Trainwreck’d Society’s 2015 Oscar Preview with Chris & Ron [Exclusive]

 

Introduction by Ron:

With Trainwreck’d Society coming to an end, I can’t think of anything else that I am going to miss more than this segment right here.  One of the reasons I started this site back in that Biloxi hotel room was to incorporate the world of film into my rants.  And Chris Eaves has been there every step of the way.  When it comes to the world of film, Chris is my go to guy.  We don’t always see eye to eye on some things (see our obvious disagreements on last year’s Gravity, and this year’s Interstellar.  I don’t like science fiction, I am sorry.  But Chris does, and he articulates his thoughts in such a great manner that I have to respect it.)  But alas, there is nobody I would like to discuss current events in the world of film with than Sir Christopher Eaves.  It has been a wonderful experience to bring this annual nod to the the most under appreciated awards ceremony in existence.  I still look back in awe of the year 1998 when it seemed like every film in that was nominated was fantastic, and I still hold faith in the Academy if not just for that year alone.  And I have been so honored to create this annual event to help showcase this amazing event.  Plus, any time I get to work with Chris on anything, that is a special time for me.  Thanks for reading!  Now check out Chris’s far superior comments:

 

Introduction by Chris:

For the last two years my Oscar pick approach was more about passive aggressive cynicism against the Oscars than an honest conversation about movies. Hollywood is a system and such representative of a machine that typically overlooks great work in place of the level of connection and sway a producer may hold. The leaked “For Your Consideration” prints we have all “Obtained” being an example of this power. This is not to say the Oscars are not deserving of cynicism, but for these picks, I choose instead to hold a conversations around movies and the culture they represent. Mostly.

Movies are entertainment first, followed by everything else. If the movie does not entertain all other goals and reasons are made impossible. Raising heart rates, horror filled sweat sliding down the neck or side breaking laughter are the physical reactions of an audience being entertained by the movies. The spectacle of the cinema facilitates this connection. I was lucky enough in my life to had been born in the final days of a traditional cinema experience – front lobbies, smells of popcorn, film projection sounds, red velvet rails, and creaky seats. I found my love from the movies of the 90’s and their flickering spectacle. This movie/audience relationship is where the humanism is found – our ability to empathize and sympathize with characters and apply their journey to our own world. The movies are in this way not just about the story’s quality but how the form of the story can cause reaction from the audience from that spectacle.

Hal Douglas (September 1, 1924 – March 7, 2014) was the man who narrated many of the trailers that got us to go to the movies. Douglas never took himself too seriously believing no matter which movie he was narrating, that movie was going to be, for someone in the world, their favorite film. In Douglas’s memory, this is my approach to the Oscars this year. For the love of film and going to the movies I choose from the choices given via the academy not as a calculation but rather how I felt in my own experience watching their spectacle on screen.

The movies are about love. Let us love the movies and the experiences they give us. Not just the experiences we have with the movie but the experience we have with the people we watch them with. Film is a collaborative work and so should be the viewing.

 

And make sure you make your way over to the Trainwreck’d Society Facebook Page to cast your vote for either Team Ron or Team Chris, and partake in the chance to win some pretty cool swag.  Who wouldn’t love some free stuff, amiright?

 

Best Motion Picture of the Year

…And the nominees are:

American Sniper

Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Boyhood

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

Selma

The Theory of Everything

Whiplash

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).  It was a tough year, and not one individual film really stood out for me.  Each of the films in this category had something special about it, with the exception of American Sniper which brought absolutely nothing to the table and is undeserving of anything.  But, in the end, I think I enjoyed Birdman the most.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – I loved this film. The creative approach to the cinematography while dealing with a fully developed range of characters centered around a unique story makes for an immensely entertaining film that works on many levels. The field is very strong this year such as Boyhood, which was an undertaking of over 12 years, which needs to be appreciated but as storytelling goes Birdman left me the most entertained.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:  Boyhood.  While the hype for this film seems to have died down a bit, I still believe it is the clear winner.  And good for Mr. Linklater.  An honor well deserved.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Same.

