My 2014-2015 Oscar Predictions – Part 3: The Story Aspects

The third part of the predictions involves the storytelling through screenplays, editing, and then I threw in cinematography and the music categories just so they fit somewhere. Lets take a look!

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolas Giacobone, Armando Bo
Boyhood, Written by Richard Linklater
Foxcatcher, Written by Dan Futterman and E. Max Frye
The Grand Budapest Hotel, Written by Wes Anderson
Nightcrawler, Written by Dan Gilroy

A strong category, but I think I’m going with the frontrunner, Birdman.  Its about showbiz, they’ll love it.

Prediction: Birdman

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ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
American Sniper, Written by Jason Hall
The Imitation Game, Written by Graham Moore
Inherent Vice, Written by Paul Thomas Anderson
The Theory of Everything, Written by Anthony McCarten
Whiplash, Written by Damien Chazelle

I don’t think American Sniper’s strength is in writing (or in few other things).  Meanwhile, Theory of Everything appears to be pure Oscar bait, and with juicy bait like that dangling, they have to bite at some point.

Prediction: The Theory of Everything

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CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Emmanuel Lubezki – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Robert Yeoman – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski – Ida
Dick Pope – Mr. Turner
Roger Deakins – Unbroken

At some point they’ve gotta throw Deakins a bone, right? But not with Unbroken, alas.  It’ll likely be Birdman.  Lubezki rules.

Prediction: Birdman

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FILM EDITING:
Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach – American Sniper
Sandra Adair – Boyhood
Barney Pilling – The Grand Budapest Hotel
William Goldenberg – The Imitation Game
Tom Cross – Whiplash

Boyhood was filmed over 12 years and had all of their character naturally age over the course of the film.  This is a massive achievement that the Academy has to recognize, especially with the challenge of editing.

Prediction: Boyhood

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ORIGINAL SCORE:
Alexandre Desplat – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alexandre Desplat – The Imitation Game
Hans Zimmer – Interstellar
Gary Yershon – Mr. Turner
Jóhann Jóhannsson – The Theory of Everything

Well, it seems like Desplat has the better odds of winning, and it will likely be for the more serious of his two films.

Prediction: The Imitation Game

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ORIGINAL SONG:
“Everything Is Awesome” from The LEGO Movie
Music and Lyric by Shawn Patterson
“Glory” from Selma
Music and Lyric by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn
“Grateful” from Beyond the Lights
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me
Music and Lyric by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond
“Lost Stars” from Begin Again
Music and Lyric by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois

Okay, I would love, love, love LEGO to win this category.  I think the song is catchy and actually quite important to the theme of the film.  But lets face it, its not going to.  I do think that the Selma song has the best chance.

Prediction: Selma