It’s all come down to this. The race is anything but settled. Pundits have scattered to the winds. There is no agreed upon consensus for Best Picture – even Deadline Pete Hammond thinks it’s wide open this year. The cliffhanger appears to be whether or not Gone Girl will make it in for Best Picture, if you go by the pundits. Yes, by all means, let’s NOT nominate what is clearly one of the best films of 2014 that made Hollywood $165 million and was the most talked about movie of the year. But hey. There are no Nazis and no one speaks in a British accent that I remember.
Another cliffhanger – will Unbroken get in? Most think yes. Some think the poor reviews could prevent it – the last time a film got in with those kinds of reviews was Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close in 2011.
Will Interstellar get in? Same thing. Extreme love, debatable reviews.
Will American Sniper get in?
Will Whiplash get in?
Will Foxcatcher get in?
Will they finally reward Wes Anderson with the Grand Budapest Hotel?
The ones we think are sure bets:
Boyhood
Birdman
Selma
The Imitation Game
Gone Girl
The Theory of Everything
Grand Budapest Hotel
We think maybe:
Foxcatcher
Unbroken
But we don’t know. We hope we know but we don’t.
Which films or performances or songs do you hope get in? Speak now or forever hold your peace!
Agata Kulesza and Uma Thurman in supporting. Put Arquette where she belongs–in Best Actress.
January 1st. Everything begins today!!. Well, this is my favourite time of year, there are so many movies to see, so many interesting performances to keep on talking to. Here in Spain, most of movies that will be nominated, will be released these following weeks. And I have to find time to see all of them!!. I don´t know how I am going to manage to. But let me tell something, I´ve seen GONE GIRL, and I felt shocked when the movie finished. Incredible performances, all the
actors gave the best of them, ROSAMUNDE PIKE uauuuh what a powerful character!!. We will see what happens when the nominations be announced.
I would like to writte about WILD TALES, I liked very much when the film was released here in Spain. All the stories work together as a whole thing. It deserves to be nominated not only as foreign film but also in other cattegories such as performance of actor or actress. It´s great!!.
A bit late for the Hear My Plea thread notwithstanding, here’s my request:
Academy members,
Please make sure that you did watch the animated film from Japan “The Tale of Princess Kaguya” before casting yours, and ever better, if you’d like, vote for it. Moreover, if in the end you happen to like Kaguya and another nominated film equally, perhaps (up to you) you might want to give it to Kaguya as a late New Year’s gift for Studio Ghibli and all involved. Thanks.
It sounds like ”Get on Up!” got screwed by the Golden Globes. Pete Hammond at Deadline.com believes Chadwick Boseman would’ve been a shoo-in for an Actor in a Musical/Comedy nomination, but the Globes reclassified the James Brown biopic as a Drama. And yet in the past, the Globes put musical biopics, like ”Coal Miner’s Daughter” and ”Ray,” into Musical/Comedy, where they won Globes for Sissy Spacek and Jamie Foxx, respectively. Go figure!
Just saw “Get on Up” and I am shocked Chadwick Boseman doesn’t have any heat for Best Actor. He was absolutely superb, as was Viola Davis in her few scenes.
FYC:
Best Picture: A Most Violent Year, Whiplash, Interstellar
If Gyllenhaal is snubbed it’s one of the biggest disasters in Oscar history, his performance was the best of the year alongside with Keaton. And Nightcrawler, please academy, don’t be stupid and nominate it for best picture! Sorry Bennett Miller but this time i was disapointed with Foxcatcher, it’s not bad (not it all) but i was kinda expecting a lot more because i really loved Capote and Moneyball…but Ruffalo is probably getting the nomination, sadly i don’t see Carell getting his first nom…Interstellar has to be nominated…sorry, but i just can’t see how this has bad reviews and i’m affraid that is going to be out at the end. Gone Girl, what can i say…it has to be nominated for everything! BP, Fincher and Pike (sorry Moore!) has to win this award, she literally hypnotized me. The Grand Budapest Hotel is good but not that big has i see in all the critics. BTW, am i the only one who thinks that this is one of the most weak Best Actress category in the last years?? I didn’t see Cake and i really like Aniston (even if she was lately in terrible movies), but in a normal year she wasn’t even in the conversation, last year was so great in that category that even Emma Thompson was snubbed! I already saw Boyhood and it’s a masterpiece but i have first to see Bidman…
At first I slipped right past Antoinette’s view on Interstellar, but then i went back. Wow. Yes! I’m totally with you in that line of thought. If Interstellar got in for Best Picture and Director that would be amazing!
Gone Girl also deserves both.
Please give Snowpiercer something, anything, just show us that you watched it and liked it.
Also hoping for a nomination for Lost Stars for Best Original song from Begin Again.
Please Academy, hear my plea!
“Snowpiercer
(This film is a mixture of elements from “Brazil” and “Blade Runner” . . . and is always an entertaining action film with a surprisingly profound message about revolution and taking charge of your destiny.)”
Well said, Keifer.
“Ida” not only for Best Foreign Language Film, but for “Best Picture”, Pawlikowksi for “Best Director” and “Best Cinematography” too.
Marion Cotillard for “Best Actress” (Deux jours, une nuit).
Wes Anderson for “Best Director” and “Original Screenplay”, Ralph Fiennes for “Best Actor”.
I couldn’t agree more with Scott (The Other One) about Miles Teller. For all the prizes that J.K. Simmons has received as the band leader as drill sergeant, to me, Teller’s performance is the real standout and revelation. He plays an obsessed young jazz drummer and literally finds all the beats in-between.
Sadly, the Academy has a lousy track record that reflects its aging white-men constituency; they love to nominate pretty young women in their 20s, but seldom recognize good-looking young men in their 20s. Another terrifically gifted young guy who probably won’t get any Oscar attention: Logan Lerman in ”Fury” for Supporting Actor. He got great notices, and ”Fury” won the Best Ensemble prize from the NBR, but the film never gained any traction elsewhere.
Still in love with Brendan Gleeson’s performance in Calvary and its score. Been totally ignored since its release in August, alas.
UPDATED PREDICTIONS, MAIN CATEGORIES
December 30th, 2014
_____________________________________________________
BEST PICTURE
American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
Gone Girl
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
With 2014 being relatively a weak base to begin with, it’s turning out to be a little more diverse then expected. Still, I suspect we will get a solid 8 nominees as oppose to 9 or 10 like normal; frankly, we should go back to five. Gone Girl will be the prime box-office smash, as I don’t see Interstellar or Into the Woods making the cut. Unbroken’s horrid reviews are also not suspicious. This is not to say poorly reviewed films have never triumphed (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close) but I am betting Unbroken is not going to be seen in two weeks.