Best Performance By An Actor in a Leading Role

…And the nominees are:

Steve Carell for Foxcatcher

Bradley Cooper for American Sniper

Benedict Cumberbatch for The Imitation Game

Michael Keaton for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Eddie Radmayne for The Theory of Everything

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Benedict Cumberbatch for The Imitation Game.  My gut tells me that this is a win for the OG Batman, but I really dug Cumberbatch and thought he turned out the best performance.  Although, I would not be disappointed to see the 40 Year Old Virgin be an Oscar winner.  But alas, Benedict did the best job.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Michael Keaton for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Keaton was a powerhouse in the 80s through the mid 90s to which I feel ended with Tarantino’s Jackie Brown (1997). In the past few years Keaton has been poking up in smaller parts across a variety of different genres. Like Matthew Mcconaughey resurgence, Keaton continues to be one of the best actors working today, again.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:  Michael Keaton for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).  I think we are going to see a whole new side of Michael Keaton in the years to come.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Michael Keaton for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Same.

Best Performance By An Actress in a Leading Role

…And the nominees are:

Marion Cotillard for Two Days, One Night

Felicity Jones for The Theory of Everything

Julianne Moore for Still Alice

Rosamund Pike for Gone Girl

Reese Witherspoon for Wild

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Felicity Jones for The Theory of Everything.  Jones was the most impressive part of The Theory of Everything.  The film really centered around her, which I found surprising yet wonderful.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Julianne Moore for Still Alice – When watching celebrity actors versus unknown actors it is difficult to shake the actor’s persona over the character they are playing. In the case of Julianne Moore I was able to forget Julianne Moore the person and instead watch Dr. Alice Howland the character. This a tribute to Julianne Moore continued relevance as an actress and her range of ability. She was the actress who had to act bad in Boogie Nights (1997).

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Julianne Moore for Still Alice.  I’m guessing it is about her time.  I think she earned this long ago, probably around Bennie & Joon timeframe, but I still don’t believe this should really be her year.  But, that is the Academy, I suppose.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Reese Witherspoon for Wild. Wild is Witherspoon’s passion project. Witherspoon got this film moving and she brings the acting to match. I found the film harder to relate to personally, but the quality of the performance is not in question. In a very beauty driven industry where even in war you have to look good, especially for an actress, to pull back on the physical beauty is what will help Witherspoon lead for a win.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Robert Duvall for The Judge

Ethan Hawke for Boyhood

Edward Norton for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Mark Ruffalo for Foxcatcher

J.K. Simmons for Whiplash

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: J.K. Simmons for Whiplash.  I honestly wasn’t as impressed with Whiplash as I felt I should have been.  Simmons was really the only highlight of the film.  Also, I recently marathoned the series Oz, and discovered a whole new love for Juno’s dad.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:  J.K. Simmons for Whiplash – Simmons portrayal of the hardass jazz teacher Terence Fletcher gives the dynamic range necessary for the acting work of Miles Teller portail of Andrew Neiman, an ambitious young jazz student. The better the villain the better the story and Simmons was a great antagonist in Whiplash.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: J.K. Simmons for Whiplash.  He really stole the show as this year’s Nurse Ratchet.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:  J.K. Simmons for Whiplash – Same.

Best Performance by and Actress in a Supporting Role:

…And the nominees are:

Patricia Arquette for Boyhood

Laura Dern for Wild

Keira Knightley for The Imitation Game

Emma Stone for Birdman or (The Unxpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Meryl Streep for Into the Woods

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Patricia Arquette for Boyhood.  This was her best performance since her role as Alabama in True Romance.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:  Patricia Arquette for Boyhood – Boyhood was filmed over a 12 year period showing the true aging of the family portrayed. Having to return to a character periodically and adapt to where the character is now in their own live versus where the actor is now in their own life is challenging enough of an undertaking. For Patricia Arquette there is no question this is the same character growing over time without question or gap.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:  Patricia Arquette for Boyhood.  Although Keira Knightley’s empowered woman performance in The Imitation Game was rather impressive, I still think we will finally see an Arquette with a statue.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:  Laura Dern for Wild – Laura Dern is a talented woman who writes, directs and acts in film. Her talent is unquestioned. I enjoyed Patricia performance more than Derns but I feel the Hollywood machinery will be at work here. I can’t escape all cynicism. I am human and a contradiction.

