And the Oscar goes to

As awards season continues, critics and experts continue to stir the Oscar race with two films leading the way – ‘Birdman’ and ‘Boyhood.’

 

BEST PICTURE

‘Boyhood’ won the New York Online Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics  and the Boston Society of Film Critics. Including its New York Film Critics, the 12-year epic now leads the Oscar race with five Best Picture victories. The movie is clearly becoming the big critics’ darling.

However, not everyone agrees as the Boston Online Film Critics shook up the race and gave “Snow piercer” the Best Picture of the year. The win was by far one of the most interesting choices of the year as the film hasn’t generated enough Oscar traction, and it might not even carry over.

“Birdman” may not have won any Best Pictures, but it certainly collected up awards in many categories and continued to show up on many top ten lists. While it may have only won the Gotham up to this point, it is certainly still a major threat and one that has already proven it can defeat “Boyhood.”

‘The Imitation Game’ most importantly lost the British Independent Film Awards to Pride.

“While the BIFA is not the best predictor of the Oscars, a loss there means the film is not being embraced by British audiences. Last year, “Philomena” lost the award before going to the Academy Awards. “The King’s Speech” and “Slumdog Millionaire” triumphed at The BIFA awards and later went on to win Best Pictures at the Oscars. “The Imitation Game” has also lacked support from the critics and hasn’t really shown up on top 10 lists to this point. 

‘The Theory of Everything’ and ‘Selma’ have not really generated the attention most experts thought.

BEST DIRECTOR

The Best Director will most likely see Richard Linklater take home the award at the Oscars. To date, his work for ‘Boyhood’ has already been awarded by the LA Film Critics, the Boston Film Critics, the New York Online Film Critics and New York Film Critics.

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu could still have a chance, but “Birdman” needs to win more Best Picture awards to triumph in this category. 

BEST ACTOR

The Best Actor race seems to get even more wide open. While Michael Keaton added another victory with Boston Film Critics, he failed to win any other award. To date, he has won three awards and leads the male race. 

Tom Hardy surprised at the LA Film Critics and won the Best Actor award for his work on ‘Locke,’ and Brendan Gleeson was awarded at the Boston Online Film Critics for his stellar performance in ‘Calvary.’

Eddie Redmayne also joined the race as he took home his first statue for his performance in ‘The Theory of Everything’ at the New York Online Film Critics. 

Keaton and Redmayne are expected to get through at the Academy Awards, but Hardy and Gleeson are unlikely as they have not gotten the sufficient press. However, if they continue to win with the critics, Gleeson and Hardy could surprise. 

BEST ACTRESS

The Best Actress race continued to be messy as well.

While it seems it is expected that Julianne Moore will win the Best Actress award at the Oscars, critics have not responded well to her work, as she failed to win a single award over the weekend. Instead, Marion Cotillard picked up another three awards for her turn in ‘Two Day One Night.’

The Boston Film Critics, the Boston Online Film Critics and the New York Online Film Critics all agreed that she was the Best Actress of the Year. For an actress whose been called a dark horse in the race, it seems critics are embracing her work, and Cotillard could easily breakthrough in the actress category. 

Patricia Arquette won the Best Actress award at the LA Film Critics. While she is technically a supporting role, this promises well for her, as she is clearly the front runner in the Best Supporting Actress race.

The weekend once again failed to award Reese Witherspoon for her work in ‘Wild’ and also weakened Felicity Jones and Rosamund Pike’s chances at winning the Best Actress category. 

BEST FOREIGN FILM 

The Best Foreign Film category seems to be another wide open race. While ‘Two Days One Night’ won with both Boston groups and the New York Online Film Critics, ‘Ida’ scored a victory at the LA Film Critics. Both films are representing their countries at the Academy Awards, but it is hard to predict awards based on critics as the Academy always knows how to surprise when it comes to the foreign film race.

With multiple critics already having released their opinions, it seems this awards season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable and one of the most exciting in years.