Clint Eastwood, on the other hand, has a huge following with the academy voters- in particular, older voters. Remember Letters from Iowa Jima in 2006? It easily got in the top 5 and this is when everyone thought Dreamgirls had a shot. He is highly respected, and manages unexpected nominations (save Gran Torino).
BEST DIRECTOR
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Clint Eastwood, American Sniper
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Alejandro G. Inarritu, Birdman
Ava DuVernay, Selma
I wish I could say David Fincher, but the competition is too fierce and they may see Gone Girl in Best Picture as reward enough. Anderson should make the cut for his visionary Budapest Hotel and I think Eastwood also gets a slot here.
BEST ACTOR
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
David Oyelowo, Selma
Timothy Spall, Mr. Turner
Look out for surprises here. I say Timothy Spall is our darkhorse- and plenty of elite voters will respect this unique performance with stellar reviews. Mike Leigh always gets his actors in. I say Gyllenhaal will (sadly) not make it, or Steve Carrell.
BEST ACTRESS
Jennifer Aniston, Cake
Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, Wild
As much as Felicity Jones seems like a default choice, will she have enough passion votes? Doubtful- not as much as Marion Cotillard, who I think barely inches her way into the fifth slot. Aniston should prevail here, but it doesn’t matter since Julianne Moore had this sewn up since summer.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Robert Duvall, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
JK Simmons, Whiplash
Tom Wilkinson, Selma
Due to Foxcatcher losing steam, I say the heat of Selma will aid Tom Wilkinson a much deserved Supporting Actor nomination. Remember, if you’re film is at the peak of popularity and buzz- you can be swept in (think American Hustle last year). I think despite mixed reaction, Duvall’s veteran status solidifies him.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year
Emma Stone, Birdman
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Meryl Streep, Into the Woods
Dear OSCAR voters please nominate Anne Dorval for mommy, she just blew me away! and I wish she would at least get a nomination!
My plea is for Essie Davis to be recognized for her brilliant role in The Babadook.
If I had more than one, I’d add:
Nightcrawler for Best Picture
Christopher Nolan (Interstellar) for Best Director
Tom Hardy (Locke) for Best Actor
Robert Pattinson (The Rover) for Best Supporting Actor
Tilda Swinton (Snowpiercer) for Best Supporting Actress
Maps To The Stars for Best Original Screenplay
Edge Of Tomorrow for Best Adapted Screenplay
The Immigrant for Best Cinematography
Inherent Vice for Best Original Score
“Hate The Sport” (We Are The Best!) for Best Original Song
Watermelons’ Top 5 Desired Nominations:
5. Rich Hill – Best Documentary Feature
4. Randall Park in The Interview – Best Supporting Actor
3. Tilda Swinton in Snowpiercer – Best Supporting Actress
2. The Raid 2 – Best Picture
1. Kate Winslet in Divergent – Best Supporting Actress
– Watermelons
Keifer. I echo your advocacy of Colin Firth, but for me, Jeremy Irvine’s performance was the revelation in The Railway Man. He was so impressive. He was so believable as a younger version of Firth’s character.
Nominations I’d be the most happy to see in each category:
Best Picture: Snowpiercer
(This film is a mixture of elements from “Brazil” and “Blade Runner” . . . and is always an entertaining action film with a surprisingly profound message about revolution and taking charge of your destiny.)
Best Actor: Colin Firth (The Railway Man) (The most unheralded and overlooked performance of the year . . . Firth’s best ever performance. If this movie had been released in December, rather than February, everybody would be talking about him.)
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard (The Immigrant)
Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton (Snowpiercer)
Best Supporting Actor: Ethan Hawke (Boyhood)
Best Director: Joon-ho Bong – Snowpiercer
Best Cinematography – Darusz Wolski (Exodus: Gods and Kings)
Best Costume Design – Sonia Grande (Magic in the Moonlight) . . . really exquisite costuming in this film
Best Production Design – Dennis Gassner, Andrew Bennett, Ben Collins, Chris Lowe, Mary Mackenzie, Anna Pinnock (Into the Woods)
Best Visual Effects – Interstellar
Best Original Score – Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel) or Rachel Portman (Belle)
Best Song – Yellow Flicker Beat (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part I)
Best Adapted Screenplay – Graham Moor (The Imitation Game)
Best Original Screenplay – Richard Linklater (Boyhood)
Best Film Editing – Sandra Adair (Boyhood)
Best Makeup – NOT ELIGIBLE FOR NOMINATION – didn’t make the short list – but it should have been: (Into the Woods)
Best Actor: Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard, Two Days One Night
Best Sup Actress: Naomi Watts, St Vincent & Tilda Swinton, Snowpiercer
Best Cinematography: Ida
My hopes :
Best Film : Foxcatcher. Whiplash
Best Director : Benett Miller (Foxcatcher)
Best Actor : A double nomination for Foxcatcher (Channing Tatum AND Steve Carrel)
Best Actress : Anne Dorval (Mommy)
Best Original Screenplay : Mommy/The Lego Movie
I haven’t seen Mr. Turner or Selma yet — but Miles Teller should win Best Actor for Whiplash. He is, er, miles ahead of anyone else in the category, and to me he was the standout in the film (J.K. Simmons was great, but Teller showed more depth, range, and quiet, heartbreaking humanity.)
I don’t care if Still Alice is any good — I want Julianne to win Best Actress because she is due. 90% of Oscars in history have gone to people who did not give THE best performance of the year in ANY movie. It is always about timing, and what is going on that year, and who is due, and who the competition is. Whether or not Moore deserves it for Still Alice, she deserves the statue for her career.
Best Director — Jennifer Kent for The Babadook — a fully conceived and realized FILM, one that uses the medium in a distinct, personal, individual way. Every frame of this film is dazzling. Films like The Theory of Everything and The Imitation Game are pleasant coffee table books, but they have nothing to do with the art of film,
If Oscar wants to be AWESOME, they do really need to…
Acknowledge that “The Lego Movie” is, most likely, the best mainstream animated american film, since “The Lion King”, and the best “kids” film since “Babe”. And a masterpiece that shouldn’t be just a longshot for a Best Picture and Best Screenplay nom, but a lock for the nom in both cathegories and a possible winner. It’s not just a “fun”, “silly” film, but a masterclass in cinema and screenplay, and does it, effortlessly, juggling with deep themes and wit. The tragedy is, not many critics have actually paid attention to why this film is, so awesome on every single aspect and level, and what classic inspiration fuels its power.
