Year in Review: Adam's Top Ten Films of 2015

2015 is finally in the books.  What a year it was too, not only for the big box office movies but also for the small indie films as well.  We had 9 movies this year have opening weekends of 80 million dollars or more (American Sniper, Fifty Shades of Grey, Furious 7, Avengers 2, Jurassic World, Inside Out, Minions, Hunger Games, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens).  6 of those films had opening weekends of 100 million dollars or more (Furious 7, Avengers 2, Jurassic World, Minions, Hunger Games, and Star Wars).  Then 2 of those films broke 200 million dollars for an opening weekend (Jurassic World and Star Wars).  In the first 20 days of being released, Star Wars has already broke the all time domestic record, set by Avatar in 2006.  Star Wars has made, as of 1/9/2016, 781,141,043 dollars and still going strong!  

We saw some sequels make some huge comebacks.  Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Creed, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Jurassic World and Furious 7, have showed us that these franchises are a live and well.  They showed us that sequels can actually be better than some of the films in previous installments.  

As for indie films, we were giving some really good ones (Spotlight, '71, Mississippi Grind, Love and Mercy, Brooklyn, It Follows, Slow West, 5 Flights Up, The Revenant, Sicario), just to name a few.  Though there was some duds too (The Danish Girl, Welcome to Me, Adult Beginners, Big Game).  I feel like even though there was a lot of good ones, this year just doesn't stack up for quality to last year.  

As for performances, we witness a lot of good ones that will wreck havoc on Oscar voters.  Leonard DiCaprio (The Revenant), Alicia Vikander (Ex-Machina), Jenifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), and Johnny Deep (Black Mass) gave us some really gripping performances.  Directors can be stars as well.  Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (The Revenant), J.J. Abrams (Star Wars 7), George Miller (Mad Max:Fury Road) and F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton) gave us some of the most iconic images of the year.  

Before we get to my Top 10 list, lets hand out some awards to the people who make the films of 2015!

Total 2015 films seen: 120

Thumbs up percentage: 64%

Movies I need to see, that could make my list: Carol, The Martian, Son of Saul, The Look of Silence, and Amy

Actor of the Year:

Domhnall Gleeson

(Ex-Machina, Brooklyn, The Revenant, Star Wars: The Force Awakens)

Actress of the Year:

Alicia Vikander

(Testament of Youth, Ex-Machina, Seventh Son, Burnt, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Danish Girl)

Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio - The Revenant, Johnny Deep - Black Mass, Oscar Issac - Ex-Machina, Michael B. Jordan - Creed, Michael Fassbender - Steve Jobs

Best Actress: Emily Blunt - Sicario, Charlize Theron - Mad Max:Fury Road, Brie Larson - Room, Saoirse Ronan - Brooklyn, Amy Schumer - Trainwreck

Best Supporting Actor: Benicio Del Toro - Sicario, Idris Elba - Beast of No Nation, Sylvester Stallone - Creed, Tom Hardy - The Revenant, Jason Mitchell - Straight Outta Compton

Best Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander - Ex-Machina, Jenifer Jason Leigh - The Hateful Eight, Cate Blanchett - Cinderella, Rachael McAdams - Spotlight, Elizabeth Banks - Love and Mercy

Best Breakout Performance: Alicia Vikander - Ex-Machina, Daisy Ridley - Star Wars:The Force Awakens, Shameik Moore - Dope, Taron Egerton - Kingsmen, Lilly James - Cinderella

Best Director: George Miller - Mad Max:Fury Road, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu - The Revenant, Ryan Coogler - Creed, Pete Doctor - Inside Out, Tom McCarthy - Spotlight

Best Original Screenplay: Inside Out, Spotlight, Sicario, Ex-Machina, Straight Outta Compton

Best Adapted Screenplay: The Revenant, Creed, Steve Jobs, The Big Short, Brooklyn

Most Underrated Films: Dope, Steve Jobs, Unfriended, McFarland USA, Mississippi Grind, The Gift

Most Overrated Films: The Big Short, Trumbo, The Good Dinosaur, Legend, Tomorrowland, Chappie, The Danish Girl