Best Animated Feature

…And the nominees are:

Dan Hall, Chris Williams, and Roy Conli for Big Hero 6

Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable, and Travis Knight for The Boxtrolls

Dean DeBlois and Bonnie Arnold for How To Train Your Dragon 2

Tomm Moore and Paul Young for Song of the Sea

Isao Takahata and Yoshiaki Nishimuna for The Tale of Princess Kaguya

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:  Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable, and Travis Knight for The Boxtrolls.  Surprisingly enough, as a father of three small children, I didn’t see many of these.  And the ones I did, I wasn’t that impressed with overall.  But, The Boxtrolls had music by Loch Lomond, so let’s go with that one.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:  Lego Movie – Wait, this wasn’t nominated? Okay… Big Hero 6 I had fun watching this.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Dan Hall, Chris Williams, and Roy Conli for Big Hero 6.  Why not?

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Dean DeBlois and Bonnie Arnold for How To Train Your Dragon 2 – How to Train Your Dragon was a great movie but the sequel does not hold up as well to the original. Big Hero Six doesn’t have the built in voting bracket of Dragon, and Dragon 2 is still good.

Best Achievement in Cinematography

…And the nominees are:

Emmanuel Lubezki for Birdman or (The Unxpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Robert Yeoman for The Grand Budapest Hotel

Lukass Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski for Ida

Dick Poop for Mr. Turner

Roger Deakins for Unbroken

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Emmanuel Lubezki for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).  This film was one long, swooping real of film.  it felt like the On The Road of digital technology.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Emmanuel Lubezki for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – The movie is just beautiful. The visuals are necessary to tell this story. The camera work is just as important as the acting in this work. I loved Grand Budapest Hotel, but in thinking about the shot composition, what I loved in the visual is not the shot itslef but rather the art design. In the case of Birdbman, just go and see this movie!

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:  Emmanuel Lubezki for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).  Since the Academy seems to only take Wes Andersen films seriously, I’d say it’s a given.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Emmanuel Lubezki for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Same.

Best Costume Design

…And the nominees are:

Milena Canonero for The Grand Budapest Hotel

Mark Bridges for Inherent Vice

Colleen Attwood for Into the Woods

Anna B. Sheppard for Maleficent

Jacqueline Durran for Mr. Turner

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Milena Canonero for The Grand Budapest Hotel.  I’ve been working on this list for some time now, and it feels like The Grand Budapest Hotel needs to make an appearance.  Plus I know dick about costume designs.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Milena Canonero for The Grand Budapest Hotel – The look is so stylish. I know little of style but the Grand Budapest tenets look so damn good. The costumes are just so memorable. I’ve never been a big fan of fantasy in this category. Complicated costume design seems to be just a given with that type of gener. This is probably me being ignorant on the subject, but in watching Budapest Hotel every character was so unique in their look, no other film held up.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Colleen Attwood for Into the Woods.  It was like a fairy tale thing, right?  Sure, I’l go with that one.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Milena Canonero for The Grand Budapest Hotel – Same.

Best Achievement in Directing

…And the nominees are

Alejandro G. Inarritu for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Richard Linklater for Boyhood

Bennett Miller for Foxcatcher

Wes Anderson for The Grand Budapest Hotel

Morten Tyldum for The Imitation Game

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Richard Linklater for Boyhood.  It took 12 years to make this film.  12 damn years.  Same actors, different ages.  His patience alone is worthy of this award.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Richard Linklater for Boyhood – I’ve already said a lot here in being directed over 12 years. This is unique and chances in form deserve recognition, especially in the era of the Hollywood remake.

 

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Richard Linklater for Boyhood.  12 YEARS!!!!

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:  Richard Linklater for Boyhood – I’ve already said a lot here in being directed over 12 years. This is unique and chances in form deserve recognition, especially in the era of the Hollywood remake.

