Best Picture

The Nominees: AMERICAN SNIPER, THE IMITATION GAME, BIRDMAN, SELMA, BOYHOOD, THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, WHIPLASH, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Will Win: The Theory of Everything
I really did not like this movie at all. I found it to be rote and uninspired. I wasn’t all that enamored with Eddie Redmayne’s performance either but I think Felicity Jones was very very good, the best thing about the film to be exact. All that being said, I have this gut feeling that this film is going to win. It just seems like the type of crap that Academy voters think they are supposed to vote for because it is so British and Merchant-Ivory like.
Should Win: Selma
Of all of the films nominated I consider SELMA to be the most complete. It hit it out of the park in every category by which a film is measured. I don’t think it will win because of what is looking like a bit of a industry backlash at the initial outrage of SELMA being snubbed in the acting and directing categories but it deserves the little naked gold man.
Got Robbed: Gone Girl
I truly don’t understand why the Academy seems to hate David Fincher’s films so much. He either gets snubbed outright (most egregiously for ZODIAC) or gets invited to the dance for films that are devoid of the Fincher edge (BENJAMIN BUTTON and THE SOCIAL NETWORK) and then rebuffed on awards night. I blame it on the Academy being full to the brim with a bunch of cranky, out of touch old people who are put off by Fincher’s distinct brand of filmmaking. And as a result GONE GIRL got screwed.