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The Academy Awards: My Picks

I'll take one in size "five months pregnant," please.

[Illustration: Paper Fashion; Dress: Carolina Herrera]

The Academy Awards are tonight.

It's Birdman vs. Boyhood. No other film has a chance at Best Picture this year. (Sorry, Clint Eastwood. At least your film made too much money, right?)

Here are my predictions for this year's winners.

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR Boyhood

This might just be wishful thinking, considering Birdman took the top prize at last night's Independent Spirit Awards — and every other recent award show. But upsets and underdogs are what make these things worth watching. And Boyhood — love it or hate it — was an impressive labour of love, the likes of which we won't see again soon. (Maybe in 12 years?)

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

But if Michael Keaton wins, I will be 0% surprised. It’s too close to call.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Julianne Moore, Still Alice

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR How To Train Your Dragon 2

I don't think it deserves it. This should be The LEGO Movie. Most glaring nomination snub of the year.

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman

ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN Milena Canonero, The Grand Budapest Hotel

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING Richard Linklater, Boyhood

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Citizenfour

Doc recommendation: See Finding Vivian Maier. Thumbs up.

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1

ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING Sandra Adair, Boyhood

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR Ida (Poland)

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING Elizabeth Yianna-Geogiou and David White, Guardians of the Galaxy

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SCORE) Jóhann Jóhannson, The Theory of Everything

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SONG) “Glory,” Selma (John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn)

Although I LOVED Begin Again’s “Lost Stars.”

ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN The Grand Budapest Hotel Production Design: Adam Stockhausen Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM The Dam Keeper

I saw all of them. And am also cheering for Feast and A Single Life.

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM The Phone Call

I saw none of them. But Jim Broadbent’s in this one. So it wins in my book.

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman, American Sniper

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins, Thomas Curley, Whiplash

ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter, Scott Fisher, Interstellar

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Anthony McCarten, The Theory of Everything

Apparently this is not the popular opinion. But I like to go against the flow. Sometimes. Rarely.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel

How does he write this stuff? Also, props to Dan Gilroy for his Nightcrawler nomination, my second choice. So simple. So creepy.

Who are you rooting for tonight?

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