 

Best Documentary Feature

…And the nominees are:

Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefry and Dirk Wilutzky for Citizenfour

John Maloof and Charlie Siskel for Finding Vivian Maier

Rory Kennedy and Kevin McAlester for Last Days in Vietnam

Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and David Rosier for The Salt of the Earth

Orlando von Einsedel and Joanna Natasegara for Virunga

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:  Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefry and Dirk Wilutzky for Citizenfour.  A doc about Americans getting spied on?  Yeah that is a no-brainer.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:  Rory Kennedy and Kevin McAlester for Last Days in Vietnam – Guess, I didn’t see any of these…

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:  Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefry and Dirk Wilutzky for Citizenfour.  I can already see the Fox News headlines about the Oscars “honoring” Edward Snowden and snubbing Chris Kyle.  This should be fun.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and David Rosier for The Salt of the Earth – Womp Womp…

Best Documentary, Short Subject

…And the nominees are:

Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry for Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1

Aneta Kopacz for Joanna

Tomasz Sliwinski and Maciej Slesicki for Our Curse

Gabriel Serra Arguello for The Reaper (La Parka)

J. Christian Jensen for White Earth

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry for Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1.  Didn’t actually see any of them, but I believe this one touched on some pretty serious stuff.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Tomasz Sliwinski and Maciej Slesicki for Our Curse – Guess, I didn’t see any of these…

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry for Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1.  It’s like the Academy’s “see, we don’t hate America” laugh at American Sniper.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: J. Christian Jensen for White Earth – Womp, Womp.

Best Film Editing

…And the nominees are:

Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach for American Sniper

Sandra Adair for Boyhood

Barney Pilling for The Grand Budapest Hotel

William Goldenberg for The Imitation Game

Tom Cross for Whiplash

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:  William Goldenberg for The Imitation Game.  I just really dug this movie so much, I want it to win something.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Barney Pilling for The Grand Budapest Hotel – Simply, the editing is really tight. No shot was wasted. Every cut needed.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Sandra Adair for Boyhood.  Seriously…..12 YEARS!!!

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Barney Pilling for The Grand Budapest Hotel – Same.

 

Best Foreign Language Film

…And the nominees are:

Pawl Pawlikowski for Ida (Poland)

Audrey Zvyagintsev for Leviathan (Russia)

Zaza Urushadze for Tangerines (Estonia)

Abderrahmane Sissako for Timbuktu (Mauritania)

Damian Szifron for Wild Tales (Argentina)

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Pawl Pawlikowski for Ida (Poland).  This was an amazingly powerful movie, in any language.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Audrey Zvyagintsev for Leviathan (Russia) – Film is culture and there will be a bit of irony with a Russian win here given the events in Ukraine. Russia, as reported by NPR is not promoting this film at the moment in Russia but giving it a big push internationally as Russian culture. For me as entertainment, I enjoyed seeing an old story and remixed through those cultural differences.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Pawl Pawlikowski for Ida (Poland).  Just that good.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Audrey Zvyagintsev for Leviathan (Russia) – Same.

 

Best Make up and Hairstyling

…And the nominees are:

Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard for Foxcatcher

Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier for The Grand Budapest Hotel

Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White for Guardians of the Galaxy

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard for Foxcatcher.  It probably took a lot of work to make Steve Carell look like a caricature of himself.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White for Guardians of the Galaxy – Makeup is hard and Guardians of the Galaxy offers a whole lot of aliens. Makeup is hard and the work here is really good and for blockbuster a lot of practical alien make up, Raccoons not counting.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard for Foxcatcher.  I don’t think there are any other options.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White for Guardians of the Galaxy – Same.

 

Best Music, Original Score

…And the nominees are:

Alexandre Desplat for The Grand Budapest Hotel

Alexandre Desplat for The Imitation Game

Hans Zimmer for Interstellar

Gary Yenshon for Mr. Turner

Johann Johannsson for The Theory of Everything

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Alexandre Desplat for The Imitation Game.  It has to be awesome to be nominated twice, right?  While I love me some Wes Andersen, I think this was the better film.  Good music too, I guess.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Hans Zimmer for Interstellar – Zimmer’s score has received some criticism over the use of synthesiser. For me, I bought the soundtrack. Watching the same scene on a film projection system in a crowded theater, the use of score punctuated the spectacle which made my heart race during a docking sequence. If I’m excited over docking, something is being done correctly.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Hans Zimmer for Interstellar.  I think the Academy is dying to give this piece of shit as many Oscars as it can without seeming desperate.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Hans Zimmer for Interstellar – Same. Maybe The Theory of Everything. Good score there too.

