87th Academy Award Winner Predictions
January 16, 2015The nominations for the 87th Academy Awards were announced yesterday.
While I still get excited about the Academy Awards every year because the show itself is fun to watch, I’ve gotten pretty familiar with films I’m actually interested in getting snubbed from every award. Superhero and sci-fi movies are what usually get me to the theatre the fastest, but apparently the Academy and I have very different tastes. So, despite not having seen many of this year’s nominated films, I decided to try to choose some winners.
A poor decision, really, but fun nevertheless.
Be warned, the following choices range from completely sincere to absolutely uninformed, but I’m pretty sure it’s obvious which ones are which. I didn’t include my picks for Documentary, Live Action Short, Foreign Language Film or Writing because, well, I didn’t watch any of the films nominated (and in many cases I’d never even heard of them) and so deem myself unworthy of choosing a winner. That is just too much pressure for me.
Let’s begin!
Best Picture: Selma
I’d personally really like to see Selma win this one. I’ve been waiting a long time for a truly fantastic and honest film about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and this one is about as honest as it gets. Plus it was directed by the fantastic Ava Duvernay – one of very few prominent Black female directors and a recent inspiration of mine – and while she was snubbed for Best Director, perhaps her film’s quality can still be recognized. I’d also consider The Theory of Everything to be a top contender.
Actor in a Leading Role: Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything
Okay, so I didn’t get to see any of the films nominated yet, but I can tell you that Eddie Redmayne’s performance in The Theory of Everything gives me chills just from watching the trailers.
Actress in a Leading Role: Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything
Honestly, I don’t have much of a reason. She just seems like a good choice.
Actor in a Supporting Role: Edward Norton – Birdman
I find it amusing that two Hulk actors are nominated in this category. That’s pretty much all I can say about it.
Actress in a Supporting Role: Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
I’m not much of a Keira fan but I’m going to give her this one. Based on what I’ve seen of it and the reviews I’ve heard, she was pretty great. And no, I’m not voting for Meryl Streep here because, while she is fabulous, I’m sure her trophy case is running out of space.
Directing: Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel
As a film student I am contractually obligated to pretend I know who Wes Anderson is and think he is amazing despite having never seen any of his movies.
Animated Feature Film: How To Train Your Dragon 2
This movie was absolutely amazing and deserves not only the nomination, but the win in this category. While I do love Big Hero 6, I think that overall Dragon 2 deserves it more. From the story to the animation, it was stunning all around and is officially one of my favourite animated films. If is doesn’t win, I might cry.
As a side note, if Dragon 2 does not win but Big Hero 6 does, I will be morally conflicted and forced to perform a combination of extreme sadness and outward celebration.
Cinematography: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Based on the trailers, the cinematography in The Grand Budapest Hotel looked quite excellent. …That’s really all I got.
Costume Design: Into The Woods
Let’s be real here, I was obviously going to choose either this or Maleficent. Into The Woods’ costume department was right on point with this one, helping to create a beautiful and believable world while still paying homage to the original musical’s design.
Film Editing: The Imitation Game
Wow I really did not see many of these movies. …There were three Marvel movies out this year, I was a bit preoccupied alright?
Makeup and Hairstyling: Guardians of the Galaxy
Because aliens. Between Ronan, Gamora, Nebula and Drax, there is no question about it. Also, can you imagine how much blue and green paint they had to go through? Plus there were entire cities of believable aliens wearing prosthetics. Talk about makeup work…
Music – Original Score: Hans Zimmer – Interstellar
Hans Zimmer’s work is consistently amazing – especially on Christopher Nolan films – and they keep nominating him but not giving him the award. I realize because I’m such a huge Zimmer fan that this choice may be biased, but Alexandre Desplat has 2 nominations in the same category so I’m not the only one being unfair here.
Music – Original Song: “Glory” – Selma
This song is my jam and it’s just glorious (pun intended). I was going to vote for “Everything is Awesome” but even I find that song a bit tired now.
Production Design: Interstellar and Into the Woods
It’s a tie! Both films have their merits and are so very different from each other that I couldn’t decide.
Short Film – Animated: Feast
This short was absolutely adorable and heartwarming, plus the animation was so interesting to watch. If it doesn’t win, I would like the Academy to take a moment to question their life choices.
Sound Editing: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Just to clarify something: the Sound Editing award is for best sound design and sound editing, while the Sound Mixing award is mainly for the on-set recording and final mix of sound levels. With that cleared up, my choice for sound editing is definitely The Hobbit. Sound and visual effects are key when it comes to creating grand fantasy worlds like Middle-Earth, and I think The Hobbit team delivered yet again in this department.
Sound Mixing: Interstellar
Christopher Nolan’s sound teams – particularly Gary Rizzo and Richard King – are often nominated in these categories for his films. With good reason, because they are pretty good and what they do and know the value of dynamics and silence. So yes, let’s just assume Rizzo is going to win this one again. Four for you, Gary Rizzo. You go, Gary Rizzo.
Visual Effects: Guardians of the Galaxy
In an ideal world, they’d all win. Actually in an ideal world the Academy would appreciate sci-fi and superhero films a lot more and I wouldn’t have to choose from all of my favourites crammed into just one category, but perhaps that’s too much to ask for. Captain America: Winter Soldier has massive Helicarrier battles, and X-Men: Days of Future Past had awesome Sentinels and mutant powers, but Guardians of the Galaxy managed to create 2 out of its 5 lead characters using CGI and successfully blended them into the rest of the film, so I’ll have to give it the win. And for anyone who wants to refute that Interstellar should win because of all its space stuff, I would remind you that Guardians also had plenty of space stuff. So there you go.