2014 OSCAR PREDICTIONS AND FAVORITES

Here's who I think WILL win and who I think SHOULD win out of what was nominated for this year's Academy Awards:

BEST PICTURE
Will Win:  Birdman
Should Win:  Boyhood

BEST DIRECTOR
Will Win:  Richard Linklater
Should Win: Richard Linklater

BEST ACTOR
Will Win:  Eddie Redmayne
Should Win:  Michael Keaton

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Will Win:  J.K. Simmons
Should Win:  J.K. Simmons

BEST ACTRESS
Will Win:  Julianne Moore
Should Win:  Rosamund Pike
full disclosure: haven't seen the performances from Moore and Cotillard

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Will Win:  Patricia Arquette
Should Win:  Emma Stone
full disclosure: haven't seen Meryl Streep's performance

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Will Win:  The Grand Budapest Hotel
Should Win:  Boyhood

BEST ADAPATED SCREENPLAY
Will Win:  Whiplash
Should Win:  Inherent Vice

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Will Win:  Ida
Should Win: X
full disclosure: sadly, haven't seen any of the nominated films

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Will Win:  How to Train Your Dragon 2
Should Win: X
full disclosure: haven't see any of them. disgraceful that The Lego Movie isn't here

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Will Win:  Interstellar
Should Win:  Interstellar

BEST FILM EDITING
Will Win:  Boyhood
Should Win: Boyhood

BEST SOUND EDITING
Will Win: America Sniper
Should Win: Interstellar (though I'd be TOTALLY fine if Sniper takes it)

BEST SOUND MIXING
Will Win:  America Sniper
Should Win:  Interstellar (though I'd be TOTALLY fine if Sniper takes it)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Will Win:  The Grand Budapest Hotel
Should Win:  Interstellar
full disclosure: haven't seen Into the Woods or Mr. Turner

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Will Win:  Birdman
Should Win:  Birdman
full disclosure:  haven't seen Mr. Turner

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Will Win: The Theory of Everything
Should Win:  Interstellar
full disclosure: haven't seen Mr. Turner

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Will Win:  Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
Should Win:  Begin Again
full disclosure: haven't seen Beyond the Lights or Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Will Win:  The Grand Budapest Hotel
Should Win:  The Grand Budapest Hotel

BEST MAKE-UP
Will Win:  The Grand Budapest Hotel
Should Win:  Guardians of the Galaxy

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Will Win:  Citizenfour
Should Win:  X
full disclosure:  sadly, haven't seen any of the nominated efforts

BEST SHORT FILM ANIMATED (BLIND GUESS)
The Dam Keeper

BEST SHORT FILM LIVE ACTION (BLIND GUESS)
Parvaneh

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT (BLIND GUESS)
Joanna