A Year in Review:Adams Top Movies of 2014

2014 has come an gone!  Its amazing how fast the year went too!  This year was so amazing I witnessed the birth of my beautiful baby girl and I got engaged to an amazing woman.  Also, I was able to be a part of a great group of fellow movie fans, and write my thoughts for all of you!  For that I say THANK YOU!  2014, brought us highs (Boyhood, Guardians of the Galaxy, Birdman, Whiplash) and some lows (Tammy, Oculus, Tusk, Transcendence), but over all, it was a great year for film.  I was introduced to a lot more indie and foreign films and I realized that I was missing out on a whole new realm of story telling. We all also witness the best movie that come out, was only 80 seconds long!!!  After waiting a long time we were given several new trailers for upcoming movies for 2015 (Star Wars VII, Jurassic World, Mad Max: Fury Road, Avengers 2) as well as a epic conclusion of the The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings universe.  We witnessed an attack on our theater experience as well as our right of free speech, that delayed the release of The Interview.  We took a journey that was 12 years in the making with Boyhood.  Two great actors went to very dark places for their roles, Steve Carrel and Jake Gyllenhaal.  An Michael Keaton made a huge come back!  We also lost some great actors to this business we all love.  Rest in Peace- Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Williams, Joan Rivers, Bob Hoskins, Mickey Rooney, Harold Ramis, Shirley Temple, and many more.  2014 you will be missed.

Before we turn the page on 2014, lets see where it took us.
It took me back to being my Boyhood living on Jumpstreet.  I was in a spelling bee, surrounded by apes.  We were attacked by a huge monster, but we were saved by mutants, and a captain, and some guardians.  Birdman, however, was no where to be found, cause he was checking into a Grand Hotel.  I boarded a train, and pretend to be a cop.  I signed up at Foxcatcher and journeyed to North Korea and to space.  But when I was there I noticed that there was no fault in our stars.  But in the end, no turtles, transformers, a crazy band teacher, dragons, a sex tape, or even an evil doll could keep us from the woods.  We made some tracks, cause the ride along of life is a long way down.  So let us purge, with our neighbors, for this is where I leave you! Thank you 2014!

  I was able to see a lot of films this year in the theater.  I really enjoy the theater experience.  When you are watching a movie on the big screen or just at your house, it is an experience, for good or bad.  I had some of the most fun at a theater this year.  My good experiences would be laughing out loud with whats happening on screen (22 Jumpstreet, Guardians of the Galaxy, Top Five), gasping when something shocking happens (Foxcatcher, Gone Girl), being taken back to a time that I forgot (Boyhood), enjoying the action on screen (John Wick, The Purge: Anarchy)  or being scared out of my mind (Annabelle).

                                                                                                               

It wasn't all just good though.  My bad experiences included a drunk lady talking and filming the movie (Birdman), being grossed out to the point I couldn't eat (Tusk), bring our baby to a film and then she starts being fussy so my wife has to leave (Calvary), thinking one of my favorite actresses was overrated (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1) or just being bored (Tammy, The Amazing Spider-man 2, Transformers Age of Extinction).  But if a film is doing its job correctly it doesn't matter if its a good or bad experience cause the story will conquer.  I loved being sucked in and hooked on the screen.

So lets see what I thought was the best of 2014!!!

Total 2014 Films Seen: 109
Thumbs Up percentage: 60%
Movies I need to see, that could make my list: A Most Violent Year, Selma, Inherent Vice, and American Sniper

Actor of the Year:

Jake Gyllenhall

(Enemy and Nightcrawler)

Actress of the Year:

Scarlett Johnansson

(Captain America: The Winter Solider, Chef, Under the Skin, Lucy)

Best Actor: Michael Keaton - Birdman, Steve Carrel - Foxcatcher, Andy Serkis - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Brendan Gleeson - Calvary, and Miles Teller - Whiplash

Best Actress: Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl, Agata Trzebuchowska - Ida, Shailene Woodley - The Fault in Our Stars, Felicity Jones - The Theory of Everything, and Mia Wasikowska - Tracks

Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons - Whiplash, Shia LaBeouf - Fury, Ethan Hawke - Boyhood, Edward Norton - Birdman, and Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher 

Best Supporting Actress: Emma Stone - Birdman, Patricia Arquette - Boyhood, Carrie Croon - Gone Girl, Rosario Dawson - Top Five, and Tilda Swinton - Snowpiercer 

