Royce’s Oscar Predictions 2015

I think many assume the Oscars are like the Superbowl for me.  All about the movies!  Funny thing is I don’t know I have ever watched a whole show.  Doubt I have.  I usually wait for my buddy Ted Cashin to watch it and write his entertaining wrap up.  I rarely agree with who the pompous academy give the gold statues to.  Still that does not stop me from writing my predictions down and here we go. 

Best Picture

American Sniper- A very good movie that I enjoyed.  I don’t know that it was well made from A to Z enough to make this a front runner for best picture.

Birdman- I was finally able to rent this before the Oscars.  I think it’s a different type of movie that is probably not deserving of all the accolades it is getting.  

Boyhood-  I rented this movie and could not get all the way through it.   I applaud the determination it took to film a movie over a dozen years.  Great idea.  Does not necessarily make a great movie. Boring and seemed improvised.

The Grand Budapest Hotel- I saw the previews for this and had zero desire to see it. 

The Imitation Game- A very well acted movie that deserves to be nominated.  They should be thrilled with the nomination and applaud when the winner gets their statue.

Selma- When I read the MLK family would not allow this film to read his speeches without paying a large fee I knew there was no way I would pay to see it.

The Theory of Everything-  I am sure there is an amazing story here.  I never felt the need to see it.  I’ll rent it when it comes to RedBox.

Whiplash- Great acting and well made story about a subject (Jazz drumming) I just don’t care a hill of beans for.  I was entertained and again feel this deserves a nomination.  Just not a win.

Who should Win-  American Sniper

Who will Win-  Boyhood

Best Actor

Steve Carell- I hear he does a great job in Foxcatcher.  He changes his whole appearance.  Heard the movie is very slow.  Have not seen it.

Bradley Cooper- He did a great job transforming himself into a Navy sniper.  I would think he would be one of the front runners.

Benedict Cumberbatch- I think he did a fantastic job as the strange genius out to break the German code in WWII.  I am not sure enough people saw the movie tho.

Michael Keaton- Hard not to like Keaton.  I guess his performance was good.  It was just too strange to enjoy.

Eddie Redmayne- This guy is strange to me.  Kinda creeps me out.  I did not see this movie either.

Who should Win- Benedict Cumberbatch

Who will Win- Michael Keaton

Best Actress

Marion Cotillard- I have not even heard of her movie Two Days, One Night.  She is a doll.  I like her a lot in her English films.

Felicity Jones-  I did not see this movie.  Guess I need to rent it when it comes out.

Julianne Moore- Not a Julianne fan.  Seems every year she gets nominated for something. This is generally a tough category to fill five nominees and she always gets thrown in there. 

Rosamund Pike- She was fantastic.  Captures the crazy wife perfectly.

Reese Witherspoon- She was very good in Wild.  It’s definitely her movie.  Would not be surprised if she won.

Who should Win- Rosamund Pike

Who will Win- Reese Witherspoon or Julianne Moore

Best Supporting Actor

Robert Duvall-  He is always so good I’m afraid he cancels himself out.  He was fantastic in the Judge.

Ethan Hawke- I thought he was too over the top and strange in Boyhood.  Benefiting from the gimmick of the movie.

Edward Norton- He is a great actor. He remembers large amounts of lines. I don’t  think it was impressive.  

Mark Ruffalo- I have liked him in many movies.  Don’t think anyone saw him in this one.

J.K. Simmons-  Best performance of the year.  You need to rent this movie just to see him do his stuff.

Who should Win- J.K. Simmons

Who will Win- J.K. Simmons

Best Supporting Actress

Patricia Arquette- I was not impressed at all with her performance at all.  I like her generally.  Just didn’t anything above average with her or the movie.

Laura Dern- Always likable yet only in the movie maybe six minutes.  I don’ think that should qualify for a nomination.

Keira Knightly- She does a good job in this movie. 

Emma Stone- She has only three small scenes in Birdman. 

Meryl Streep- Does she have to be nominated in every movie she does?  Agreed this is a very weak field but there has to be better.

Who should Win- I really don’t feel any of these performances are award worthy.

Who will Win-  Patricia Arquette or Meryl Streep