Acknowledge that “Snowpiercer” is, probably, the most necessary film and allegory, to the world we’re living in. That it is an instant classic, that richly deserves every single award it may get. That not only the delightfully histrionic performance by Tilda Swinton steals the show, but that every single actor in the film hits the right notes, specially Ed Harris and, above everyone else, Chris Evans in, I dare to say, his best performance to date, with a heart-shattering monologue, perfectly delivered.
Dare to check out one of the most fascinating films of the XXIst Century, “Stranger by the Lake”, despite its crude NC-17 rating, for what it is, a pure, simple masterpiece that digs deep into human soul and contradictions. That is one of the most sharp and dead-on-target looks on the human need of accpetance, love and company. That all actors are great, but specially Patrick D’Assumçao portrays, maybe, the GREAT supporting actor performance of 2014, without the need of ever yell, scream, or have an “Oscar clip”, just baring his character, slowly, step by step, not by getting undressed but by peeling the onion his soul is. A calm, unforgettable performance, that can’t be praised enough.
And finally, Randall Park. Out of that mess that “The Interview” is, there’s a gracing soul that saves the film. Park builds a human, likeable Kim Jong-un, that you can really feel, is a kind of nice guy trapped by destiny rather than an evil bloody dictator, kind of a victim of his own family and system (but still, taking advantage of the situation) while also, a great manipulator that can be fierce and ruthless, if necessary. A three-dimensional character, not that evil, not that good, just human, remembering us, while still in the comedy field, that the biggest monsters, are ultimately human beings. Park is the reason why “The Interview” is a more than watchable film, despite another one-note performance by Seth Rogen (does he EVER play a different kind of character???) and a completely, unnecessarily over-the-top by James Franco, that almost derails the film, single-handlely. Park joins the likes of Chaplin, Sacha Baron Cohen, in the like of the greatest comedic dictator spoofs of all time. Neither of them three, ever forgot that to correctly spoof them, there should be something inherently human in them.
Basically, my plea is actually simple: forget about marketing and daring to break boundaries and actually reward the groundbreaking work that bet hard to make, in 2014, cinema leap forward, instead of repeating the same old.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo for NIGHTCRAWLER
Tilda for SNOWPIERCER
Fiennes for THE GRAND BEST BUDAPEST HOTEL
Cotillard for THE IMMIGRANT or TWO DAYS ONE NIGHT
and…but I know it’s impossible… a double nom for Julianne Moore, lead for STILL ALICE and supporting for MAPS TO THE STARS. She’s wrenching in STILL ALICE, but it’s Havana Segrand the performance that stands with her most memorable roles (SAFE, FAR FROM HEAVEN, THE HOURS, MAGNOLIA and BOOGIE NIGHTS).
Ideally, neither The Imitation Game nor The Theory of Everything will be nominated. Both are utterly conventional, Oscar-bait films. The former is particularly nefarious in its depiction of Turing being bribed by a Soviet spy, which never happened. I mean, really, is there anything that Hollywood won’t shit on? (I recommend that people find a copy of Andrew Hodges’ magisterial biography and read that instead of watching the film.) Then you’ve got The Theory of Everything, which is your annual disability porn that looks like it was shot by somebody with the aesthetic sense of an average Instagram user. Nevertheless, I’m sure that both movies will be nominated. They’re like arthouse films for the lowest common denominator, which there is plenty of in the AMPAS. I don’t care that that’s elitist to say. I hope neither wins. It would be an absolute travesty.
Antoinette, it gets me sooooo MAD when you say Christians “always get mad”, but that actually proves your point… lol
@Christophe We’re having race problems in the US. And it just so happened that E:G&K came out in the middle of all that and people were also angry that the film was cast with white actors. When I came home from the movie and read the hashtag comments on Twitter people were saying they’d block anyone in their timeline who even went to see the movie. It’s one thing to anger Christians, which it also did, but they always get mad. This happened to coincide with a problem that we’re having right now that people probably won’t want to touch with a ten foot pole.
“It’s one thing to anger Christians, which it also did, but they always get mad.”
The whole point of Exodus was for God to give his followers the Top 10 Reasons to Get Mad.
Jolie is a turn-off in general. Anyone who has seen her interviews for Unbroken knows how invested she seemed in herself.
Also, Unbroken’s box office success doesn’t mean jack in the judgement of a movie’s worth. This was a mediocre film( I thought it was terrible) , and most critics worth even mentioning agree. Some of them gave it downright terrible reviews.
JMC, they were talking about the 88% RT of Gone Girl, if it will earn a nod it’s more for the highest critics something the unworthy mediocre Unborken do not have, unbroken doesn’t even make it in top 50 of critics lists, don’t even compare it with Gone Girl who got RT and the box office, as for the numbers Into the Woods ( with a lower budget and 2, 440 count theater) manage to beat out Unborken ( who got a bigger budget and 3, 331 count theater) at the box office, which is lame for Unbroken with all the money campaign and still lost it to Into the Woods, and btw Into tbe Woods got a 71% RT, so sorry but not matter how hard you try Unbroken doesn’t deserve it at all.
Please don’t forget about Mike Leigh, not only one of the best but also one of the most original and distinctive film directors of the last 30 years (longer, I know, but 30 or so years of being well known). In a time a carbon copies and “homage” overload (Wes Anderson, Tarantino), Mike Leigh continues to make Mike Leigh films. Although I don’t think Timothy Spall can ever top his performance in “Life is Sweet” (so over the top and cartoonish, and yet its real and raw), it would be great to see him included as well.
Whiplash – Best Picture, Director, Actor and Supporting Actor
Foxcatcher: Picture, Director, Actor, Actor, Supporting Actor
Boyhood: Picture, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Director
Gone Girl: Picture, Director, Actress + Ben Affleck?
Birdman: Picture, Director + Lindsay Duncan (Underrated!)
Picture: Whiplash/Nightcrawler
Director: Ava DuVernay/Damien Chazelle
Actor: Ralph Fiennes
Actress: Marion Cotilliard
S. Actor: Chris Pine
S. Actress: Tidla Swinton/Anna Kendrick
I am not convinced Boyhood will win Best Picture, it isn’t an Oscar bait movie. Selma could win, The Imitation Game could win, I read Oscar voters loved The Imitation Game.
