Russelling Reviews 2015 Oscar predictions - The Academy Awards for movies no one saw in 2014

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I used to love watching the Academy Awards. 

Yes, I am willing to admit it. The Oscars were more important than the Super Bowl, Grand Finals or any other live event on television. Even with the dodgy jokes, bad dance numbers and horrific best song performances, the Academy Awards seemed to give the common man a voice on the best films. Many of the films that were supported by the masses broke new ground in cinematic history. Acting, special effects, direction and screenplays were rewarded for taking the audiences to places that had not been experienced before. 

Fast forward to 2015, without trying to sound too hypocritical, the Academy has become an insiders club. I know that it always has been, but with this year's pretentious choices, it is even more evident. Understanding that 2014 film choices were slim, most of the films nominated had no audience. Some were good films, but only the art house elite and critics (having a dig at myself) went to see them. The films of the masses and their audiences were dismissed by the Academy. In their film choices, The Oscars have become irrelevant by trying to appeal to a minuscule portion of the film community. If not for American Sniper's appeal, the Best Picture list did not appeal to the masses. The audience for the show may come along for the red carpet experience or to complain about the poor individual who has to host, but not because they have seen any of the films. 

Not to be misunderstood, I love film and I think it will continue to influence the generations. The film industry has become a key part of the development of western culture and it's influence will continue to grow. The opportunities for thought provoking discussion abound within many of today's films. Yet, the Academy has managed to move the Oscars to arrogant irrelevance with this year's choices. 

The question has to be asked, why do Oscar predictions?

 Honestly, my Mum asked and even The Oscars do allow for discussions about film, the Bible and God. Also, it made for a great family conversation and motivated me to include Kid's Korner preferences. This article will include Russelling Reviews (RR) preference, Kid's Korner (KK) preferences and predictions of the Oscar winners in the major categories. 

So, with apprehension, here are the Russelling Reviews Oscar predictions: 

Actor
Steve Carell in “Foxcatcher”
Bradley Cooper in “American Sniper”
Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Imitation Game”
Michael Keaton in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything”

KKs preference: Ed Oxenbould - Paper Planes
Oscar prediction (Sympathy vote for 2015): Michael Keaton

Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall in “The Judge”
Ethan Hawke in “Boyhood”
Edward Norton in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Mark Ruffalo in “Foxcatcher”
J.K. Simmons in “Whiplash”

RRs preference: Shia Labeouf - Fury
Oscar prediction (This category will get the obscure vote this year): JK Simmons

Actress
Marion Cotillard in “Two Days, One Night”
Felicity Jones in “The Theory of Everything”
Julianne Moore in “Still Alice”
Rosamund Pike in “Gone Girl”
Reese Witherspoon in “Wild”

RRs preference: Rosamund Pike 
KKs preference: Angelina Jolie - Maleficent 
Oscar prediction (Sympathy vote for 2015): Juliane Moore 

Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette in “Boyhood”
Laura Dern in “Wild”
Keira Knightley in “The Imitation Game”
Emma Stone in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Meryl Streep in “Into the Woods”

RRs preference: Emma Stone
Oscar prediction: Emma Stone

Animated Feature
“Big Hero 6” 
“The Boxtrolls” 
“How to Train Your Dragon 2” 
“Song of the Sea” 
“The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” 

KKs preference: Big Hero 6 (How did Lego Movie not get nominated?) 
Oscar prediction (The pretentious vote of the year) : The Tale of the Princess Kaguya 

Director
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”- Alejandro G. Iñárritu
“Boyhood” -Richard Linklater
“Foxcatcher” -Bennett Miller
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” - Wes Anderson
“The Imitation Game

Oscar prediction: Wes Anderson (Everyone loves Wes Anderson, but no one can explain him)

Best Picture
“American Sniper”
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
“Boyhood”
“The Grand Budapest Hotel”
“The Imitation Game”
“Selma”
“The Theory of Everything”
“Whiplash”

KKs preference: Big Hero 6
Oscar prediction: Boyhood (The endurance award, 12 years to make this film)

There you go, Russelling Reviews and Kids Korner's preferences and the Oscar predictions. 

Reel Dialogue: What are the bigger questions to consider from these films and predictions? 
1. What are your thoughts? 
2. What films would you have chosen? 
3. Why would you choose those films? 

 Preferences and Predictions by Russell Matthews and his children @ Russelling Reviews 


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