2015 Oscar Thoughts

Since tonight's the Oscars, I thought it would be fun to look at the nominees in major categories and see who I think will win, who should win, and who was snubbed. Let's take a look...

Best Original Score

The Nominees are...

Alexandre Desplat for 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

Alexandre Desplat for 'The Imitation Game'

Hans Zimmer for 'Interstellar'

Gary Yershon for 'Mr. Turner'

Johann Johannsson for 'The Theory of Everything'

Who Will Win?

The academy loves sappy violins mixed with stories of love and disease, so I'm going with Johann Johannsson for 'The Theory of Everything'.

Who Should Win?

Hans Zimmer really impressed me with his piano driven score for Christopher Nolan's epic 'Interstellar'. Proving that his noisy percussion can't get in the way of his true talents.

Who Was Snubbed?

Newcomer Mica Levi created one of the most beautiful, yet haunting soundtracks I've ever heard in last year's 'Under the Skin', and it's sorely lacking from many award ballots this year.

Best Animated Feature

The Nominees are...

'Big Hero 6'

'The Boxtrolls'

'How to Train Your Dragon 2'

'Song of the Sea'

'The Tale of Princess Kaguya'

Who Will Win?

I think the academy responds to 'How to Train Your Dragon 2's emotional heft and beautiful art design, making it a sure win for this year's animated feature.

Who Should Win?

As much as I enjoyed 'Big Hero 6', 'How To Train Your Dragon 2' was not only my favorite animated film this year, it was my favorite animated feature to come out since 'Toy Story 3'.

Who Was Snubbed?

...well duh!

Best Original Screenplay

The Nominees are...

'Birdman' (or 'The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance')

'Boyhood'

'Foxcatcher'

'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

'Nightcrawler'

Who Will Win?

This is a tough category, but I have to go with 'Birdman'. The Academy loves a good comeback story, and 'Birdman's was this year's best and most beautifully written.

Who Should Win?

While I thought the writing was absolutely terrific in 'Birdman', 'Nightcrawler's cold, sarcastic and bitter look at modern day media came out so beautifully in the writing of that film.

Who Was Snubbed?

Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan's  witty, darkly funny and heartfelt script for the wacky music film, 'Frank', is beautiful and missing from this year's awards circuit.

Best Adapted Screenplay

And the Nominees are...

'American Sniper'

'The Imitation Game'

'Inherent Vice'

'The Theory of Everything'

'Whiplash'

Who Will Win?

The award committees seem to be in love with 'The Theory of Everything' this year, so my money's on the Stephen Hawking script to take home the gold.

Who Should Win?

'Whiplash's energetic, vulgar dialogue mixed with terrific, nail-biting pace is one of the year's best screenplays thanks to Damien Chazelle's terrific vision.

Who Was Snubbed?

Gillian Flynn's adaption of her own novel, 'Gone Girl' is beautifully sick and twisted and deserves more praise from the academy.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

And the Nominees are...

Patricia Arquette for 'Boyhood'

Laura Dern for 'Wild'

Keira Knightley for 'The Imitation Game'

Emma Stone for 'Birdman' (or 'The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance')

Meryl Streep for 'Into the Woods'

Who Will Win?

The only one of these actresses who seems to picking up any steam is Patricia Arquette, and at this point I don't see any way in which she wouldn't bring home the Oscar.

Who Should Win?

I love Emma Stone and her performance in 'Birdman', however I think Arquette deserves the award for my favorite film of last year, 'Boyhood'. It's a realistic, raw performance that Arquette was involved with for twelve years, and never lost her touch with it.

Who Was Snubbed?

It takes a lot to make an impression when sharing a scene with Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Nightcrawler', but that's exactly what Rene Russo did in a very underrated performance.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

And the Nominees are...

Robert Duvall for 'The Judge'

Ethan Hawke for 'Boyhood'

Edward Norton for 'Birdman' (or 'The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance')

Mark Ruffalo for 'Foxcatcher'

J.K. Simmons for 'Whiplash'

Who Will Win?

J.K. Simmons' terrifying performance in 'Whiplash' has been the most buzzed about actor in this race. It'd be very surprising if the Academy thought differently.

Who Should Win?

This is a very difficult category. With the exception of Robert Duvall for 'The Judge', all of these performances are terrific and worth being awarded for. However, I have to agree with the masses and say that J.K. Simmons in 'Whiplash' is mesmerizing and deserves the gold tonight.

Who Was Snubbed?

Some might find it over the top, but I thought Christoph Waltz's performance in Tim Burton's 'Big Eyes' was a pure joy to watch.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

And the Nominees are...