I would love Ava DuVernay to win Best Director, well deserved, but I think it won’t happen, I am happy for a Best Director nod
P.S.: If we’re playing the “Gone Girl” made $165m game, then we should speak more highly of “Unbroken” and “American Sniper.” I haven’t seen either film, but “Unbroken” is already guaranteed to cross $100m, if not much more, and “American Sniper” looks like it’ll also do the same. Will they hit $165m? Maybe, if nominated, at least. Now, one could argue that “Transformers” doesn’t deserve Best Picture, which is also a ‘duh,’ but I’m just saying that “sometimes” audiences (including Academy-types) do give voice to films that critics poo-poo.
My pleas! (Not that these are my ‘favorites’ per se, but ones that I hope make it in because they don’t seem definite):
The Grand Budapest Hotel: Picture and Director. (If Fiennes somehow made it in, I’d be in over the moon – And I don’t even really like him personally.)
Foxcatcher: Picture. I’d be over the moon for Director and anything else, as well.
Interstellar: I find the film highly underrated. Again, a Picture or Director nod would be great- though I’m not expecting them.
No “Theory of Everything” for Best Picture – I know that’s a negative plea- but while the performances are great, the film really is not.
While not my ‘favorite’ by any means, I did really like ‘Gone Girl.’ I wouldn’t put it in my Top Ten, but if it somehow knocked off a film like “Theory of Everything,” I’d be stoked. (I just don’t want it to knock out Grand Budapest or Foxcatcher. 🙂 ).
Beyond that- anything interesting in the acting categories…they seem pretty predictable/dull at this point. Insert someone like: Ralph Fiennes, Shailene Woodley, Hilary Swank, Jack O’Connell, etc… please.
Finally- The reviews for Interstellar are about the same as The Imitation Game- same w/American Sniper. But oh the different narratives, based on what people want you to think.
Oh, and “Pride” for anything!
As far as Unbroken- I’m still very much looking forward to it. For the record, I LOVED Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and The Reader, two other films that got in with ‘mixed’ reviews. All had really positive reviews and negative reviews, so that doesn’t make them ‘bad’ films. If anything, I often think it makes the pick more interesting. Films like “Labor Day” also got trashed by critics, but I think it’s great. So, I for one am no fan of talking too much about reviews.
Here are a few I would implore voting for:
IDA for PICTURE
TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT for ACTRESS
GONE GIRL for SCORE
BOYHOOD for ACTOR
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL for DIRECTOR
BEGIN AGAIN for SONG
LIFE ITSELF for DOCUMENTARY
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES for SUPPORTING ACTOR
THE ONE I LOVE for ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
BELLE for ACTRESS
THE IMMIGRANT for CINEMATOGRAPHY
All I hope for is that Ava DuVernay actually gets nominated for Directing and that Marion Cotillard gets in over Felicity Jones for Best Actress.
Dear Oscar,
Let’s get Emily Blunt’s fabulous Baker’s Wife in the Best Actress category.
Jake Gyllenhaal as well as Rene Russo in Nightcrawler.
Tilda Swinton for constantly surprising us and wacko performance in Snowpiercer.
Let The Skeleton Twins sneak in in screenplay.
Lego Movie in Best Picture!
Dear Oscar,
Please nominate Mica Levi for Under the Skin’s music. Please nominate Foxcatcher for original screenplay. Please nominate Johnny Greenwood for Inherent Vice’s music. Please have a Rocket Raccoon and Groot stand up special at the Oscars. Please let Dave Bautista (in character as Drax) present a category.
I haven’t really solidified my tops for the year because there are still a few films I want to see, but right now this is how my personal “best of” is shaping up:
Best Director: Ava DuVernay | Selma (runner up: Ruben Östlund | Force Majeure)
Best Actress: Lisa Loven Kongsli | Force Majeure (runner up: Frances McDormand | Olive Kitteridge)
Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix | Inherent Vice (runner up: Jake Gyllenhaal | Nightcrawler)
Best Supporting Actress: Marisa Tomei | Love Is Strange (runner up: Anne Hathaway | Interstellar)
Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons | Whiplash (runner up: Riz Ahmed | Nightcrawler)
Best Adapted Screenplay: Jane Anderson | Olive Kitteridge (runner up: P.T. Anderson | Inherent Vice)
Best Original Screenplay: Alain Guiraudie | Stranger by the Lake (runner up: Ruben Östlund | Force Majeure)
Best Cinematography: Lukasz Zal & Ryszard Lenczewski | Ida (runner up: Bradford Young | Selma)
Best Score: Antonio Sanchez | Birdman (runner up: Jonny Greenwood | Inherent Vice)
Breakthrough Performance: Ruben Östlund | Force Majeure (runner up: Dan Gilroy | Nightcrawler)
Top Ten:
1. Force Majeure
2. Stranger by the Lake
3. Olive Kitteridge
4. Nightcrawler
5. Selma
6. Ida
7. Birdman
8. Interstellar
9. Love Is Strange
10. Pride
I fully agree, @Benutty. Essentially a wasted year. Nothing major has been added to the canon, no big strides forward. “Boyhood” and “Birdman” are the two that are supposed to be the interesting movies of the year, and they are indeed interesting and good, but not THAT interesting, and not THAT good.
“Ida” for best film
Mike Leigh for best director
P. T. Anderson for best adapted screenplay
Timothy Spall for best actor
Scarlett Johansson for best actress
Agata Kulesza for best supporting actress
Mica levi for best original score
“Jack et la mecanique du coeur” for best animated film
I think this year will produce some of the more embarrassing nominees and winners that we’ve had in a while–most of which will be born from The Theory of Everything and The Imitation Game. Years from now we’re going to see a trailer for a Felicity Jones film and destroy our brains trying to remember which performance and for what reason her name is prefaced with “Academy Award Nominee.” Though we’ll remember which role she was nominated for, Rosamund Pike will be a one-nomination wonder and never make a run at the Oscar again–something that history will rightly rework to honor the role rather than her overhyped performance of it. Other embarrassments: everything Unbroken is nominated for, Interstellar and Mr. Turner’s actors not receiving the recognition they deserve, Julianne Moore winning for an awfully trite and forgettable film/role rather than any of her much better past (and probably future) performances. But standing on top of all of these embarrassments will be how entirely boring, plain, unimaginative and poorly acted the Oscar winning Boyhood seems when viewed years from now, outside the context of its hype.
Dear Oscar,
I know there’s no chance in hell you’ll notice Tom Hardy, Oscar Isaac or Robin Wright, so I’m not even going to plead with you. All I ask is that you don’t embarrass yourself too much when the votes are counted. You are an old and respected institution and hoping you don’t do anything silly is on par with praying that 90 yr old Grandpa doesn’t fart at the dinner table; regardless, we admire you.