Surprises of the Year: Edge of Tomorrow, John Wick, 13 Sins, Snowpiercer, The Purge: Anarchy 

Best Laughs: 22 Jumpstreet, Top Five, Bad Words, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Lego Movie, The Grand Budapest Hotel

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Godzilla and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Worst of the Year (from bad to awful): Transcendence, Tammy, Tusk, Oculus, Leprechaun: Origins

Honorable Mentions for the Top 10: Snowpiercer, The Lego Movie, Chef,  Big Bad Wolves, Wish I Was Here, The Fault in our Stars, X-Men Days of Futures Past, Captain America: The Winter Solider, and Interstellar

-TIE-

10.

Calvary

(John Michael McDonagh)

Brendan Gleeson portrays Father James, a priest of a small community, in Ireland, and a good man.  As he begins to listen to his Sunday confessionals, he gets threat on his life.  He becomes deeply conflicted and troubled about what to do.  He tries to continue his life as usual, but as it gets closer to his confrontation with the mystery man, his life begins to fall apart.  I really enjoyed Gleeson in this role.  He is truly underrated as an actor.  This film has a great cast that play their characters so well, that you begin to believe that it could be anyone of them who wants to kill Father James.  Aidan Gillen and Chris O Dowd are also great in this and add some dark humor as well.

10.

Top Five

(Chris Rock)

I really didn't know anything about this film when I first walked into the theater to watch it.  When the credits finally rolled, I had a huge smile on my face.  This movie is really smart and really well directed.  I like how Chris Rock can poke fun at himself, basically plays a parody of himself.  This film follows Andre Allen (C.Rock), a recovering alcoholic, and comedian, who is tired of doing comedies.  He wants to branch out to more serious roles.  As he does this no one is taking him seriously.  As he is promoting, one of his dramatic roles, he is followed by a report, Chelsea Brown (R.Dawson).  The chemistry between Rock and Dawson is amazing. Its because of that chemistry that this movie finds it heart and its growth for the characters themselves.  

9.

Foxcatcher

(Bennett Miller)

Talk about totally disappearing into a role!  Steve Carrel has so much talent and brings a scary presence to the screen.  I was literally wondering what this guy was going to do next.  This film is very tense and methodical.  Every performance (Carrel, Tatum, Ruffalo) grips you.  Based on true events, Foxcatcher tells the story of the relationship between John du Pont and the Schultz brothers.  John du Pont, has to be one of the scariest people on the silver screen all year.  He is eccentric and trying to gain the approval of his mother, and respect from his fellow peers.  He wants to have the wrestler he coaches win a gold medal, more than anything.  The places the characters go, are truly remarkable.    

8.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

(Matt Reeves)

It is a rare feet to see a sequel build off the success of the previous film and be better than it in every way.  This is the Empire Strikes Back of this soon to be franchise.  Andy Serkis, has once again proven to every one that he is an actor not just a guy in a green suit.  His performance in this film, as Ceasar, should be nominated for a Golden Globe or an Oscar.  He brings so much depth to his character.  Also, Toby Kebbell, is just as amazing as Serkis.  It shows, that its not just Serkis who knows how to act in the suit.  This film takes placed 10 years after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  It shows an interaction between the apes and humans and the fragile peace, that is built.  It is the beginning of the war to determine the dominant species.

7.

Guardians of the Galaxy

(James Gunn)

When this movie was first announced, I was really skeptical.  How could a movie with a talking raccoon and and walking tree be any good?  Marvel, however took a big risk that paid off.  This was the most fun I had in a theater all year and was the only film I went for a second time to see.  I love the soundtrack.  The characters are fun and goofy.  Chris Pratt, proves that he is not just a comedy star but now an action star.  The chemistry between Pratt, Saldana, Bautista, and Cooper is what makes the movie fun. It had everything I wanted this movie to have, and a lot of things I didn't expect.  Just a good flick!  

 6.