 

Best Music, Original Song

…And the nominees are:

Shawn Paterson for The Lego Movie, “Everything Is Awesome”

John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn for Selma, “Glory”

Diane Warren for Beyond The Lights, “Grateful”

Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond for Glen Campbell….I’ll Be Me, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”

Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois for Begin Again, “Lost Stars”

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn for Selma, “Glory”.  Granted, Selma wasn’t as good of a film as it should have been, but so much credit has to be given to wonderful voices that came out of it.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn for Selma, “Glory” – Full synicall mode. It’s civil rights and the academy will always vote for civil rights. At least about music. I’m looking at you Three 6 Mafia and Crash (2004). Oscar winning Three 6 Mafia.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn for Selma, “Glory”.  #OscarsSoWhite

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn for Selma, “Glory” – Same.

 

Best Production Design

..And the nominees are:

Adam Stockhausen and Anna Pinnock for The Grand Budapest Hotel

Maria Djurkovic and Tatiana Macdonald for The Imitation Game

Nathan Crowley and Gary Fettis for Interstellar

Dennis Bassner and Anna Pinnock for Into the Woods

Suzie Davies and Charlotte Watts for Mr. Turner

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Adam Stockhausen and Anna Pinnock for The Grand Budapest Hotel.  I will be the first to admit that I know nothing about production design.  But, I do know that Wes Andersen films have a look all of their own and are very distinctive.  I think it is time to acknowledge this. Even if Budapest wasn’t Andersen’s greatest effort.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Nathan Crowley and Gary Fettis for Interstellar – Science Fiction is not easy. This is a film that has to deal with a future dust bowl Earth, advance space ships in motion, and alien worlds in the model of practical realism.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Nathan Crowley and Gary Fettis for Interstellar.  Gravity 2 will probably grab another unwarranted win.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:  Adam Stockhausen and Anna Pinnock for The Grand Budapest Hotel – A Wes Anderson film has style and a look, and not an easy look to get right. I’m okay with this win because this film is great just as a visual work.

 

Best Short Film – Animated

…And the nominees are:

Daisy Jacobs and Christopher Hees for The Bigger Picture

Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi for The Dam Keeper

Patrick Osborner and Kristina Reed for Feast

Torill Kove for Me and My Moulton

Joris Opring for A Single Life

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi for The Dam Keeper.  It’s a WAG.  I seriously have no idea.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Daisy Jacobs and Christopher Hees for The Bigger Picture – Guess, I didn’t see any of these…

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi for The Dam Keeper.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Patrick Osborner and Kristina Reed for Feast – Womp, Womp!!

 

Best Short Film – Live Action

…And the nominees are:

Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis for Aya

Michael Lennox and Ronan Blaney for Boogaloo and Graham

Hu Wei and Julian Feret for Butter Lamp (La Lampe au Beaurre de Yak)

Talkhon Hamzani and Stefan Eichenberger for Parvaneh

Mark Kirby and James Lucas for The Phone Call

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Mark Kirby and James Lucas for The Phone Call.  It’s the one with Sally Hawkins in it.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Talkhon Hamzani and Stefan Eichenberger for Parvaneh – I really tried to see as many things as I could but I have a day job. I’m sorry.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Mark Kirby and James Lucas for The Phone Call.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Mark Kirby and James Lucas for The Phone Call – I have bills okay, a job, I had to make sacrifices.

 

Best Sound Editing

…And the nominees are:

Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman for American Sniper

Martin Hernandez and Aron Glascock for Birdman or (The Uxpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Brent Burge and Jason Canovas for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Richard King for Interstellar

Becky Sullivan and Andrew DeCristofaro for Unbroken

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Martin Hernandez and Aron Glascock for Birdman or (The Uxpected Virtue of Ignorance).  I have to stick with my favorite film of the year, I suppose.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Richard King for Interstellar – There is no sound in space but Interstellar wins best Sound Editing. I loved this film but the story is heavy handed, but as technical work goes, the film is just outstanding. Sound being a pivotal pillar of this work.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Richard King for Interstellar.  Seriously, fuck this movie.  But, alas, another win.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Richard King for Interstellar – Same.