Antoinette – great observation about the “new religion”! I think you’re right. Does this mean I can now openly say a few words to Captain America before I go to sleep at night?
Wow Antoinette, such an inspired comment! But what do you mean by “current climate” in relation to Exodus? Haven’t seen the film, but I’m dreading it after the Noah debacle (imo.). I’m really fond of Bible films, but Hollywood seems to have lost it recently, so we’re left with faux-faith money-grabbing attempts (Son of God) and faithless modern reinterpretations (Noah), but where is the divine spirit in all this? I guess you’re right sci-films are the new faith-based films, though it was already the case 45 yrs ago with 2001 ASO.
Brendan Gleeson in Calvary was the performance of the year for me, if there’s any justice, he’ll sneak in. Actually if there’s any justice he’ll sneak in and win Best Actor, but a nomination at least would make my awards season…
Apart from the so-called “locks”, here’s my hopes
Best Picture: Whiplash, Nightcrawler
Best Director: Fincher, Chazelle, Anderson
Best Lead Actor: Jake Gyllenhall, Tom Hardy, Timothy Spall
Best Lead Actress: Anne Dorval, Essie Davis, Marion Cotillard
Best Supp. Actor: Bill Nighy, Riz Ahmed
Best Supp. Actress: Jessica Chastain, Rene Russo, Tilda Swinton, Uma Thurman
Best Original Screenplay: Force Majeure
Best Cinematography: Only Lovers Left Alive, Force Majeure, Ida
Best Original Score: Alexandre Desplat for The Grand Budapest Hotel; Mica Levi for Under The Skin
I’m calling it now–Unbroken doesn’t crack the lineup. I could end up being wrong, but my gut tells me they don’t do it.
Hopes:
– Tilda Swinton, Supporting Actress, Snowpiercer
– Justin Simien, Original Screenplay, Dear White People
– Josh Brolin over Robert Duvall for Supporting Actor
– The Theory of Everything doesn’t get a Best Picture nomination
– David Fincher, Best Director, Gone Girl
– Andrey Zvyagintsev, Original Screenplay, Leviathan
– At least one total left-field Best Picture nomination
I’d love to see more actors of color get recognized by the Academy.
Do Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Carmen Ejogo, Riz Ahmed, Tony Revolori, etc., stand any shot?
Or will this year’s Oscar-nominated actors be all-white (except for David Oyelowo)?
GONE GIRL should be nominated because it’s a great film and not because it made 165 million. I do not think the money is relevant unless you want to start listing every single film that made more than it as reason to be nominated. There were bigger box office successes last year.
I care so little about this year’s race. My only hope is that unseen demographics get named. GO People of COLOR! Hispanics, Black, Asian, and other unseen demographics in film. Women directors. Women in other technical categories. I hope that these people get nominated!
This would NEVER happen, but … I wish Randall Park (”The Interview”) were up for Best Supporting Actor. Playing Kim Jong-un, Park could’ve been a one-note, cardboard cartoon as the narcissistic North Korean leader. But he manages to make him human: from his starstruck worship of James Franco’s talk-show host to his giddy love of Kate Perry pop songs to his scary hair-trigger temper. I agree with Michael Dequina at The MovieReport.com: ”In a less politically sensitive time, Randall Park’s flat-out brilliant performance would be hailed as the breakout, star-making, even awards-nomination, turn that it is.” Frankly, I had never seen him on HBO’s ”Veep,” but you’re about to see more of Park in ABC’s upcoming ”Fresh Off the Boat,” which is only the second sitcom in network TV to feature an Asian-American family. You have to go back to 1994 for the first one: Margaret Cho’s ”All American Girl.”
Best Director: David Fincher, Ava DuVernay
Thank you! (bows gracefully)
Edit: I would remove Witherspoon from my Best Actress wish list and replace with Davis from Babadook for sure.
[Done, Josh. Good call. Honorable, interesting wish. – Ryan]
My hopes:
Best Actor wish list: Fiennes, Carrell, Gyllenhal, Phoenix, Oyelowo
Best Director: Really want Wes Anderson to get a nom
Best Supporting Actress wish list: Chastain, Streep, Arquette, Russo, Stone
Best Actress wish list: Moore, Pike, Aniston, Davis, Johannson
Best Supporting Actor wish list: Ruffalo, Hawke, Simmons, Brolin, Tatum
Best Pic things I want to happen: no noms for Theory of Everything, Unbroken or American Sniper. If it’s ten slots, I personally would be giddy with: Boyhood, Foxcatcher, Grand Budapest Hotel, Nightcrawler, Gone Girl. A Most Violent Year, The Babadook, Whiplash, Selma, Inherent Vice
Dear Oscar,
Please hear my plea…
Nominations for Jake Gyllenhaal and David Oyelowo for Best Actor.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw for Best Actress.
And spread the love to Whiplash, Grand Budapest Hotel and Inherent Vice too if you please.
What I”m rooting for, the ones that realistically stand a shot by might be on the edge right now:
1) Jake Gyllenhaal for Nightcrawler MUST get in. It’s the weirdest, trickiest performance of the year and it was masterfully delivered.
2) Nightcrawler and Whiplash for Best Picture (please, over The Theory of Everything, Foxcatcher and Unbroken). Two unique visionary movies.
3) David Oyelowo for Selma — crafts a surprisingly intimate and in many ways perfectly low key performance
4) Jessica Chastain for A Most Violent Year — conveys her character’s almost entirely unspoken biography in her actions and gestures. A most subtle menace and duplicity.
5) Gary Yershon/Mr Turner for Best Score — it’s broken and off beat notes brought out the character’s instability better than almost anything on the screen
6) Lana Del Rey/Once Upon A Dream for Best Song — If we need this category, can we at least get a song that feels cinematic?
7) Virunga for Best Documentary — Could get overshadowed by the more ‘feel good’ or political documentaries, but this really was one of the greatest films of the year.
