So Birdman defied the bookies and soared away with the top Oscars at last night’s 87th Annual Academy Awards rather than longtime favourite Boyhood, winning Best Film and Best Director for Alejandro G Iñárritu, as well as awards for Cinematography and Screenplay. But should we be so surprised that Hollywood plumped for the movie-insider’s story rather than the universal coming of age tale?
The acting awards didn’t contain any surprises, however, with Eddie Redmayne holding off the challenge from Michael Keaton to win Best Actor, Julianne Moore winning Best Actress, and J K Simmons and Patricia Arquette, as widely predicted, scooping the Supporting Acting gongs.
Here’s how the night went, with my ‘will win’ predictions first.
Best Film
Will win: Boyhood
Who did win: Birdman
Best Director
Will win: Alejandro G Iñárritu
Who did win: Alejandro G Iñárritu
Best Actor
Will win: Eddie Redmayne
Who did win: Eddie Redmayne
Best Actress
Will win: Julianne Moore
Who did win: Julianne Moore
Best Supporting Actor
Will win: J K Simmons
Who did win: J K Simmons
Best Supporting Actress
Will win: Patricia Arquette
Who did win: Patricia Arquette
And the other Oscars went to:
Original Screenplay
Will win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Who did win: Birdman
Adapted Screenplay
Will win: The Imitation Game
Who did win: The Imitation Game
Animation
Will win: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Who did win: Big Hero 6
Foreign Film
Will win: Ida
Who did win: Ida
Documentary
Will win: Citizenfour
Who did win: Citizenfour
Score
Will win: The Theory of Everything
Who did win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Original Song
Will win: ‘Glory’ (Selma)
Who did win: ‘Glory’ (Selma)
Cinematography
Will win: Birdman
Who did win: Birdman
Editing
Will win: Boyhood
Who did win: Whiplash
Production Design
Will win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Who did win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Costume
Will win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Who did win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Make-up
Will win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Who did win: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Visual Effects
Will win: Interstellar
Who did win: Interstellar
Sound Mixing
Will win: American Sniper
Who did win: Whiplash
Sound Editing
Will win: American Sniper
Who did win: American Sniper
Animated Short
Will win: Feast
Who did win: Feast
Documentary Short
Will win: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
Who did win: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
Live Short
Will win: The Phone Call
Who did win: The Phone Call
