxcatcher
Gone Girl
Inherent Vice
The Imitation Game
Unbroken

So close. Like with Best Actor, I almost put ‘Theory Of Everything’ here but decided against it.

BEST FILM EDITING

Foxcatcher
Gone Girl
Inherent Vice
Interstellar
Unbroken

Birdman won’t be nominated here (not a lot of actual editing), so I think these five are a good bet. As for the win, Fincher’s films have won here twice before, but watch out for Unbroken.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Birdman
Gone Girl
Inherent Vice
Interstellar
Unbroken

Every time Roger Deakins is nominated we all want him to win. But this time he’s helping what could very well be our Best Picture winner. I really want to be right this time.

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Big Eyes
Exodus: Gods & Kings
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Into The Woods

I don’t feel as confident with this lineup as I do with some of the others, but ill leave it this way for now.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Big Eyes
Exodus: Gods & Kings
Into The Woods
Maleficent
Unbroken

Not a bad lineup, but there’s not really a clear winner here.

BEST MAKEUP

Foxcatcher
The Hobbit: Battle Of The Five Armies
Into The Woods

Good lineup, and I think Into The Woods has a strong chance of winning this. But let me tell you, the idea of not showing Johnny Depp’s face in the trailer is GENIUS. Hopefully the makeup impresses.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes
Gaurdians Of The Galaxy
The Hobbit: There And Back Again
Interstellar
Into The Woods

We haven’t had two Best Picture nominees in the Visual Effects lineup since 2009, but I think it could happen again this year. In fact, we could potentially have THREE nominees if Birdman‘s effects impress.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Big Eyes
Foxcatcher
Inherent Vice
Interstellar
Unbroken

Really tight category, but I think I’ll give this to Unbroken mainly because of composer Alexandre Desplat. Simply put, he wrote this. The man deserves an Oscar.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

“???”, Annie
“Everything Is Awesome”, The Lego Movie
“Lost Stars”, Begin Again
“Something So Right”, Muppets Most Wanted
“The Witch’s Song”, Into The Woods

Interestingly, ‘Begin Again’ has issued the first real Oscar campaign for Best Song for ‘Lost Stars’, personally, I can’t decide if I like ‘Lost Stars’ or ‘A Step You Can’t Take Back’ more.

BEST SOUND EDITING

Fury
Guardians Of The Galaxy
The Hobbit: Battle Of The Five Armies
Interstellar
Unbroken

This category doesn’t seem too interesting.

BEST SOUND MIXING

Gone Girl
Fury
Interstellar
Into The Woods
Unbroken

There’s not much to this category either.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How To Train Your Dragon 2
The Lego Movie
The Princess Kaguya.

Everything WILL be awesome if The Lego Movie wins

Note: I need to see some more movies, what do you recommend? Cavalry? The Fault In Our Stars? Get On Up? Guardians Of The Galaxy? The Hundred-Foot Journey? Please post in the comments what movies I should get caught up on.