Biggest Surprise: Parallels, Creep, The Intern, Danny Collins

Biggest Disappointment: Avengers:Age of Ultron, Chappie

Best Sequel: Creed

Best Laughs: Trainwreck, Sleeping with Other People, Let's Kill Ward's Wife, Spy 

Best Scares: It Follows, Cartel Land, Insidious Chapter 3,  

Bottom Five of the Year (from bad to worse): Sinister 2, Hot Pursuit, The Gallows, Paranormal Activity:The Ghost Dimension, Mortedecai 

Check out my Top Ten Worst Films of 2015

Honorable Mentions: Kingsmen, Southpaw, McFarland USA, Jurassic World, Beast of No Nation, 

It Follows (David Robert Mitchell)

Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (Brett Morgen)

Sleeping with Other People (Leslye Headland)

Trainwreck (Judd Apatow)

 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (J.J. Abrams)

10.

The Hateful Eight 

(Quentin Tarantino)

It seems like every time Tarantino makes a film, its always on peoples Top Ten list.  This year is no different.  The Hateful Eight can easily be compared to the movie Clue.  Its a western 'who done it' movie, with a ton of character!  This movie follows a bounty hunter (Kurt Russel) and his prisoner (Jenifer Jason Leigh) as they journey through the Wyoming winter.  They come across a few crazy characters along the way (Samuel L. Jackosn and Walton Goggins) and they all must hold up in a cabin due to a blizzard.  Their they meet a few more characters (Dern, Madsen, Roth, Bichir) that make the story even more interesting.  The characters are so rich in backstory, it makes it really enjoyable to see them interact with one another.  The second half might be even better than the first.  The 'who done it' part is really well written and paced.  It might not be Tarantino's best work (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs) but its definitely deserving of a spot on this list.  You should check this out if your a fan of a good Tarantino flick, heck they are all good.

9.

Brooklyn

(John Crowley)

Brooklyn, to me, is a beautiful movie about growth and independence.  Saoirse Ronan plays Eilis, a young lady who leaves her small Irish town for Brooklyn, New York.  Now, Eilis isn't necessarily brave and adventurous, she is shy and cautious.  She is on the cusp of womanhood and she has to take those finally steps on her own.  She has to learn how to overcome her shyness by making new friends at the department store she works at as well as the boarding house she resides.  She falls in love with a local man and begins planning her life with him.  But after a tragic incident in her hometown, she must journey back, and figure out what her heart is telling her is right.  It's a beautiful movie of how we must grow into adulthood and to follow our heart.  Saoirse Ronan gives us one of the best performance of the year!

8.

Straight Outta Compton

(F. Gary Gray)

This movie was my most anticipated movie of the summer!  This film shows us the rise of N.W.A., the world's most dangerous group.  Jason Mitchell (Easy E), O'Shea Jackson Jr (Ice Cube), and Corey Hawkins (Dr. Dre) are amazing in their roles.  I enjoyed the journey that this movie took us on.  This movie came out at the right time, considering all the negative press about police brutality recently.  I enjoyed singing along with the songs in the theater (along with everyone else) and seeing how this group along with other rappers came up in the business.  This movie would make an awesome HBO series as well.

7.

Spotlight

(Tom McCarthy)

This the true story about how the Boston Globe uncovered the child molestation cover up with in the Catholic church.  Another perfect timing movie.  As I was watching this, I was blown away with the amazing performances and how well this film was put together.  Even though I enjoyed this movie a lot, I still had a hard time watching this knowing what the final outcome will be.  I have a daughter myself and I want to protect her from anything like this from ever happening to her.  It's hard believing that an organization, like the Catholic church, would do something like this to kids.  Truly breaks my heart.  I'm glad McCarthy and Singer penned this script and made this movie so the world knows about these things.  Going to be one to look out for come award season!

6.

Mad Max: Fury Road

(George Miller)

In the time of big CGI movies (Avengers:Age of Ultron, Jurassic World), its good to see a movie that uses practical effects.  It is so good to be back in this world and it feels like we never left.  Tom Hardy steps into the shoes of Max, taking them from Mel Gibson.  Even though this is a Mad Max film, his limelight is stolen from him by one of my favorite character this year.  Charlize Theron plays Imperator Furiose, a kick ass female movie character on par to the likes of Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) from the Alien franchise.  This was a non stop thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  

5.