 

Best Sound Mixing

…And the nominees are:

John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, and Walt Martin for American Sniper

Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montano, and Thomas Varga for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Gary A. Rizzo, Gregg Landaker, and Mark Weingarter for Interstellar

Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montano, and David Lee for Unbroken

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montano, and Thomas Varga for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).  I will feel bad for David Lee, whoever that is.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Gary A. Rizzo, Gregg Landaker, and Mark Weingarter for Interstellar – Same as Sound Editing.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Gary A. Rizzo, Gregg Landaker, and Mark Weingarter for Interstellar.  Maybe I will get lucky and this won’t happen?

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Gary A. Rizzo, Gregg Landaker, and Mark Weingarter for Interstellar – Same as Sound Editing.

 

Best Visual Effects

…And the nominees are:

Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Bryan Grill and Dan Sudick for Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barnett, and Erik Winquiest for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Stephen Ceretti, Nicolas Aithadi, Jonathan Fawkner and Paul Corbould for Guardians of the Galaxy

Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher for Interstellar

Richard Stammers, Lou Pecora, Tim Crosbie, and Cameron Waldbwer for X-Men: Days of Future Past

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Stephen Ceretti, Nicolas Aithadi, Jonathan Fawkner and Paul Corbould for Guardians of the Galaxy.  I actually didn’t see any of these films. But, I really like Chris Pratt’s face.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher for Interstellar – Again, I love Interstellar and the space work is seamless in execution.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher for Interstellar. Probably the most obvious choice there is. Sorry Marvel fans.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barnett, and Erik Winquiest for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – Space is so 1970s but apes are so, 1970s…? Motion capture suits are the future and Planet of the Apes pushes the technology further for our ape masters.

 

Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay

…And the nominees are:

Jason Hall for American Sniper

Graham Moore for The Imitation Game

Paul Thomas Andersen for Inherent Vice

Anthony McCarter for The Theory of Everything

Damien Chazelle for Whiplash

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Graham Moore for The Imitation Game.  The writing categories have always been my favorite.  And this year was a rough one to choose from.  Although it was a pretty mild year for great films, there still were some great stories to be told.  It really did boil down to three of these for me, but I have to stick with my love for The Imitation Game.  You guys should seriously watch it.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:  Anthony McCarter for The Theory of Everything – The Theory of Everything needs some love – cynicalness kicking in. The move is worthy of the award. Imitation Game could sneak this based on the subject matter in question, especially given our current culture and the court decision of late and on the horizon.

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Graham Moore for The Imitation Game.  I might just be full of hope, but I have to go with it.  I just really don’t like nazis, I guess.  I shall go on record as saying that The Theory of Everything stands a solid chance, but I like to gamble a little.  We shall see.

 

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Anthony McCarter for The Theory of Everything – Same.

 

Best Writing, Original Screenplay

…And the nominees are:

Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Armand Bo for Birdman or (The Unxpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Richard Linklater for Boyhood

E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman for Foxcatcher

Wes Anderson and Hugo Guinness for The Grand Budapest Hotel

Dan Gilroy for Nightcrawler

WHO RON WANTS TO WIN: Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Armand Bo for Birdman or (The Unxpected Virtue of Ignorance).  This is probably one of the first years that I was more impressed in the Adapted Screenplay category.  But, again, Birdman and The Imitation Game were the best films of the year, so I will divide them into their respected categories.

WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN: Wes Anderson and Hugo Guinness for The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson has a style about him. For good or bad you can tell when you are watching a Wes Anderson film. I have contradiction in this. I am not a fan of Tim Burton starting after Sleepy Hollow. My complaint is Burton movies are all the same wacky films. With that said I love Wes Anderson films, they all have that same vibe and feel. On some inner level Wes Anderson tends to keep my attention and with that my entertainment. Plus as writing goes Anderson may be doing similar things already done, but man, what a thing though.

 

WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Richard Linklater for Boyhood.  I really really really want Birdman to win, about as much as I really really really wanted to like Boyhood more than I did.  It was a great film, and Linklater is a legend.  That is why I think it will win.  But, my hope is still on Birdman.

WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN: Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Armand Bo for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Birdman runs away with most of bigger awards. Why, the form of the movie is new and refreshing but still telling a story we all know dealing with losing relevance. The dialogue is sharp and and the story has no fat.