The Gay Super Bowl, aka the Oscars, air Sunday, and this is one of the tightest races in many years. Here’s my rundown of who you’ll likely see on the podium … and who deserves to be.
Picture: Who will/should win: Birdman, pictured … though Boyhood is giving it a run for its money.
Director: Who will/should win: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Birdman.
Actor: Who will win: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything. Who should win: Michael Keaton, Birdman.
Actress: Who will/should win: Julianne Moore, Still Alice. A slam-dunk.
Supporting Actor: Who will/should win: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash.
Supporting Actress: Who will win: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood. Who should win: Emma Stone, Birdman.
Original Screenplay: Who will/should win: Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel. Finally.
Adapted Screenplay: Who will/should win: Graham Moore, The Imitation Game:
Cinematography: Who will/should win: Birdman. Possible spoiler: Mr. Turner.
Film Editing: Who will/should win: Boyhood.
Production Design: Who will/should win: The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Costume Design: Who will win: The Grand Budapest Hotel. Who should win: Into the Woods.
Score: Who will win: The Theory of Everything. Who should win: The Imitation Game.
Song: Who will/should win: “Glory,” from Selma.
Sound Mixing: Who will win: Birdman. Who should win: Whiplash.
Sound Editing: Who will/should win: American Sniper.
Visual Effects: Who will win: Interstellar. Who should win: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Possible spoiler: Guardians of the Galaxy.
Makeup: Who will/should win: Guardians of the Galaxy.
Foreign Language Film: Who will win: Ida. Who should win: Wild Tales.
Animated Feature: Who will win: How to Train Your Dragon 2. Who should win: Big Hero 6.
Documentary Feature: Who will/should win: Citizenfour.
Live Action Short: Who will/should win: Aya.
Animated Short: Who will/should win: Feast.
Documentary Short: Who will/should win: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition February 20, 2015.