Inside Out

(Pete Doctor)

This movie is such a unique experience that is super enjoyable for the whole family.  Pixar is finally back with a fresh new idea and it pays off.  It's a movie about the emotions in our head.  It follows little girl, Riley, as she moves with her family to San Francisco.  Now as a person who moved around a lot as a kid, made this movie hit home even more.  Having a daughter made it hit even harder.  I actually teared up 3 times in this movie and I'm glad I did.  It's such a sweet movie about our feelings.  This is a good movie for the kids and adults.  

4.

Ex Machina

(Alex Garland)

The movie that made, Alicia Vikander, a star!  It follows a young programmer (Domhnall Gleeson) as he is selected to particapte in an experiment in A.I. by evaluating the human qualities of a female A.I. (Vikander).  The creator (Oscar Isaac) of the A.I. Nathan, and Caleb (Gleeson) build a strange relationship as they work on their project.  What's even stranger is the relationship between Caleb and Ava (Vikander), which is some of the best parts of the movie.  What movie that makes you think, and will leave you with even more questions after it is over.  Definitely a god conversation starter.

3.

Sicario

(Denis Villeneuve)

I am sensing a trend,  A third perfect timing movie.  This movie follows FBI agent (Emily Blunt) who in enlisted by a government task force to aid against the war on drugs.  This is such a hard movie to watch.  The way it is shot, makes you want to take a hot shower right after it.  The performance of Blunt, Del Toro, and Brolin are amazing and it is such a same that they are not getting recognized for any awards.  If you watch the documentary 'Cartel Land', it will make this movie even better.  

2.

Creed

(Ryan Coogler) 

 The last time Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler made a film (Fruitvale Station) it was amazing and made my top ten too.  The amazing thing about this is that Ryan Coogler actually wrote this a pitched it to Sylvestor Stallone.  Stallone liked it and the rest is history.  It follows Adonis Creed (Jordan) as he struggles to make an name for himself in the boxing world.  He turns to his late fathers best friend, Rocky Balboa.  Stallone gives one of the best performances of his carer, Oscar worthy.  I enjoyed the chemistry between Stallone and Jordan.  Jordan has continued to show us how he is one of the best young actors out there today.  The cinematography is one of the most underrated parts of this film too.  

1.

The Revenant

(Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)

The Revenant, is my favorite movie of the year and hears why! 1) Leonardo DiCaprio is amazing as Hugh Glass.  Granted, he is one of my favorite actors working today.  My favorite film he is in is 'The Departed' though I feel that this role is even better.  I totally feel like he should finally receive the Oscar he has been chasing for such a long time.  2) Inarritu has shown us the last two years, how to direct a movie.  His long, beautiful, and gripping shots are truly breathe taking.  He builds the tension, that leaves you on the edge of your seat.  3) The score played perfectly with the way the movie was paced.  I love John Williams (Star Wars) but Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto, totally put an amazing score together that shines in the film. 4) Tom Hardy, is amazing and totally being overlooked during award season.  I really like Hardy as an actor and usually enjoy ever role he is in.  But man, I hate this guy in this film.  5) Now I didn't watch a single trailer for this film, so I went end completely unaware of what I was going to witnessed.  So glad I did.  6). Last thing, is that out of every movie this year, this was the one movie that is head and shoulders above the rest.  I realy enjoyed every shot and I can't wait to see this again!  The tense moments between characters and the the tense moments between Leo and the environment make for one amazing cinematic experience.  I can't say enough good thing about this movie!  This movie is not for the faint of heart and won't be liked by everyone, but for this guys it's my favorite film of the year!

Well that's my list an awards!  What do you think about them?  What is your Top Ten?

Thank you again!

Heres to an even better 2016 at the movies!