Gone Girl

(David Fincher)

This has to be one of the most talked about films of the year.  I know I have had a good long discussion on this movie.  You can love it or hate it, but the fact remains that if you are talking about it outside the theater, the movie did its job.  A compelling story about a husband (Affleck) and wife (Pike) and the struggles of true love and the crazy things we will do.  I know its based on the Gillian Flynn novel, but I loved how it plays of some other real life murder cases that has happened in the past.  You also don't find many authors willing to write the screenplay based of their book, but I'm glad she did!  Cause I believe she will win her Oscar!  The performances are awesome, as we come to expect in Fincher movies.  But my favorite thing has to be the mastermind of Trent Reznor.  He once again sets up the scenes of this movie.  Watching this movie on the silver screen, was amazing cause the whole crowd was on the edge of their seat.   

5.

Fury

(David Ayer)

Fury, this isn't your typical war film.  This film isn't concerned with flashy battle sequences or explosions, but of the soldiers who fight in this wars and why.  I find that extremely refreshing.  As a fan of war movies, some of them feel like they are trying to be to Saving Private Ryan and not something unique and real.  Each character is unique and brings a totally different dynamic to this squad.  As you follow this characters, you start to feel for them and care about them.  They will piss you off one minute then do something totally redeeming that will make you realize that each one of them is like us, the viewers.  It was truly an experience that made me want to purchase another ticket as soon as the credits rolled.  The standouts for me were Shia LaBeouf and Jon Bernthal.  Shia LaBeouf, is a damn good actor when he wants to be! Thats all Ill say!    

4.

Nightcrawler

(Dan Gilroy)

Jake Gyllenhaal has slowly climbed up my favorite actors list the last couple of years.  Last year, I witnessed him, as Loki, in the movie Prisoners. In that film, he was one of two maybe three standouts (Hugh Jackman and Paul Dano) that made the films for me.  However, unlike that movie, Gylenhaal, stands above all the rest.  As you watch his performance as, Louis Bloom, his eyes go black.  He is totally that character and is totally lost in it.  Louis Bloom is a very driven character, who muscles his way into this world of journalism.  Not just any kind, mind you, crime journalism.  Nina Romina (Rene Russo) aides him in his effort to provide the most haunting visuals he can.  He blurs the lines of just observing and participating.  It is truly haunting.  Rene Russo, is also a sight for sore eyes!  She was also really good in this role and its a good surprise.  Going into this, I had no idea she was in this.  When she is on screen with Gyllenhaal, their interactions between one another will blow your mind!  As will Gyllenhaals performance! It was F***ing Amaze Balls!!! 

3.

Birdman

(Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)

I said this about Top Five, but I really enjoy when actors can play parodies of themselves.  This movie was such an accomplishment to all involved.  Michael Keaton was so amazing in this role!  He totally had me cheering for him every second as the film rolled on.  Keaton, plays a washed up actor, who just so happened to play a superhero.  He must over come his ego and his family troubles as he tries to reclaim his past glory.  The other star of this film was Mr. Inarritu.  I have never seen a movie filmed like this before.  The camera seemed to be in one continual shot the entire movie.  I would say any other year he would get the Oscar but this isn't other year!  Emma Stone has an amazing monologue in this that totally made me almost stand up and clap!  This movie will really make you think, so pay close attention!    

2.

Whiplash

(Damien Chazelle)

Back in the day I use to play the trombone, and I thought I had a tough band teacher!  Well, I was totally out of my mind to have ever thought that!  J.K. Simmons, acts his ass off in this film!  He is your worst nightmare and is truly frightening.  Miles Teller is no joke either, as he is quick becoming one of my favorite actors as well.  Teller, plays a young drummer who is enrolled in a tough as nails, music school.  The only problem is his band teacher, Mr. Fletcher (Simmons), will stop at nothing to make him realize his true potential.  Fletcher will stop at nothing until he realizes it.  In a year with 5 super heroes movies, this is the ultimate test between good and evil!  The ending alone is breath taking!  Makes me want to play the drums, or just download the soundtrack and act like I'm drumming.  So, dare I say it, but, GOOD JOB!  

1.

Boyhood

(Richard Linklater)

When it all comes down to it, this was truly the best film of the year!  A movie that took me back to my child hood and into the brain of a child.  This film is such a unique experience, cause you are growing with the characters.  You follow a boy named Mason, through his life for 12 years.  He becomes apart of you.  He is you!  This movie might not take you to the flashiest events in his life, but where it takes him are the events that change his life!  The parents of Mason (Patricia Arqutte and Ethan Hawke) are some of the key characters that might be the most enduring of anyone on the screen this year!  Such powerful performances were given to such real characters.  If you see only one movie on this list or even all year, make it Boyhood.  Cause its not just a movie but it reminds you of where we have been, and where we hope to go in our life, even if we don't know yet!   

