Okay, not a whole lot has changed since last time. I don’t think we got any new trailers, but certain films have premiered in film festivals, which makes a big difference.

BEST PICTURE

Birdman
Boyhood
Foxcatcher
Gone Girl
Inherent Vice
Interstellar
Into The Woods
The Theory Of Everything
Unbroken

I decided to get rid of Big Eyes for now. Early word on the film isn’t too good. I replaced it with The Theory Of Everything, which has some great buzz going for it.

BEST DIRECTOR

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

At the moment, I think the category looks fine as it is. I wonder how much longer it’ll be before we get a trailer for Inherent Vice. As for the win, I’ll give that to Jolie.

BEST ACTOR

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Jack O’Connell, Unbroken
Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory Of Everything

Replaced Cumberbatch with Redmayne. This is tough. I could see any of these men winning

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

So Felicity Jones will be campaigning Lead for Theory Of Everything, but I ultimately decided to leave her out. Also, even though the general opinion on Big Eyes is underwhelming, there is some good buzz on Amy Adams’ performance. Plus, the academy is no stranger to giving awards to deserving actors for not-so deserving roles.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

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

This category is wide open. With news that James Corden is taking over the Late Show, he may have the popularity he needs to get a nomination, but I’m leaving him out for now. I guess I’ll give the win to Ruffalo.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Emily Blunt, Into The Woods
Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year
Anna Kendrick, Into The Woods
Emma Stone, Birdman

Arquette is slowly but surely becoming the frontrunner, and I have no problem with that performance winning an Oscar. Replaced Knightley with Blunt.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Birdman
Boyhood
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Interstellar

Really tight category, but Birdman seems to have the upper hand. Replaced Big Eyes and Mr. Turner with Boyhood and Foxcatcher.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Gone Girl
Inherent Vice
The Imitation Game
The Theory Of Everything
Unbroken

Again, tight race. I replaced Foxcatcher with Theory Of Everything. Let’s hope that

BEST FILM EDITING

Foxcatcher
Gone Girl
Inherent Vice
Interstellar
Unbroken

I feel very strong about these five. Plus, this’ll be a good place to throw above to Gone Girl.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Birdman
Gone Girl
Inherent Vice
Interstellar
Unbroken

I made my decision long ago. This WILL be Roger Deakins’ year. If Unbroken wins nothing else, it will win Cinematography.

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

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

I think this is a strong lineup, And Into The Woods will be a strong winner.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

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

Replaced Maleficent with Selma, because this’ll be a good place to nominate it. Coleen Atwood, make room for Oscar #4!

BEST MAKEUP

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

Maybe they’re hiding Johnny Depp’s face because the makeup looks really bad. I hope not.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

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

Yeah, I think this lineup looks good. No reason to change it.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Big Eyes
Foxcatcher
Inherent Vice
Interstellar
Unbroken

I’m going to keep saying it. Alexandre Desplat. Wrote. This. Give the guy an Oscar.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

“???” Annie
“All Of Our Stars,” The Fault In Our Stars
“Everything Is Awesome”, The Lego Movie
“Lost Stars”, Begin Again
“Something So Right”, Muppets Most Wanted

So, the Witch’s song has been cut, and as we all know you can’t get an Oscar nomination if you’re not in the finished film. Otherwise, Imelda Staunton would have gotten an Oscar nomination for this scene.

BEST SOUND EDITING

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

I like this lineup.

BEST SOUND MIXING

Gone Girl
Fury
Interstellar
Into The Woods
Unbroken

And this one, too.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

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

Interestingly, only three sequels have ever been nominated in this category. Add to that the fact that DreamWorks will likely campaign HTTYD2 for Best Picture, and we all know how that worked out for Rise Of The Guardians. In short, there is a chance that the film will not be nominated for Animated Feature. It’s not likely, but it’s possible. And if it happens, it will officially be the greatest thing the Academy has ever done.

Well, that’s my predictions update. Stay tuned this week for my Chariots Of Fire review and the 2011 edition of The Ultimate Snub.