Adam 

2015 Oscar Predictions: Final (Major Categories)

We have arrived at the end of Oscar predictions, and we still have a lot of uncertainty in the major categories. The winners are becoming clearer, but the fun of Oscar season is really who gets nominated and what movies are recognized. The Best Picture 9 (probably) is still wide open, with the Producers Guild recently giving us the best idea of how it might shake out, but we still really don’t know. Selma was a frontrunner in many categories (we thought), but it got shut out at the SAG and somehow missed the top 10 at the PGA. A movie with such pedigree and glowing reviews getting ignored is a little head-scratching. I think its threat to win Best Picture is over. This leaves the door open for the year’s best film Boyhood, as well as underdog Birdman and wild card Gone Girl to take the top prize. It is going to be interesting to see the announcement on Thursday, January 15^th, and not just these categories, but the ARTS AND TECHS nominees as well. Check out my final predictions below:

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Predicted Five

1. Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn – It is still the frontrunner, withstanding pushes by much more Oscar-begging films. The box office and reviews should keep it up there for the duration.

2. The Imitation Game – Graham Moore – It is a tight script and a really interesting movie. This is the film’s best chance to land a significant Oscar, but it still has some work to do. It needs to take the BAFTA to have a shot.

3. Inherent Vice – Paul Thomas Anderson – Even though the movie is totally weird and not typical awards stuff at all, PTA has a pass with the Academy, even though they snubbed his The Master script despite the screenplay leading to 3 acting noms.

4. The Theory of Everything – Anthony McCarten – The screenplay is not the main achievement in the movie, but when you have a clear top 5 ranking for the year, the nominations come flooding your way, which almost always includes your writer getting swept in.

5. Whiplash – Damien Chazelle – The Sundance winner had a razor-sharp screenplay and has constantly built steam since its big win last January. The recent switch to Adapted (its rightful spot) might hurt its chances a tad, but Chazelle still sits in a strong position.

Others in contention

6. Still Alice – Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland – This would be a bit of a surprise, but with the performances and previous strong work by the writers (2006 indie darling Quinceanera), it appears that this movie can go nowhere but up.
7. Wild – Nick Hornby – The performances are getting all of the publicity for Wild. Hornby is a past nominee for An Education, which might help his cause, but how much did the screenplay do for this film, really?

8. American Sniper – James Dean Hall – The movie has yet to really be seen yet, but its buzz is rising in all categories. Eastwood’s film could pull a last minute shocker and get mentioned all over the Academy’s lineup.

9. Unbroken – Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, William Nicholson, Richard LaGravenese – I won’t quite give up on this movie yet. The Coens’ strangest work A Serious Man even got its screenplay nod, so even though this movie underwhelmed most, it still cannot be forgotten.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The Predicted Five

1. Birdman – Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo – This is about the most competitive I have seen this category in a long time. This movie is one of the main contenders for the top prize, and the screenplay is really what sold it. Inarritu deserves an Oscar at some point, and this has to be his best shot yet. 

2. The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness – The indie record-breaker has sustained its buzz all the way into awards season, which is really surprising. Anderson films are in the mix consistently, but not since The Royal Tenenbaums has his films felt like such a threat in so many categories.

3. Boyhood – Richard Linklater – It is a little weird having the Best Picture frontrunner down at #3 for screenplay, but the other films were just showier and more obvious screenplay achievements. I am not counting it out, but it has a bit of an uphill climb, especially when Linklater probably walks away with 2 wins anyway.

4. Mr. Turner – Mike Leigh – Leigh is always getting nominated. Even Another Year came out of nowhere at the last moment. It is getting in, but I couldn’t really tell you why looking at what is being left out.

5. Nightcrawler – Dan Gilroy – This movie has been rising furiously, and I have read about similarities to Crash with its timing and campaign. This seems like a script that would normally get in without an issue, but Original Screenplay is incredibly stacked this year.

Others in contention

6. Selma – Paul Webb – This seems like it would have been a shoo-in a couple weeks ago, but it keeps getting ignored by the important precursors. Maybe it really isn’t all that good after all.

7. Interstellar – Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan – It made a boatload of money and had some really interesting ideas, and that is usually enough for a screenplay nom. There were holes in the logic of the movie, however, which may have become apparent to voters and cause them to leave Nolan off for once.

8. Foxcatcher – E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman – The screenplay was not really a showcase, but it did have a Capote-esque vibe to it. It needs a big win or two to really get back in this particular race.