Channing Tatum–Best Supporting Actor for Foxcatcher
My choices for the films, performances and achievements that should not be forgotten in the 2014 Oscar nomination game. These are all my outside the box choices:
BEST PICTURE
The Congress
Whiplash
Inherent Vice
Mr. Turner
BEST DIRECTOR
Ari Folman, The Congress
Damien Chazelle, Whiplash
Paul Thomas Anderson, Inherent Vice
Jonathan Glazer, Under the Skin
BEST ACTRESS
Marion Cotillard, Two Days One Night
Lisa Haas, The Foxy Merkins
Jackie Monahan, The Foxy Merkins
Scarlet Johansson, Under the Skin
Shailene Woodley, The Fault in Our Stars
Robin Wright, The Congress
Thora Bjorg Helga, Metalhead
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Nymphomania
Hillary Swank, The Homesman
BEST ACTOR
Miles Teller, Whiplash
Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice
Timothy Spall, Mr. Turner
Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Michael Pena, Cesar Chavez
Chadwick Boseman, Get On Up
Ben Affleck, Gone Girl
Jesse Eisenberg, Night Moves
Tommy Lee Jones, The Homesman
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Tilda Swinton, Snowpiecer
Lorelei Linklater, Boyhood
Katherine Waterston, Inherent Vice
Dorothy Atkinson, Mr. Turner
Marion Bailey, Mr. Turner
Kim Dickens, Gone Girl
Carrie Coons, Gone Girl
Saoirse Ronan, The Grand Budapest Hotel
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Martin Savage, Mr. Turner
Martin Short, Inherent Vice
Josh Brolin, Inherent Vice
Danny Huston, The Congress
Gary Poulter, Joe
Tyler Perry, Gone Girl
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Cheatin’
The Congress
The Tale of Princess Kayuga
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Red Army
Jodorowsky’s Dune
The Great Chicken Wing Hunt
Kids for Cash
Out of Print
National Gallery
A Chair Fit for an Angel
Limo Ride
Sunshine Superman
Iris
Stray Dog
The Oracles of Pennsylvania Avenue
120 Days
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Mike Leigh, Mr. Turner
Justin Simien, Dear White People
Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Two Days, One Night
Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler
Lisa Haas, Jackie Monahan and Madeleine Olnek, The Foxy Merkins
Matthew Weiner, Are You Here
Jonathan Raymond and Kelly Reichardt, Night Moves
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson, Inherent Vice
James Gunn and Nicole Perlman, Guardians of the Galaxy
Gary Hawkins, Joe
Bong Joon-ho and Kelly Masterston, Snowpiecer
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Robert Elswit, Inherent Vice
Sharone Mair, Whiplash
Mandy Walker, Tracks
Jean-Francois Lord, A Chair Fit for an Angel
Kyun-pyo Hong, Snowpiercer
Robert Yeoman, The Grand Budapest Hotel
BEST ART DIRECTION
Saint Laurent
Snowpiercer
Gone Girl
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Belle
Saint Laurent
Get On Up
Jersey Boys
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Gone Girl
Mica Levi, Under The Skin
Garth Stevenson, Tracks
Marco Beltrami, The Homesman
Antonio Sanchez, Birdman, or: The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance
Mr. Turner
BEST SOUND MIXING
Whiplash
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Edge of Tomorrow
BEST SOUND EFFECTS EDITING
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Snowpiercer
Edge of Tomorrow
BEST EDITING
Gone Girl
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Under The Skin
Edge of Tomorrow
Snowpiercer
Birdman, or: The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance
BEST MAKEUP
Snowpiecer
Mr. Turner
Get On Up
best performance of the year has to be ed norton in birdman..birdman will be raging bull to boyhoods ordinary people and i hope whiplash gets oscar love as well
My hopes even though they have absolutely no chance of happening would be Robyn Buck for best actress for her brilliant performance in the small indie “Hard Sun” and Elisabeth Moss for supporting for “Listen Up Philip”
@RICKY
Ditto. I love that performance. Something tells me that if The Skeleton Twins ends up being this year’s The Savages/You Can Count on Me, which would make Kristin Wiig this year’s Laura Linney (which would also be great).
I’m hoping that Damien Chazelle is this year’s Benh Zeitlin. Whiplash and Foxcatcher are my favorite movies of the year. I’m hoping that Foxcatcher will still show up in picture, actor (ideally both Steve Carell and Channing Tatum get in) and screenplay. I would also love to see The Skeleton Twins get some recognition. And I’m genuinely nervous about Life Itself getting snubbed (it may not be the most heavy documentary, but it’s infinitely better than both Searching for Sugarman and 20 Feet from Stardom).
I know it’s hopeless but… Bill Hader in The Skeleton Twins
AMPAS hear my plea…Tom Hardy, Best Actor for “Locke” and Ava DuVernay, Best Director for “Selma”.
Good luck to the hopefuls (in any category)!
I wish Oscar would go Gaga for Gugu, as I wrote this spring on my blog, when “Belle” opened. She certainly is coming on. More and more so every day. And of course, Marion Cotillard, too. For either film. I loved “Gone Girl” and can’t understand the lack of enthusiasm and respect for it. And Rosamund Pike’s in danger! I didn’t know that! I hope not! I thought she was a sure thing. But as Tom O. says over and over again at Gold Derby, “You’ve got to kiss babies.” I think he means that making it into “The Derby” as he styles it is no longer dependent on your PERFORMANCE alone. You’ve got to be out glad-handing, like, as Meryl put it “You’re running for office and it’s a political campaign.” And over the years the importance of the behind the scenes “Oscar Stratagists” as grown and grown into Giant-ess- like importance. I wish someone who had the knowledge( I don’t) would write an article just detailing who these stratagists are and who’s pumping (or pimping) whose film. It counts for more and more every year. And they’re effective.
Mademoiselle Marion has said about “Two Days, One Night”. “We have no money. So no nomination.” Ouch!
I loved “Gone Girl” and can’t understand the lack of enthusiasm and respect for it.
I can’t actually see any lack of enthusiasm for Gone Girl. I’m not seeing the lack of respect.
Love to see:
Gugu Mbatha-Raw for either film
Jake Gylenhall-Nightcrawler
Carmen Ejogo-Selma
Channing Tatum-Foxcatcher
Tom Hardy-Locke
Glory-Best Song
Renee Russo-Nightcrawler
Riz Ahmed-Nightcrawler
Agata Kulesza-Ida
I’m not really ready but here goes it…
Dear Oscar Voters,
I thought that 2014 was a great year for film. I hear many people say differently but as someone who has mainly seen the films that were released on thousands of screens across the country, or made it to video by now, I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve seen this year. I’m partial to the big budget epics with casts of thousands like they used to make in the good old days. This was a great year for that.
My favorite film of 2014 so far is EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS. I know that because of the current climate, hoping for this extraordinary film to receive any recognition would require the intervention of St. Jude. So I’m going to spend my time on the blockbuster I believe will be most representative of what 2014 was in real life and at the movies.
