Who Should win an Oscar This Year: A First Post

Here are some of the lesser known but equally important categories that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences give Oscars to each year.  For myself, if I had a ballot, this is what I think would be the top of my ballot to receive the award.

Best Live Action Short Film:

Aya
Boogaloo & Graham
Butter Lamp
Parvarneh
The Phone Call

Having seen The Phone Call on YouTube a while back; I believe it will and deserves to win the Best Short Film Oscar.  It has Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent in the movie.  Do take a look if you can.

Best Documentary Short Subject:

Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
Joanna
Our Curse
The Reaper
White Earth

I had gotten a chance to see Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 a while back on HBO. It is my hope that this short film can win an Oscar; continuing the sterling efforts HBO has done in their documentary division. 

Best Animated Short Film:

The Bigger Picture
The Dam Keeper
Feast
Me & My Moulton
A Single Life

I was amazed at the creativity Feast presented; considering the lack of consistent dialogue and relative brevity.  I do believe Feast deserves to win, and will win the Oscar.

Best Sound Editing:

American Sniper
Birdman
The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies
Interstellar
Unbroken

I am hoping Interstellar wins at least one Oscar; as I think it needed to have been nominated for far more awards than was given.  I would not be surprised if Birdman wins this category however.  It is essentially a two film race.

Best Sound Mixing:

American Sniper
Birdman
Interstellar
Unbroken
Whiplash

The sound mixing on Whiplash was quite unique and was, pun intended, instrumental in making the movie succeed.  It should be given the award for sound mixing, though a close second would go to Interstellar.  Birdman also has a shot at this.  My preference though would be for Whiplash to win this.

Best Production Design:

The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Into The Woods
Mr. Turner

The production design in The Grand Budapest Hotel was, I think, crucial for the film to be as interesting as it was .  Wes Anderson has a clear visual outlook that I think will deservedly pay off with an Oscar in this category.  I should say that Interstellar's production design was not that far behind.  I rather liked it.  This is also a two film race here.

Best Make-Up and Hair Styling:

Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians Of The Galaxy

All three choices would be well deserving.  And while I would choose Guardians Of The Galaxy amongst the three in this category; I think the Oscar will go to The Grand Budapest Hotel, due in large part to its usage in a non action film where the visual is as important as the human touch. 

Best 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

Interstellar should by all means win this award, and I think it just might.  None the less, I was impressed with Guardians Of The Galaxy in its character effects becoming as lifelike as could be.  Yet, Interstellar blew all others out of the water.

Best Film Editing:

American Sniper
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Whiplash

The amount of editing Sandra Adair had done in assembling Boyhood would be tasking for an amateur.  To assemble 12 years of filmmaking into a smooth transition over time without being obvious in the approach is astounding.  Boyhood will deservedly win Best Film Editing.

These are the categories that are more on the specialized and technical side of filmmaking.  There are still another more individualized 15 categories that people are now and will still be talking about long after the award ceremony takes place. I will have more on the leading awards to be given out in a short time. 

One other thing that is off the subject.  A baseball player should not be apologizing for entertaining us.  We should be apologizing to a baseball player for asking for much and giving little to nothing in return.  We ask for our wants in the world of sports, and yet never see the side of those doing the dirty work for us.  Are we not entertained? 

Talk to you again,

Robert