9. A Most Violent Year – J.C. Chandor – The National Board of Review winner seems to be sputtering down the stretch, but audiences really haven’t seen it yet. Chandor is 2 for 2 with his films, and this appears to be his 3^rd hit, but its lack of serious buzz is a little disconcerting.

10. Locke – Steven Knight – If Locke can be remembered somehow, then a screenplay nod is not out of the question. It would be the prestige nomination, which has previously been given to Margin Call and The Messenger, two that were later proven to be amazing out-of-nowhere noms by the Academy.

11. Dear White People – Justin Simien – This would be an In the Loop-type of nomination if it were to get in. The satire is always something that plays well in this category, and the movie did make some waves in indie markets.

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The Predicted Five

1. Patricia Arquette – Boyhood – She is the clear frontrunner and the heart of the movie. She has been under-the-radar her entire film career and has really only garnered awards attention for her TV show Medium. It is about time she gets her due.

2. Emma Stone – Birdman – She has been in and around awards movies for a few years, and she finally has that part that got her singled out. Well…kinda. The whole cast essentially was singled out.

3. Meryl Streep – Into the Woods – She is Meryl, and she was in a movie. This is a no-brainer nomination, but the world just might end if she wins.

4. Jessica Chastain – A Most Violent Year – She is becoming a regular at the Oscars and rightfully so. She is one of the best actresses working today, and she had 4 buzzed roles that she nailed in 2014.

5. Tilda Swinton – Snowpiercer – It would be a strange nomination, but these are the types of roles that get recognized. The Critics Choice nomination helps, and even though the movie was a bit of a flop, it has still been cited consistently throughout the season.

Others in contention

6. Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game – She always seems to be just on the outside looking in, and while this is her best work in some 7 years, she still feels like a snub candidate.

7. Naomi Watts – St. Vincent / Birdman – She got the surprise SAG nom for the former, and the latter is the major Oscar player. I wouldn’t be too shocked if either hit.

8. Carrie Coon – Gone Girl – How much do they love the movie? I always thought she was one of the standouts, sort of this movie’s Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone). If the movie has a real shot at the major awards, then she could be a beneficiary.

9. Laura Dern – Wild – Her buzz has quieted, as has the buzz for the film. It still feels like a nomination-caliber role, though.

10. Kristen Stewart – Still Alice – If they want a running partner for Julianne Moore, then why not one of the biggest names in Hollywood?

11. Rene Russo – Nightcrawler – She has never been nominated, or even close for that matter, but her role in one of the most talked about movies of 2014 has her right in the running for that first nom.

Annual Tommy Lee Jones – In the Valley of Elah Shocker Nomination: Marisa Tomei – Love Is Strange

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The Predicted Five

1. J.K. Simmons – Whiplash – It is hard to see a scenario where he loses. It is a frightening, career-changing performance for the veteran character actor.

2. Ethan Hawke – Boyhood – The 3-time nominee is really the only challenge that Simmons may have. If they really love Boyhood, which they probably will, then the truest character in the film will have a shot.

3. Edward Norton – Birdman – It appears that Norton will finally stop his nomination drought with one of the most difficult roles to play from 2014.

4. Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher – He is a lock, as he should be. His character was the most believable in the movie, and he became the emotional core of the deeply emotional crime drama.

5. Robert Duvall – The Judge – He is really the only one of the 5 that might be in jeopardy, even though he has gotten cited everywhere. His movie was just so poor that the ground on which he stands seems a tad unstable.

Others in contention

6. Takamasa Ishihara – Unbroken – The Academy loves their real life ruthless villains, and the head of a WWII Japanese camp is about as cold as you can get. He kills the role, and he could find himself with a nomination if the movie breaks through.

7. Josh Brolin – Inherent Vice – He is the only one other than the top 5 with a major nomination (Critics Choice, who nominate 6), so he has to be in the mix.

8. Christoph Waltz – Big Eyes – His movie has no buzz, except for Amy Adams. Can he pull another nomination? I wouldn’t put it past him.

Annual Tommy Lee Jones – In the Valley of Elah Shocker Nomination: John Goodman – The Gambler

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

The Predicted Five

1. Julianne Moore – Still Alice – She appears to be unstoppable at this point. It is about time she finally wins one.

2. Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl – She appears to be the Sharon Stone (Casino) of 2014. She will go in with a shot to win, but she is up against an overdue performer who probably cannot be denied.

3. Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything – She is the equivalent to what Reese Witherspoon was in 2005, the borderline supporting co-lead who actually stole the show from the protagonist. She is probably the best of the nominees, but she can’t win…can she?

4. Reese Witherspoon – Wild – She is beloved, yet she has somehow not gotten her validation nomination yet. This is her chance.

5. Amy Adams – Big Eyes – She has been snubbed a few times, but the Oscars love her too much. Her odds to get in are not great, but there are always a couple pleasant surprises.

Others in contention

6. Jennifer Aniston – Cake – It would be heartbreaking for Aniston if she gets left off, but that is what happens to performances like these. At least we know she is serious about her movies now. Her nom will come…and it still might be this year.

7. Marion Cotillard – Two Days, One Night – The Dardennes have not been treated well by the Academy, but Cotillard is a transcendent talent. I could see her going all the way to the ceremony.

8. Shailene Woodley – The Fault in Our Stars – She is a budding talent, and her movie had a big time box office. Can she defy the odds and take the young adult novel adaptation to the Oscars?

9. Scarlett Johansson – Under the Skin – The movie is probably too out-there to get nominated for anything, but when is she going to get her due? She is doing some of the best work in the industry right now.

Annual Tommy Lee Jones – In the Valley of Elah Shocker Nomination: Hilary Swank – The Homesman

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

The Predicted Five

1. Michael Keaton – Birdman – There really can’t be another frontrunner at this point, but we will see once the televised awards shows start happening. Can he really go from universally snubbed to easy winner?

2. Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler – His crazy performance is becoming more of a sure-fire nomination. Can he win the thing? There are few actors who have come into their own as suddenly and clearly as Gyllenhaal in the past few years.

3. Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything – In terms of physical performances, Redmayne’s ranks with some of the best I have seen in a long time. He embodies Hawking and should coast to a nomination.

4. Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game – He is certainly on thinner ice than Redmayne, but it is hard to see a scenario where they snub one of the most present actors in the business in such a baity role.

5. Timothy Spall – Mr. Turner – He is one of the most loved actors around, yet he has never gotten the nod from any significant award circuit. He finally has a role that he can be singled out for, and while this would be a clear shock nom, well, there is always one.

Others in contention

6. Steve Carell – Foxcatcher – He gets completely lost in his character, but the buzz for the film has really gone silent. His performance is more supporting anyway, but he is still right there in that second tier.

7. David Oyelowo – Selma – I find it hard to predict him anywhere but in the running for the win, but maybe there is already backlash to the film that hasn’t even gotten its theatrical run yet in the States.

8. Bradley Cooper – American Sniper – He is going to be in and around the Oscars for a long time, and this is yet another strong effort that could wind up leading to a nom.

9. Joaquin Phoenix – Inherent Vice – Depending on how the movie is received, he could become a lock or a joke for even considering him.

10. Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel – Even I, who liked the movie a decent amount, would consider this nomination to be a bit loony, but he was really funny. The 2-time nominee hasn’t been invited back since 1996.

11. Miles Teller – Whiplash – The best performance of the year is getting widely ignored by the major awards. When is he going to get recognized for what he is, the best actor of his generation?

12. Oscar Isaac – A Most Violent Year – His movie needs to be amazing for him to get in…but then again, that didn’t do much for him with Inside Llewyn Davis last year.

Annual Tommy Lee Jones – In the Valley of Elah Shocker Nomination: Chadwick Boseman – Get On Up

BEST DIRECTOR

The Predicted Five

1. Richard Linklater – Boyhood – He is the architect of one of the most beautiful movies to come out in a long time. Any other director winning would be a bit of a tragedy.

2. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu – Birdman – He has a much more obvious directing contribution, but camera work isn’t everything. If he is the one to take down Linklater, I could maybe handle that.

3. David Fincher – Gone Girl – He is going to be the next Scorsese and maybe not win one for way too long. He is maybe the most consistent director in the world, and his movie was a real stunner.

4. Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel – He has had a lot of screenplay contenders, but this is his first real contender in this category. Does the whole Academy love him as much as his writing peers?

