Whose Oscar is it anyway?

The 87th Academy Awards kicks off early tomorrow morning. And what a closely contested year it has been! The be-all and end-all of award shows in Hollywood, it also celebrates films from all over the world. And while folks could always argue that the voters have made questionable choices, nominee-wise, this year (isn't that a grouse every year?), it's still hard to see some should've-been-there names missing from this year's list.
In any case, the show must go on and Neil Patrick Harris takes on the duties of hosting a show the world watches. He has said that last year's Oscar selfie with last year's host Ellen DeGeneres gives him nightmares. The comedian has to do something spectacular to break the internet this time around.
From what we hear, the show will be like a grand Hollywood musical with producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan at the helm again. Expect the show to last close to three hours...

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
AMERICAN SNIPER
BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)
*BOYHOOD
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
THE IMITATION GAME
SELMA
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
WHIPLASH
Why: In a year of great films, this one stood out head and shoulders. That's the film that should and will win. Birman comes a close second.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
STEVE CARELL - FOXCATCHER
BRADLEY COOPER - AMERICAN SNIPER
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH - THE IMITATION GAME
*MICHAEL KEATON - BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)
EDDIE REDMAYNE - THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Why: This one had a couple of surprises. But truth be told, this one's quite simply a contest between Keaton and Redmayne. My money's on Keaton.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
ROBERT DUVALL - THE JUDGE
ETHAN HAWKE - BOYHOOD
EDWARD NORTON - BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)
MARK RUFFALO - FOXCATCHER
*J.K. SIMMONS - WHIPLASH
Why: Just watch Whiplash. Simmons blows all the other nominees out of the water.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
MARION COTILLARD - TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT
FELICITY JONES - THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
*JULIANNE MOORE - STILL ALICE
ROSAMUND PIKE - GONE GIRL
REESE WITHERSPOON - WILD
Why: Moore is a cinch to win. Pike might just pop a surprise, though.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
*PATRICIA ARQUETTE - BOYHOOD
LAURA DERN - WILD
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY - THE IMITATION GAME
EMMA STONE - BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)
MERYL STREEP - INTO THE WOODS
Why: Streep's in this list, but it's really one of Arquette's career-best films.

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
*BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) - ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU
BOYHOOD - RICHARD LINKLATER
FOXCATCHER - BENNETT MILLER
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - WES ANDERSON
THE IMITATION GAME - MORTEN TYLDUM
Why: The heart says Linklater for pure dedication, but the head says Alejandro. Birdman was in a class of its own

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR
BIG HERO 6
THE BOXTROLLS
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
SONG OF THE SEA
*THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA
Why: As much as I love Big Hero 6, I'm leaning toward The Tale of The Princess Kaguya this time. Absolutely in love with this film by Studio Ghibli!

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
* BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) - EMMANUEL LUBEZKI
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - ROBERT YEOMAN
IDA - LUKASZ ZAL AND RYSZARD LENCZEWSKI
MR. TURNER - DICK POPE
UNBROKEN - ROGER DEAKINS
Why: Lubezki's film superb, though Ida might surprise us, too.

ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
*THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - MILENA CANONERO
INHERENT VICE - MARK BRIDGES
INTO THE WOODS - COLLEEN ATWOOD
MALEFICENT - ANNA B. SHEPPARD
MR. TURNER - JACQUELINE DURRAN
Why: Milena's work in Budapest is pretty impressive.

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SCORE)
*THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - ALEXANDRE DESPLAT
THE IMITATION GAME - ALEXANDRE DESPLAT
INTERSTELLAR - HANS ZIMMER
MR. TURNER - GARY YERSHON
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING - JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON
Why: Desplat has two nominations here, but it's Budapest's score that's far superior

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SONG)
EVERYTHING IS AWESOME - THE LEGO MOVIE
GLORY - SELMA
GRATEFUL - BEYOND THE LIGHTS
*I'M NOT GONNA MISS YOU - GLEN CAMPBELL...I'LL BE ME
LOST STARS - BEGIN AGAIN
Why: Glory is a rousing song, but I'm Not Gonna Miss You will bring on the tears!

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
IDA from POLAND
*LEVIATHAN from RUSSIA
TANGERINES from ESTONIA
TIMBUKTU from MAURITANIA
WILD TALES from ARGENTINA
Why: Tough category this year. Leviathan's dark, but there's something inherently powerful about it.

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
FOXCATCHER - BILL CORSO AND DENNIS LIDDIARD
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - FRANCES HANNON AND MARK COULIER
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - ELIZABETH YIANNI-GEORGIOU AND DAVID WHITE

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
THE BIGGER PICTURE - DAISY JACOBS AND CHRISTOPHER HEES
THE DAM KEEPER - ROBERT KONDO AND DICE TSUTSUMI
*FEAST - PATRICK OSBORNE AND KRISTINA REED
ME AND MY MOULTON - TORILL KOVE
A SINGLE LIFE - JORIS OPRINS
Why: Feast really gets you! Regardless if you are a dog lover or not.

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
AYA
BOOGALOO AND GRAHAM
BUTTER LAMP (LA LAMPE AU BEURRE DE YAK)
PARVANEH
*THE PHONE CALL
Why: Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent are truly something else in The Phone Call.

ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN
*THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
THE IMITATION GAME
INTERSTELLAR
INTO THE WOODS
MR. TURNER
Why: No two ways about it. There was an otherworldly, out-of-time appeal to it.

ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING
AMERICAN SNIPER - JOEL COX AND GARY D. ROACH
*BOYHOOD - SANDRA ADAIR
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - BARNEY PILLING
THE IMITATION GAME - WILLIAM GOLDENBERG
WHIPLASH - TOM CROSS
Why: 12 years in close to three hears, but what an immersive, beautifully precise effort it is!

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING
AMERICAN SNIPER
*BIRDMAN
THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES
INTERSTELLAR
UNBROKEN
Why: Money's on Birdman for this one.

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING
AMERICAN SNIPER
*BIRDMAN
INTERSTELLAR
UNBROKEN
WHIPLASH
Why: Ditto!

ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
*INTERSTELLAR
X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST
Why: Watched all these films. Money is undoubtedly on Interstellar despite the love for Dawn and Guardians.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
AMERICAN SNIPER - JASON HALL
THE IMITATION GAME - GRAHAM MOORE
INHERENT VICE - PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING - ANTHONY MCCARTEN
*WHIPLASH - DAMIEN CHAZELLE
Why: As much as I found his direction wanting, the screenplay wasn't. It builds and shatters at all the right moments.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
BIRDMAN written by ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU & OTHERS
BOYHOOD written by RICHARD LINKLATER
FOXCATCHER written by E. MAX FRYE AND DAN FUTTERMAN
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - Screenplay by WES ANDERSON / Story by WES ANDERSON & HUGO GUINNESS
*NIGHTCRAWLER - written by DAN GILROY
WHY: Because Gilroy deserves this one.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
*CITIZENFOUR
FINDING VIVIAN MAIER
LAST DAYS IN VIETNAM
THE SALT OF THE EARTH
VIRUNGA
Why: Clear favourite all around.

BEST DOCUMENTARY - SHORT SUBJECT
*CRISIS HOTLINE: VETERANS PRESS 1
JOANNA
OUR CURSE
THE REAPER (LA PARKA)
WHITE EARTH
Why: They love social messages. Crisis seems a likely win.