We’re just minutes away until the first Oscar for 2015 is given out so here are my quick picks…
Best Picture
BIRDMAN
Do I think this is the best picture of the year? Maybe, but I thought THE IMITATION GAME was damn good too.
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Michael Keaton for BIRDMAN
Same as above. I thought Benedict Cumberbatch did a great job in THE IMITATION GAME but Michael Keaton has paid his dues longer.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Julianne Moore for STILL ALICE
A great film and a great performance from a great actress.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
J.K. Simmons for WHIPLASH
Same as above.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Patricia Arquette for BOYHOOD
I did not like this film but I did like her performance. Linklater should have made a film about her character and called it MOTHERHOOD. It would have been more interesting.
Best Foreign Language Film
LEVIATHAN
This is a very heavy film with a very heavy message. Given the recent events going on in Ukraine, this film will win for the political statement alone. IDA was also a good film and I wouldn’t be upset if it won. My big disappointment in this category comes from not seeing the Swedish film, FORCE MAJEURE, on this list.
Best Director
Richard Linklater for BOYHOOD
Spend 12 years making a film and you, too, can win an Oscar.
Enjoy the show!
Howard For Film 
You did pretty well! I don’t agree with the honors for Birdman, one of the films I liked least last year. Obviously, I am in the minority when it comes to the Academy. Pleased Eddie Redmayne won even tho I have been a Michael Keaton fan for years. Very fun being at the Polish ambassador’s Oscar party with IDA’s win!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
I’ve written in my blog and said on the radio a few times that Academy voters love actors who play medically and/or physically tragic characters. (If you haven’t read it yet, check out my review of DALLAS BUYERS CLUB.) Nevertheless, I didn’t think they’d vote for Eddie Redmayne because he’s too young and because Michael Keaton was the sentimental favourite. I was wrong! Regarding IDA, I watched it last night and I thought it was an excellent film. I didn’t think it would win because I thought it was too short (a scant 82 minutes) and I felt that more time could have been devoted to the aunt’s story. (I would like to see a sequel set in 1968.) I also thought the Academy voters would choose LEVIATHAN just to stick it to Putin.