INTERSTELLAR is the one that will be remembered. It will be the film of 2014 that people look back on and actually remember what it was like watching it in the theater. The experience of it. It’s impact left an indelible mark on its fans. If it’s really a divisive film, as they say, my guess is because it represents where we really are right now and that scares people. We’re in trouble here on Earth. What’s worse is that I think it might actually scare people more that love is the answer. This is a film that is on the surface a Science Fiction movie about saving the world. But when you get down to it, it’s about saving humanity. Not just humanity in the sense of many many people, but the humanity within those people. And that’s why love is the only answer. It’s the only thing that can motivate us to break through the walls of time and space to fix what we got wrong the first time. It’s a second chance for humans. Humans that get it wrong most of the time. We need to look to the future. What will future humans think of us? What would they have wanted us to do? In the grand scheme of things, voting for awards isn’t the most important thing. But getting history right is. This film will inspire future astronauts at a time when we’ve given up on that. We’re too grounded on this planet. We lack hope. People who have lost hope in themselves look to an afterlife. They want to make good on Earth so they can win points with their God. They kill because of it. They make the world an incredibly dark place. Nary a week goes by where we don’t hear about people doing unthinkable harm because they think our way of life is to be punished. They don’t see the love. They don’t have it in themselves. They’ve lost their humanity because they’ve lost hope. What if those people looked to the stars? What if they believed in tomorrow? What if instead of raging at their fellow man, they raged against the dying of the light? We need the hope a film like this inspires. We need future generations to think their way through whatever coming trials there are so that they can save our humanity, all of humanity. If we make it through these dark times, and I hope that we will, I believe the ones who will save us are little kids right now. They maybe haven’t even seen INTERSTELLAR. Yet. But when our future humans live on a refurbished Earth or begin their lives out there somewhere in the cosmos, I’m willing to bet that our savior will remember the first time someone she loved showed her INTERSTELLAR and how it set her on her path.
I don’t have to tell you the craftsmanship and dedication it takes to make a film this epic and inspiring. That all the people who worked on it had a unique and grandiose vision and brought it to heart-stopping reality. Even as you sit in the theater and let the film wash over you, you never lose awareness of the quality of the work that went into a spectacle like this. There’s no doubt INTERSTELLAR was the event film of 2014. That it’s of Best Picture quality makes it that much more momentous.
Please, members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, hear my plea. The future needs to remember INTERSTELLAR. Find place on your ballots for it in all categories, but most importantly Best Picture.
Thank you.
Under the Skin for Score.
That’s it.
OUT: Duvall, Streep, Redmayne and Jones.
IN: Brolin, Swinton,, Gyllenhaal and Cotillard.
Dear Oscar, hear my plea:
Tom Hardy for “Locke”.
*Whiplash
Best picture the most logical and deserving will be :
Boyhood
Selma
Birdman
The Imitation Game
The Theory of Everything
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Fox Catcher
Into the Woods
9 and 10 will be between American Sniper Whisplash Interstellar
The man who directed Whiplash is a 29 yer old dude and he did a great job. He also is new to directing but he is a very talented and well trained director. I am not even into jazz music and was so into this film! JK Simmons deserves that best Supporting Actor Oscar! Amazing movie overall.
Marion Cotillard for Best Actress for Two Days One Night
Force Majeure for Foreign Language Film
Finding Vivian Maier for Documentary
Andy Serkis for Best Supporting Actor for Dawn of The Planet of The Apes
Foxcatcher for Original Screenplay
Channing Tatum for Best Lead Actor for Foxcatcher.
Whiplash and Foxcatcher for Best Picture and Best Director
Snowpiercer for Supporting Actress Tilda Swinton and Production Design
Under The Skin for Original Score
Wild Tales and Leviathan for Foreign Language Film
MARION COTILLARD for TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT. Her performance is just amazing and wonderful. Very touching film with a good message.
Selma, Foxcatcer, Gone Girl, Whiplash, Intersteller, The Imitations Game, Boyhood, The Birdman are the best films to nominate. if Unbroken get in, then we all know that Angelina’s hard oscar campaign paid off. She is the most undeserving person to be nominated/win an Oscar for the category she is trying to aim an Oscar for. Her delusional fans called me a ‘hater’ on another thread, accused me of pretending to be other posters just because others had similar or not even similar things to say about her! Just because I don’t kiss her ass and bow down to her less then average film it means I ‘hater’ her? I bet most of them have never even seen the movie and are purposely giving her great reviews on IMDB just to boost Unbroken’s score higher. Pathetic all of them.
Also a Cumberbatch/Redmayne snub would be nice. Make room for Jake and Bradley to join the party!
Gugu Mbatha Raw for Belle, for sure. And Ralph Fiennes. I also think that Miles Teller did a bang up job in Whiplash
Just give me a Jake Gyllenhaal nomination and all will be right with the world.
Ida and Grand Budapest for cinematography.
4:3 lives!!
And Whiplash and Chazelle, too.
Just watched Gone Girl again and really hope Rosamund Pike gets in. She gave my favorite female performance this year, hands down.
Thanks Ryan 🙂 I benefit from those such as yourself who are cogent and eloquent in so doing…. I love how vivid the ‘voices’ are on this site; without ever actually ‘hearing’ them. (other than podcasts of course)
Mia Wasikowska for Best Actress.
Lana Del Rey for Best Song.
Wild Tales for Best Foreign.
Edge of Tomorrow for… something.
No sympathy votes; no paybacks; no bandwagon jumping; no lazybones choices. Use your vote wisely.
^
that’s a good voice. that voice right there.
re: “still trying to find a voice that suits me, prose wise!”
There are no Nazis and no one speaks in a British accent that I remember.” This comment is frankly disgusting.
“Yes, by all means, let’s NOT nominate what is clearly one of the best films of 2014 that made Hollywood $165 million and was the most talked about movie of the year. But hey. There are no Nazis and no one speaks in a British accent that I remember.” – Hilarious.
“Gone Girl” most definitely deserves a BP Nod, but it’s MORE important, at least to me, that Fincher gets a BD nomination.
– I’d like Gyllenhaal to get nominated, but on the other side I’m hoping to see 5 first time nominees for Best Actor. (Gyllenhaal was Supporting I know but I mean overall nods not just specifically BA)
– I haven’t seen “Boyhood” yet but I REALLY don’t want it to win too much. Mainly Editing or Original Screenplay (for “Birdman”)
– Wes Anderson to get in for BD would be nice. Mainly so hipsters stop complaining about it, but also because he deserves it; at least as a career nod.
