*Updated with winners*

First prediction – Neil Patrick Harris is going to knock his hosting role out of the park. The fact that Dr. Horrible is hosting the Academy Awards makes me all kinds of happy. It’s that time of year once again where film fans around the world unite to celebrate a year of cinema, and to grumble at the Academy’s bizarre decision making skills. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. So who is in the running for this years statuettes? Continue on, dear reader….

Visual Effects:

– “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
– “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”
– “Guardians of the Galaxy”
– “Interstellar”
– “X-Men: Days of Future Past”

Predicted Winner: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

Actual Winner: Interstellar

***

Production Design:

– “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
– “The Imitation Game”
– “Interstellar”
– “Into the Woods”
– “Mr. Turner”

Predicted Winner: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Actual Winner: The Grand Budapest Hotel

***

Cinematography:

– “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Emmanuel Lubezki
– “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Robert Yeoman
– “Ida” Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski
– “Mr. Turner” Dick Pope
– “Unbroken” Roger Deakins

Predicted Winner: “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Emmanuel Lubezki.

Actual Winner: “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Emmanuel Lubezki.

***

Animated Feature:

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

Predicted Winner: How to Train Your Dragon 2

Actual Winner: Big Hero 6

***

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”

Predicted Winner: Patricia Arquette

Actual Winner: Patricia Arquette

***

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”

Predicted Winner: Julianne Moore

Actual Winner: Julianne Moore

***

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”

Predicted Winner: J.K. Simmons

Actual Winner: J.K. Simmons

***

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”

Predicted Winner: Michael Keaton

Actual Winner: Eddie Redmayne

***

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” Morten Tyldum

Predicted Winner: “Boyhood” Richard Linklater

Actual Winner: “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” – Alejandro G. Iñárritu

***

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”

Predicted Winner: Boyhood

Actual Winner: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

***

Time shall tell if my predictions are correct, and I will be sure to update the post with the actual winners when announced. All will be revealed this evening! In the mean time, share your predictions, dream wins and ramblings in the comments below – Happy Oscars Day everybody, may the film Gods smile upon Wes Anderson and give The Grand Budapest Hotel at least a little bit of joy!

*Update*

Birdman wins big with four huge victories at the expense of Boyhood which walks away with just the one award. Meanwhile, The Grand Budapest Hotel gets some joy, tying Birdman on four awards for costume design, production design, best original score and hair and makeup.

Are you feeling bad for Boyhood? Do you agree with the winners? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and see the full list of winners here.