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87th Oscars. The Oscar Contenders of 2014 - For prediction, discussion and entertainment purposes only. This is not a endorsement of quality work, especially since no one has seen the pictures yet!

 discuss on the blog

Congratulations to BIRDMAN, the second Best Picture in a row for Fox Searchlight!
Reflection on its win here. This was the first year since the expanded lineup when all Best Picture nominees won at least 1 statue.

 

The Nominees

Grand Budapest Hotel
(Fox Searchlight)
March 28th

9 nominations
4 wins 

BIRDMAN
(Fox Searchlight)
Oct 17th


9 Nominations
4 wins 

The Imitation Game
(Weinstein Co)
November 21st


8 nominations
1 win 

Boyhood
(IFC Films)
July 11th

6 nominations
1 win 

American Sniper
(Warner Bros)
Dec 25th

 

6 nominations
1 win 

 

PODCAST
& second look

A darling among fans and finally an Oscar nominee. But this beautiful film is an unusually manic and mannered Best Picture nominee isn't it?

awards
none yet
nominations
Gotham, SAG, GLOBE, BFCA, OFCS
box office
$59+
RT Score
92%
all Budapest articles

 

REVIEW
& podcast

NATHANIEL'S TOP TEN

 

Genius formal trickery, formidable acting, and engaging meta showbiz-ness. Oscar loves movies about the theater

awards
Gotham, PGA, SAG, DGA + some critics groups
nominations
Spirit, GLOBE, BFCA, AFI
box office
$38+
RT Score
92%
all Birdman articles  

 

REVIEW
& podcast

 

Fascinating true story and a WWII story at that. Bingo. But it already has detractors who think its too safe for very upsetting subject matter. 

awards
TIFF People's Choice
nominations
SAG, GLOBE, BFCAAFI
box office

$84+
RT Score
90%
all Imitation articles  

 REVIEW

NATHANIEL'S TOP TEN

An event movie of a different kind. But will voters cherish its cumulative affect over flashier nominees?

awards
Gotham (Audience
BFCA, BAFTA, GLOBE, NY, LA, + many critics groups
nominations

Spirit, SAG, OFCS, AFI
box office
$25+
RT Score
98%
all Boyhood articles

 

Capsule

Clint Eastwood crashes the party again with this drama about the US sniper with the most confirmed kills

awards
n/a
nominations
AFI
box office
$323+ 
RT Score
73%
all Sniper articles 

Whiplash
(Sony Pictures Classics)
Oct 10th

 

5 nominations
3 wins 

Theory of Everything (Focus Features)
Nov 7th

5 nominations
1 win 

Selma
(Paramount)
December 25th

 

2 nominations
1 win 

 

 

 

 

 

REVIEW
& podcast

Its fans are wild eyed disciples and the artists in the Academy will appreciate the "suffering to be the best" theme. But too small for major play? It hasn't broken out in the way many (including myself) expected

awards
Sundance,
nominations
Spirit, BFCA,OFCS, AFI
box office
$11+
RT Score
98%
all Whiplash articles

 

 

Interview & podcast

Oscar loves stories about women in love with complicated brilliant men. This one delivers. They've been pushing the movie just the right amount and box office success is nothing to scoff at for this type of thing

awards
n/a
nominations
SAG, GLOBE, BFCA,
box office
$34+
RT Score
80%
All Theory articles 

Premiere, REVIEW, Luncheon, & Podcast 

NATHANIEL'S TOP TEN

Substantivehistorical drama that also feels contemporary (issues still resonate, sadly enough). But only one picture about the African American experience has ever won.

awards
NBR (special prize), NAACP Image, + critics group
nominations
Spirit, GLOBE, BFCA,OFCS, AFI

box office
$49+
RT Score
98%
all Selma articles

   

OMISSIONS

Selma just barely squeezed in (thank God!) but what was squeezed out? Despite a great showing at the precursor guilds Nightcrawler didn't make it. Despite 5 high profile nominations Foxcatcher didn't make it

WHAT WILL WIN?

Boyhood looks to be the leader but if Birdman can harness the full power of the actors branch or Imitation Game can harness the full power of expert campaigning who knows?

RESULTS: Birdman won its tight race with Boyhood

WHAT SHOULD WIN
This is where you came in Dear Reader. Your votes went like so!