We are thrilled to be able to co-host the Oscar Red Carpet Bash at the Drexel Theater this week. Please join us Sunday a the Drexel (2254 E.Main St.) Sample delicious wares from local restaurants and wear your fanciest duds or dress like someone in one of the nominated films for a chance at prizes. We’ll also be handing out prizes for trivia as well as for the closest predictor of the Oscar winners.
In case you’re on the fence, we thought we’d put together our own list of Oscar’s likeliest winners.
Best Picture
American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash
One of this year’s few tight races, the best picture contest comes down to one brilliantly told, magical tale told from the inside of celebrity versus one unrelentingly and somehow magically realistic picture of childhood. The push over the cliff for us are all the telltale awards in recent weeks from the Screen Actors, Directors and Producers guilds – all with Oscar pool overlap.
Should Win: Boyhood
Will Win: Birdman
Got Snubbed: Nightcrawler
Best Director
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Birdman
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game
Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher
Whenever Best Picture’s a toss up, you can expect the nod for directing to be just as close a race. Oscar could split – one to Birdman, one to Boyhood – but we get the sneaking suspicion that one film will mop up the two top prizes.
Should Win: Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Will Win: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Birdman
Got Snubbed: Ava DuVernay, Selma
Best Actor
Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Bradley Cooper, American Sniper
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Here’s the only performing category with much of a race going on. The bet is between beloved veteran Michael Keaton for his fearless performance in Birdman against talented semi-newcomer Eddie Redmayne with his turn as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. It’s a close one, but not too close to call.
Should Win: George says: Bradley Cooper, American Sniper
Hope says: Michael Keaton: Birdman
Will Win: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Got Snubbed: David Oyelowo, Selma; Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
Best Actress
Marion Cotillard, Two Days One Night
Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, Wild
Here begin the easier calls to make. In a relatively weak field, Julianne Moore shines all the brighter regardless of the fact that the film Still Alice is not especially strong.
Should Win: Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Will Win: Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Got Snubbed: Essie Davis, The Babadook
Best Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
In a year full of locks, no race is more of a foregone conclusion than this. Though we do feel badly for Edward Norton, sporting the very best performance of his impressive career, there’s really only one option.
Should Win: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Will Win: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Got Snubbed: Josh Brolin, Inherent Vice
Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Laura Dern, Wild
Emma Stone, Birdman
Keira Knightly, The Imitation Game
Meryl Streep, Into the Woods
This one may not be locked up quite as tight, but you can be pretty confident that Alabama Worley will finally get her justs.
Should Win: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Will Win: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Got Snubbed: Viola Davis, Get On Up; Tilda Swinton, Snowpiercer
Best Original Screenplay
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bo Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Richard Linklater Boyhood
E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson; Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness The Grand Budapest Hotel
Dan Gilroy Nightcrawler
What an insanely great year for original screenplays! Truth is, you really can’t go wrong with any of these. There’s a good chance the award will go to Birdman in a huge awards-grab, but we think smart money is with another brilliantly crafted piece of writing.
Should Win: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobono, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., Armando Bo, Birdman
Will Win: Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Got Snubbed: Ruben Ostlund Force Majeure; J.C. Chandor, A Most Violent Year
Best Adapted Screenplay
Jason Hall American Sniper
Graham Moore The Imitation Game
Paul Thomas Anderson Inherent Vice
Anthony McCarten The Theory of Everything
Damien Chazelle Whiplash
It’s another tight race and honestly, it wouldn’t surprise us if the Oscar went to any of these writers. Well, it might surprise us (pleasantly!) if Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice won, but otherwise, the field’s wide open.
Should Win: Damien Chazelle, Whiplash
Will Win: Damien Chazelle, Whiplash
Got Snubbed: Paul Webb, Selma
Keep us honest – join us Sunday night at the Drexel and keep track of our hits and misses while you enjoy the Oscar broadcast, some delicious food and beverages, and win big prizes. For more information, visit www.drexel.net.
Hope to see you there!