5. James Marsh – The Theory of Everything – The past winner for Man on Wire had a really great directing achievement in this movie, and between Marsh and Tyldum, I need to side with the slightly more recognizable name.

Others in contention

6. Morten Tyldum – The Imitation Game – His movie still has the potential to get the British vote over The Theory of Everything. I cannot see both making it into this competitive category, but they are going to battle it out for one of the spots.

7. Ava DuVernay – Selma – The Academy loves narratives like giving out the first female black directing nomination, but the snubs for the movie are getting more concerning.

8. Bennett Miller – Foxcatcher – The Cannes winner and Oscar darling has really got to show us something with the wide release of the film coming up.

9. J.C. Chandor – A Most Violent Year – He has had 3 films that were all opposites in styles of each other, and the first 2 were minor Oscar hits. Can his most polished movie give him his deserved directing nom?

10. Damien Chazelle – Whiplash – This would be a Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild)-level surprise nomination, but it would be deserved. His movie is steadily building buzz.

11. Dan Gilroy – Nightcrawler – He hasn’t gotten a whole lot of buzz, but his film has. If his film is really a threat the way everyone predicts, then he needs to get in.

BEST PICTURE

The Predicted Ten (I predict 9 will get nominated)

1. Boyhood (Richard Linklater) – The film that should win might actually do just that for one of the rare times at the Oscars. It has sustained buzz, withstood runs from other easier movies to take in, and risen up to win everything that is important. It is the one to beat.

 

2. Gone Girl (David Fincher) – If this were to somehow take the top prize, then it would be crazy. It is this year’s Fatal Attraction, in a way, but it also could be this year’s The Departed. It would be to a much lesser extent, due to the weakness of the year overall, but it could be somewhat of a default winner.

3. Birdman (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu) – The movie is a strange case in the race, but it is clearly one of the few that has a real shot at winning. It would be a bizarre choice. I have compared it to All About Eve on occasion, but it is much too much of an oddball to be treated like that…right?

 

4. The Theory of Everything (James Marsh) – The movie does not seem like a real threat to win the prize, but it would be a little ridiculous if it weren’t mentioned in the top…whatever number they come up with.

5. Nightcrawler (Dan Gilroy) – Nightcrawler is the only real wild card in the bunch. We don’t know what to think about it necessarily, but it has a lot of things going for it. A Best Picture nomination seems certain, and I am scratching my head as I am saying that.

 

6. The Imitation Game (Morten Tyldum) – This one has a bit of work to do to get back into the real contender mix, but its subject matter and straight-forward storytelling approach will sell well with the older voters.

7. Whiplash (Damien Chazelle) – It is one of the Sundance winners that accomplished the miracle of staying relevant for 12 months. It is almost a shoo-in, but shhh I don’t want to jinx it.

 

8. A Most Violent Year (J.C. Chandor) – The last time a National Board of Review winner missed the Best Picture lineup was 2000 (Quills). I was skeptical last year with Her, but it ended up being a sort of slam dunk. At this point, predicting this film is shaky, but I have faith.

 

9. The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson) – His movie needs the 1^st place votes to get in, which I cannot really see happening, but apparently people really loved it. I guess it is kind of a lock.

 

10. American Sniper (Clint Eastwood) – Eastwood’s second-best movie of the year (no chance it’s as good as Jersey Boys) has everything going for it. It hasn’t been released or shunned yet, it has a bit of controversy, and it stars Bradley Cooper. It could easily slide into the race upon more people seeing it.

 

Others in contention

11. Selma (Ava DuVernay) – Its PGA snub hurts its chances a lot, but films can overcome that. It just is no longer a threat to win the thing.

12. Foxcatcher (Bennett Miller) – Miller’s previous films were nominated, but they were more talked-about and relevant than Foxcatcher, a tortured mini-masterpiece that was delayed and put through hell.

13. Unbroken (Angelina Jolie) – I will never fully understand how this movie wasn’t more popular, but it still can get in. It has the release date, subject, and pedigree to make a run, but it has an uphill climb.

14. Into the Woods (Rob Marshall) – How much does the Academy miss having musicals in the race every year?

Booyah! Thoughts on these predictions? What do you think will take home the top prizes? Let me know in the comments!