And The Oscar Goes To...

The 87th Academy Awards take place on Sunday, and will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. I have compiled a list of who I think will receive the Academy Awards on Sunday evening. All of the nominees can be found here: Oscar Nominees.  

Best Picture: Boyhood

For all the cynics who claim Boyhood has been the mainstay of this award season purely for its 'twelve years in the making' tag either have not watched the film or, if they have seen it, have not engaged enough with it. This soulful journey from childhood to the cusp of adulthood exemplifies the ordinary as extraordinary, and is utterly beguiling throughout. If not Boyhood, I would much prefer either The Grand Budapest Hotel or Whiplash be given this accolade, rather than the overwrought Birdman, which is a more probable contender to foist the award away from Boyhood.

Directing: Alejandro González Iñárritu for Birdman

The most flashy direction, and therefore the frontrunner for Director has to be Iñárritu for Birdman. He has just won the Director's Guild Award and, one would think that this category is his to lose. There is a chance Richard Linklater could take this. Alejandro González Iñárritu probably will.

Actor in a Leading Role: Eddie Redmayne for The Theory of Everything

Michael Keaton is still the odds-on-favourite for Birdman, but I feel Eddie Redmayne will receive Actor in a Leading Role. His performance of Stephen Hawking is a deteriorating transformation, amplified through the minutiae of mannerisms, mood and movement. Most affecting and meticulously handled; for sheer loyalty to the demands of this role, Redmayne deserves this.

Actress in a Leading Role: Julianne Moore for Still Alice

Julianne Moore deserves an Oscar. That much is obvious. For Still Alice, a film about how the titular character copes with being diagnosed with onset alzheimers at the age of 50, Moore relaxes into an unnerving state, conveying the frustrations and tribulations of the illness, whilst attempting to be a mother, a wife and a teacher. As Alice's memories fade into the abysses of her psyche, the result of Moore's complete performance devastates.

Actor in a Supporting Role: JK Simmons for Whiplash

Like Javier Bardem for No Country For Old Men. Like Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight. Like Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds. A shockingly memorable, nefarious antagonist, performed with a mixture of glee and horror, warrants an Oscar. JK Simmons, as Terrence Fletcher, will win this award.

Actress in a Supporting Role: Patricia Arquette for Boyhood

For her own nuanced expedition throughout the twelve years of Boyhood as the mother of Mason Jr and Samantha, Patricia Arquette will be accepting an Oscar this Sunday.

Adapted Screenplay: Whiplash by Damien Chazelle

The probability lies with either Graham Moore for The Imitation Game or Anthony McCarten for The Theory of Everything, though I would love for Damien Chazelle to take this. His script is so raw and original (ironic, seeing as though it is up for adapted screenplay, due to Chazelle adapting Whiplash from a previous short he made). A surprise could be in order, and it could happen here.

Original Screenplay: The Grand Budapest Hotel by Wes Anderson

A dead cert for me. The Grand Budapest Hotel was Wes Anderson at his eccentric best. A stylised, Anderson-personified, cracking script brimming with crackling dialogue. 

Animated Feature Film: Big Hero 6

A tough one to call, as the real winner did not qualify (The Lego Movie was shunned by the Academy). Big Hero 6 and How to Train Your Dragon 2 were both entertaining, but the original concept and sentimentality of the superhero story might see it soar come Oscar night. It is worth mentioning Song of the Sea also, and its gloomy, pastel animated background. This contrasts gloriously with the lighter digital animation of the foreground characters and continually evokes the tragedy of the story. In other words, Song of the Sea has plenty of potential in this category. 

Foreign Language Film: Ida

Ida was beautifully shot (it might have an outside chance of taking cinematography away from Birdman), with an absorbing story, tactful direction and honest performances. Either Leviathan and Wild Tales could claim victory here, though I feel Ida will be crowned the Foreign Language Film of the year. 

Cinematography: Birdman

Costume Design: Into The Woods

Documentary Feature: CitizenFour

Documentary Short Subject: Our Curse

Film Editing: American Sniper

Make-Up and Hair Styling: Guardians of the Galaxy

Music Original Score: The Theory of Everything

Music Original Song: "Glory" from Selma

Production Design: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Short Film Animated: A Single Life

Short Film Live Action: Parvaneh 

Sound Editing: American Sniper

Sound Mixing: Whiplash 

Visual Effects: Interstellar

More articles will be coming soon, including the Seven Best Tom Cruise Films and a commentary on film critics. Enjoy the Oscars folks!