Marion Cotillard for 'Two Days, One Night'

Felicity Jones for 'The Theory of Everything'

Julianne Moore for 'Still Alice'

Rosamund Pike for 'Gone Girl'

Reese Witherspoon for 'Wild'

Who Will Win?

While I haven't seen the film, 'Still Alice' is generating a lot of buzz due to Moore's performance. Plus, she cries a lot, and the Academy loves that kind of stuff.

Who Should Win?

I thought Rosamund Pike was absolutely terrific in 'Gone Girl'. Sadly, it's not a "showy" enough performance to win her anything, but it's cool to see her nominated.

Who Was Snubbed?

There are two terrific performances that received no accolades this year. 

1)  Scarlett Johansson's wonderful, mostly silent performance as a confused, yet deadly extraterrestrial in 'Under the Skin' is incredible.

2) 'The Babadook' had one of the best performances I've ever seen in a horror film thanks to the wonderful Aussie actress Essie Davis.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

And the Nominees are...

Steve Carell for 'Foxcatcher'

Bradley Cooper for 'American Sniper'

Benedict Cumberbatch for 'The Imitation Game'

Michael Keaton for 'Birdman' (or 'The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance')

Eddie Redmayne for 'The Theory of Everything'

Who Will Win?

It's a very close call between Redmayne and Keaton, but I still think the Oscars are gonna go for Keaton's comeback in 'Birdman'.

Who Should Win?

Sure, I liked Carell in 'Foxcatcher' and I even thought Bradley Cooper was pretty great in 'American Sniper', yet I can't think of a better actor to win this thing, other than Michael Keaton. He's one of my all time favorite actors, and he gave an astounding performance in 'Birdman' and I can't wait to see him take home the gold.

Who Was Snubbed?

A lot of people, actually. Here are a few:

*J.K. Simmons was terrific, but I think Miles Teller was right up to par with him in 'Whiplash'.

*Don't know why Channing Tatum is being left out of the 'Foxcatcher' love this awards season. He really showed his range, and in some sequences was truly heartbreaking.

*In the independent thriller, 'Blue Ruin', actor Macon Blair wonderfully portrays a not-so-average action star.

*'Nightcrawler' featured what may be Jake Gyllenhaal's best performance to date. It's a shame the Academy doesn't agree.

*Michael Fassbender does the majority of his performance in 'Frank' under a giant, fake head, and he's still incredible and shows off his comedic chops.

Best Director

And the Nominees are...

Alejandro G. Inarritu for 'Birdman' (or 'The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance')

Richard Linklater for 'Boyhood'

Bennett Miller for 'Foxcatcher'

Wes Anderson for 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

Morten Tyldum for 'The Imitation Game'

Who Will Win?

There are a lot of wonderful choices in this category, but I think the Academy will choose Richard Linklater for his amazing twelve-year journey, 'Boyhood'.

Who Should Win?

I've gushed about how much I love 'Boyhood' and though I think Linklater's direction is wonderful, 'Birdman' has the real style in direction. So I would really like to see Inarritu win this year.

Who Was Snubbed?

Jonathan Glazer gave 'Under the Skin' a wonderfully hypnotic visual style that hasn't gotten the respect it deserves by the academy.

Also, the "white-wash" in the Oscars this year is ridiculous. Was it really too much to ask by nominating Ava Durvernay for 'Selma'?

Best Picture

And the Nominees are...

'American Sniper'

'Birdman' (or 'The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance')

'Boyhood'

'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

'The Imitation Game'

'Selma'

'The Theory of Everything'

'Whiplash'

Who Will Win?

At this point, it feels like a no-brainer that 'Boyhood' will be the victor.

Who Should Win?

This category features three of my favorite films this year. 'Boyhood', 'Birdman', and 'Whiplash'. However, in the end, I have to choose 'Boyhood'. It was an amazing film to watch. Funny, relatable, sad, and just an audacious experiment that Linklater pulled off terrifically. 

Who Was Snubbed?

Who wasn't?! Let's do a rundown!

*'Under the Skin' is one of the best and most radically different films of the decade.

*'How To Train Your Dragon 2' is one of the best fantasy films since 'Pan's Labyrinth'.

*'The Babadook' is one of the most inventive horror movies to come out in a very long time.

*'Nightcrawler' is one of the year's best character studies.

*'Blue Ruin' is a wonderful revenge drama.

*'Guardians of the Galaxy' reminds moviegoers to have fun again.

*'John Wick' is....well...okay, it'd never get nominated in a million years. But come on! Wasn't it just awesome!

Article by: Josh McCormack