    

So there you go!!!  Thats my Top Ten of the year!  What are your thoughts? Disagreements?  What did you like? Share below!

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!

2015 Oscar Predictions: Final (Arts and Techs)

Here are my predictions for the rest of the categories, the ones where I try to act like I know what I’m talking about but in reality are nothing more than stabs in the dark…which is why my commentary is held to a minimum (none).

Link to the big 8 categories: http://almostsideways.blogspot.com/2015/01/2015-oscar-predictions-final-major.html

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

1. Birdman

2. Mr. Turner

3. Interstellar

4. Unbroken

5. The Grand Budapest Hotel

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

1. Into the Woods

2. Birdman

3. Interstellar

4. The Grand Budapest Hotel

5. The Imitation Game

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

1. Belle

 

2. The Grand Budapest Hotel

3. Into the Woods

4. Mr. Turner

5. Inherent Vice

BEST SOUND MIXING

1. Whiplash

 

2. Birdman

3. Gone Girl

4. Into the Woods

5. American Sniper

BEST EDITING

1. Gone Girl

2. Boyhood

3. Birdman

4. Nightcrawler

5. The Imitation Game

BEST SOUND EFFECTS EDITING

1. Interstellar

2. Transformers: Age of Extinction

3. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

4. Fury

5. The Lego Movie

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

1. Interstellar

 

2. Guardians of the Galaxy

3. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

4. Captain America: Winter Soldier

5. Maleficent

BEST MAKEUP/HAIR

1. Foxcatcher

 

2. Guardians of the Galaxy

3. The Grand Budapest Hotel

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

1. “Glory” – Selma

2. “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” – Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me

3. “Big Eyes” – Big Eyes

4. “Split the Difference” – Boyhood

5. “Miracles” – Unbroken

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

1. The Theory of Everything

 

2. Interstellar

3. Gone Girl

4. The Imitation Game

5. The Grand Budapest Hotel

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

1. Citizenfour

2. The Last Days in Vietnam

3. Virunga

4. The Case Against 8

5. Citizen Koch

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

1. The Lego Movie

 

2. Big Hero 6

3. The Boxtrolls

4. How to Train Your Dragon 2

5. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

1. Ida

 

2. Timbuktu

3. Accused

4. Wild Tales

5. Leviathan

Predicted Nominations Count

Birdman: 10 noms / 3 wins

The Grand Budapest Hotel: 8 noms

Boyhood: 7 noms / 3 wins

Gone Girl: 7 noms / 2 wins

The Theory of Everything: 6 noms / 1 win

The Imitation Game: 6 noms

Interstellar: 5 noms / 2 wins

Whiplash: 4 noms / 2 wins

Into the Woods: 4 noms / 1 win

Mr. Turner: 4 noms
Nightcrawler: 4 noms

Foxcatcher: 2 noms / 1 win

The Lego Movie: 2 noms / 1 win

Big Eyes: 2 noms

Guardians of the Galaxy: 2 noms

Inherent Vice: 2 noms

A Most Violent Year: 2 noms

Unbroken: 2 noms

Belle: 1 nom / 1 win

Citizenfour: 1 nom / 1 win

Ida: 1 nom / 1 win

Selma: 1 nom / 1 win
Still Alice: 1 nom / 1 win

Accused: 1 nom

American Sniper: 1 nom

Big Hero 6: 1 nom

The Boxtrolls: 1 nom

Captain America: Winter Soldier: 1 nom

The Case Against 8: 1 nom

Citizen Koch: 1 nom

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: 1 nom

Fury: 1 nom

Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me: 1 nom

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies: 1 nom

How to Train Your Dragon 2: 1 nom

The Judge: 1 nom

The Last Days in Vietnam: 1 nom

Leviathan: 1 nom

Maleficent: 1 nom

Snowpiercer: 1 nom

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya: 1 nom

Timbuktu: 1 nom

Transformers: Age of Extinction: 1 nom

Virunga: 1 nom

Wild: 1 nom

Wild Tales: 1 nom

 

That’s all I got! I am prepared for these to get torn up in a couple weeks, but whatever. It’s fun. Stay tuned for our 7^th Annual Oscar Challenge, as well as my yearly reactions to the nominations article. Comment!