Oscar night is over, and like all other reviewers, we had our own picks for who will and who should win Oscars on February 22, 2015. Russ and Rich have different tastes, but when it comes down to the best of the best, they are rarely that far apart. See who was better at predicting the winners.
Best Picture
- American Sniper
- Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Boyhood
- Selma
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- The Imitation Game
- The Theory of Everything
- Whiplash
Russ: Boyhood (will win), Boyhood (should win).
Rich: Boyhood (will win), The Grand Budapest Hotel (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).
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)
Russ: Michael Keaton (will win), Eddie Redmayne (should win).
Rich: Michael Keaton (will win), Eddie Redmayne (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Eddie Redmayne.
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)
Russ: Julianne Moore (will win), Julianne Moore (should win).
Rich: Julianne Moore (will win), Rosamund Pike (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Julianne Moore. Russ and Rich were both correct.
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)
Russ: J.K. Simmons (will win), J.K. Simmons (should win).
Rich: J.K. Simmons (will win), J.K. Simmons (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: J.K. Simmons. Russ and Rich were both correct.
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)
Russ: Patricia Arquette (will win), Patricia Arquette (should win).
Rich: Patricia Arquette (will win), Laura Dern (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Patricia Arquette. Russ and Rich were both correct.
Animated Feature Film
- Big Hero 6
- How to Train Your Dragon 2
- Song of the Sea
- The Boxtrolls
- The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Russ: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (will win), Big Hero 6 (should win).
Rich: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (will win), Big Hero 6 (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Big Hero 6.
Cinematography
- Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Ida
- Mr. Turner
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Unbroken
Russ: The Grand Budapest Hotel (will win), The Grand Budapest Hotel (should win).
Rich: The Grand Budapest Hotel (will win), The Grand Budapest Hotel (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).
Costume Design
- Inherent Vice
- Into the Woods
- Maleficent
- Mr. Turner
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
Russ: Into the Woods (will win), Maleficent (should win).
Rich: Into the Woods (will win), The Grand Budapest Hotel (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Directing
- Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
- Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance))
- Richard Linklater (Boyhood)
- Bennett Miller (Foxcatcher)
- Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game)
Russ: Richard Linklater (will win), Wes Anderson (should win)
Rich: Richard Linklater (will win), Richard Linklater (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Alejandro G. Iñárritu.
Documentary Feature
- Citizenfour
- Finding Vivian Maier
- Last Days in Vietnam
- The Salt of the Earth
- Virunga
Russ: Finding Vivian Maier (will win), Finding Vivian Maier (should win)
Rich: Finding Vivian Maier (will win), Finding Vivian Maier (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Citizenfour.
Documentary Short Subject
- Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
- Joanna
- Our Curse
- The Reaper (La Parka)
- White Earth
Russ: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 (will win), Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 (should win).
Rich: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 (will win), Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1. Russ and Rich were both right.
Film Editing
- American Sniper
- Boyhood
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- The Imitation Game
- Whiplash
Russ: Boyhood (will win), American Sniper (should win).
Rich: Boyhood (will win), Whiplash (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Whiplash.
Foreign Language Film
- Ida
- Leviathan
- Tangerines
- Timbuktu
- Wild Tales
Russ: Ida (will win), Ida (should win).
Rich: Ida (will win), Wild Tales (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Ida. Russ and Rich were both correct.
Makeup and Hairstyling
- Foxcatcher
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
Russ: Foxcatcher (will win), Foxcatcher (should win).
Rich: Foxcatcher (will win), The Grand Budapest Hotel (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Music — Original Score
- Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
- Alexandre Desplat (The Imitation Game)
- Jóhann Jóhannsson (The Theory of Everything)
- Gary Yershon (Mr. Turner)
- Hans Zimmer (Interstellar)
Russ: Hans Zimmer (will win), Hans Zimmer (should win).
Rich: Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel) (will win), Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel) (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Alexandre Desplat. Rich was correct.
Music — Original Song
- “Lost Stars” (Begin Again)
- “Grateful” (Beyond the Lights)
- “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” (Glen Campbell… I’ll Be Me)
- “Glory” (Selma)
- “Everything is Awesome” (The LEGO Movie)
Russ: “Glory” (will win), “Everything is Awesome” (should win).
Rich: “Everything is Awesome” (will win), “Everything is Awesome” (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: “Glory.” Russ was correct.
Production Design
- Interstellar
- Into the Woods
- Mr. Turner
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- The Imitation Game
Russ: The Grand Budapest Hotel (will win), The Grand Budapest Hotel (should win).
Rich: The Grand Budapest Hotel (will win), The Grand Budapest Hotel (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: The Grand Budapest Hotel. Russ and Rich were both correct.
Short Film — Animated
- A Single Life
- Feast
- Me and My Moulton
- The Bigger Picture
- The Dam Keeper
Russ: Feast (will win), Feast (should win).
Rich: Feast (will win), The Bigger Picture (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Feast. Russ and Rich were both correct.
Short Film — Live Action
- Aya
- Boogaloo and Graham
- Butter Lamp (La Lampe au Beurre de Yak)
- Parvaneh
- The Phone Call
Russ: Aya (will win), Aya (should win).
Rich: Aya (will win), The Phone Call (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: The Phone Call.
Sound Editing
- American Sniper
- Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Interstellar
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
- Unbroken
Russ: American Sniper (will win), The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (should win).
Rich: American Sniper (will win), American Sniper (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: American Sniper. Russ and Rich were both correct.
Sound Mixing
- American Sniper
- Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Interstellar
- Unbroken
- Whiplash
Russ: Whiplash (will win), American Sniper (should win).
Rich: Whiplash (will win), Whiplash (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Whiplash. Russ and Rich were both correct.
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
Russ: Interstellar (will win), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (should win).
Rich: Interstellar (will win), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Interstellar. Russ and Rich were both correct.
Writing — Adapted Screenplay
- American Sniper
- Inherent Vice
- The Imitation Game
- The Theory of Everything
- Whiplash
Russ: The Theory of Everything (will win), The Theory of Everything (should win).
Rich: The Theory of Everything (will win), Whiplash (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: The Imitation Game.
Writing — Original Screenplay
- Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Boyhood
- Foxcatcher
- Nightcrawler
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
Russ: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (will win), The Grand Budapest Hotel (should win).
Rich: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (will win), The Grand Budapest Hotel (should win).
And the Oscar Goes to: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Russ and Rich were both correct.
The final tally is as follows: Russ: 12 – 12 for 50% correct and Rich: 12 – 12 for 50% correct. It’s a tie once again! See you at next year’s Oscar ceremony.