– And if “Unbroken” is as mediocre as it seems. I’d like it to only get in for a few categories. Mainly Cinematography and/or Adapted Screenplay, because you can never nominate Roger Deakins or the Coen Bros too many times.
Hope Unbroken gets in just to piss off some know it all egomaniacs
Since my favorite movie of the year, Boyhood, will likely win Best Picture (which practically never happens), I only hope that my second favorite, Gone Girl, and Fincher get in. I’m honestly not someone who gets too upset about nominations, but if Gone Girl doesn’t get in, that would upset me so much. I mean, isn’t nominating a movie like that the main reason they expanded the Best Picture nominees? Oh well, it’d be the Academy’s loss if they don’t end up nominating it.
Into the woods, American Sniper, Fox Catcher to join the top 10 for best picture !!!
Nominations I’d like to see:
Best Picture: Snowpiercer
Best Actor: Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Best Actress: Essie Davis
Best Supporting Actress: Carrie Coon
Best Supporting Actor: Alfred Molina
Best Director: Jennifer Kent
Swinton for Best Supporting Actress!!!!!!
It’s the least that could be done to make up for the lack of nominations for We Need to Talk About Kevin, Julia and one of the best performances of all time…I Am Love.
Hope Gone Girl, Foxcatcher,Whiplash,Instellar, American Sniper get in for BP, but please not Unbroken not worthy at all it will be really unfair.
i would love to see Hillary Swank for Best Actress but I am afraid it wont happen.
I would like to see Ben Affleck for Best Actor but I am afraid it wont happen.
I would like to see Ralph Fiennes for Best Actor but I am afraid it wont happen.
I would like to see Laura Dern for Best Supporting Actress but I am afraid it wont happen.
I would like to see Carmen Ajogo (what a beautiful women!) for Best Supporting Actress but I am afraid it wont happen.
I would like to see Naomi Watts (for either movie) for Best Supporting Actress but I am afraid it wont happen.
I would like to see Tilda Swinton (for either movie) for Best Supporting Actress but I am afraid it wont happen.
I hope Selma, Gone Girl, Into The Woods, American Sniper get in BP nods
Selma wins Best Picture
David Fincher wins Best Director
David Oyelowo wins Best Actor
Julianne Moore wins Best Actress
Best Picture – Foxcatcher, Gone Girl, Interstellar, Whiplash
Best Actor – Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Best Actress – Marion Cotillard, The Immigrant
Best Supporting Actor – Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher and Josh Brolin, Inherent Vice
Best Adapted Screenplay – Inherent Vice
Best Original Screenplay – Interstellar, Foxcatcher
Best Cinematography – The Immigrant
HOPES:
> Interstellar in Best Picture, Score and Cinematography
> Gone Girl in Best Picture
> Marion Cotillard for either film
> Hilary Swank or Marco Beltrami for The Homesman
> The Maze Runner for Sound Mixing
> Mr. Turner and Mike Leigh in BP & BD
Film/Dir: Unbroken/Jolie
Lead Actor: J. O’Connell – Unbroken / T. Spall – Mr. Turner
Lead Actress: A. Adams – Big Eyes
Supp. Actor: C. Waltz – Big Eyes
Supp. Actress: J. Chastain – Interstellar / J. Weaver – Magic in the Moonlight
Orig. Screenplay: Big Eyes / Magic in the Moonlight
Adapt. Screenplay: Unbroken / Kaguya
Anim. Film: The Boxtrolls / Kaguya
Where do I send the check(s)?
Of course I hope Gone Girl gets in, as well as the safe Birdman. I would love to see Wild and Foxcatcher in the mix, too.
I hope that:
– Josh Brolin gets nominated in ‘Best Supporting Actor’ instead of Robert Duvall (I’m hopeful that more AMPAS voters will be more interested with watching their ‘Inherent Vice’ screeners rather than ‘The Judge’).
– Tilda Swinton gets nominated for ‘Best Supporting Actress (I’ve seen Swinton in ‘Snowpiercer, and haven’t seen Streep in ‘Into the Woods’, but Streep has won three Oscars and been nominated a total of 17 times so I’d rather her not get recognised yet again so that room can be made in the line up for Tilda Swinton).
– Jake Gyhlenaal gets nominated for ‘Nightcrawler’. It’s looking increasingly likely to happen and would be cool to see. Would also be a nice way for the Academy to acknowledge that Gyhlenaal has been consistently doing quality work since at least 2010. Ralph Fiennes getting nominated would also be nominated but that’s pretty unlikely to happen.
– Jennifer Aniston gets nominated for ‘Cake’. Until recently I was hoping that Marion Cotillard would claim the “5th slot” but not only has she already won an Oscar but I think she’ll be in a strong position to land her belated second Oscar nomination at the 2016 ceremony for her role in ‘Macbeth’ (as it wi be an English language performance that plenty of people will see and Weinstein will likely prioritise the film). In regards to Aniston, it’s great to see her do quality dramatic work and it will be good to see her nominated not just for that reason but also because she’s been around for a while and people would be happy to see her get recognised/ embraced in such a way.
– I’d be happy to see Wes Anderson and/ or Damien Chazelle to receive ‘Best Picture’ nominations and corresponding ‘Best Director’ nominations.
I only have one this year :
I have this great, hopefully completely baseless fear that Rosamund Pike will be snubbed. Most pundits said it over and over again in the last few weeks that the Academy wasn’t a fan of Gone Girl and unlike ALL other strong contenders who have been hitting the campaign trail HARD (Witherspoon, Aniston, Moore, Jones, Adams, Blunt), Pike has been largely absent from the season due to her pregnancy which makes perfect sense considering she only gave birth a few weeks ago. Sure, a massive surprise in Best Actress in the form a nomination for Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jessica Chastain would be something I would cherish…but dear Academy, FIRST please make sure Rosamund Pike gets her nomination for the most memorable, epic and instantly iconic female performances of the year.
But I’d also really like to see Jake Gyllenhaal get nominated for Best Actor for Nightcrawler. He was so creepy (good) in that movie.
Over the last few months, my main movie has been Gone Girl. I hope very much that it gets nominations for Best Picture, David Fincher and Best Director, Rosamund Pike and Best Actress, and Carrie Coon and Best Supporting Actress. Maybe my favorite win of the year would be if Gone Girl wins Adapted Screenplay. Oh that would be heaven. 🙂
Whiplash for Best Picture,
Damien Chazelle for Best Director