Final Oscar Predictions - February, 21st

This has been a very boring Awards Season for the most part, with only a couple unexpected events occurring. Eddie Redmayne winning the SAG, which then made him the front-runner for Best Actor was the first big shake-up. Then the unexpected cultural event that American Sniper became at the last minute, which put Bradley Cooper in the race with none of the precursors (SAG, Globes, BAFTA, BFCA, etc.)

However the biggest twist was Birdman's rise over Boyhood. Boyhood began the season the favorite, but Birdman won almost every guild which seemingly has made it the front-runner, but then Boyhood went and won the BAFTA. The last two Oscar races have split Best Picture and Best Director, which rarely happens but I think it may happen again? Both films have been lauded for their direction, but for some reason the race is so close that I can't figure out which way to go. Three straight splits would be insane, but it's highly likely. Birdman just seems so out there for the Academy, but Boyhood isn't their usual fare either. If Sniper had more time to build buzz, I think it could have taken it.

Final Predictions:

Best Picture:
WINNER: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Alternate: Boyhood

Best Director:
WINNER: Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Alternate: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Best Actor:
WINNER: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Alternate: Michael Keaton, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) or Bradley Cooper, American Sniper

Best Actress:
WINNER: Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Alternate: None, Julianne isn't losing.

Best Supporting Actor:
WINNER: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Alternate: He isn't losing either.

Best Supporting Actress:
WINNER: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Alternate: None, she's the biggest lock of the night.

Best Original Screenplay:
WINNER: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Alternate: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Adapted Screenplay:
WINNER: The Imitation Game
Alternate: Whiplash

Best Animated Feature:
WINNER: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Alternate: Big Hero 6

Best Foreign Film:
WINNER: Ida
Alternate: Wild Tales

Best Documentary:
WINNER: Citizen Four
Alternate: The Salt of the Earth

Best Original Score:
WINNER: The Theory of Everything
Alternate: The Imitation Game

Best Original Song:
WINNER: "I'm Not Gonna Miss You", Glenn Campbell: I'll Be Me
Alternate: "Glory", Selma

Best Film Editing:
WINNER: Whiplash
Alternate: Boyhood

Best Cinematography:
WINNER: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Alternate: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Art Direction:
WINNER:: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alternate: Into The Woods

Best Costume Design:
WINNER: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alternate: Into the Woods

Best Makeup:
WINNER: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alternate: Guardians of the Galaxy

Best Sound Mixing:
WINNER: Whiplash
Alternate: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Best Sound Editing:
WINNER: American Sniper
Alternate: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Best Visual Effects:
WINNER: Interstellar
Alternate: Guardians of the Galaxy

Hope y'all enjoy the show!