With the Oscars coming up in two weeks, I thought I’d take a break from TV and focus on movies and make my Oscar predictions. I’ve chosen only the categories I’m most familiar with for my picks.

Best Actor

Steve Carell, “Foxcatcher”

Bradley Cooper, “American Sniper”

Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Imitation Game”

Michael Keaton, “Birdman”

Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything” – Winner

Eddie Redmayne did a fantastic job of portraying Stephen Hawking. That role was so technically difficult that I don’t think anyone can beat him.

Best Actress

Marion Cotillard, “Two Days, One Night”

Felicity Jones, “The Theory of Everything”

Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”

Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl” – Winner

Reese Witherspoon, “Wild”

Rosamund Pike should win, but I think there’s a good chance that Julianne Moore will walk away with the trophy. Rosamund Pike certainly had me fooled in Gone Girl.

Best Supporting Actor

Robert Duvall, “The Judge”

Ethan Hawke, “Boyhood”

Edward Norton, “Birdman”

Mark Ruffalo, “Foxcatcher”

J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash” – Winner

J.K. Simmons has won for this role at every other awards show and he’ll win the Oscar. His performance in Whiplash was impressive.

Best Supporting Actress

Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood” – Winner

Meryl Streep, “Into the Woods”

Laura Dern, “Wild”

Keira Knightley, “The Imitation Game”

Emma Stone, “Birdman”

Like J.K. Simmons, Patricia Arquette has won at every other awards show. Over a 12-year period, she had to keep coming back to the same role and it was as if she never left that part.

Directing

Alejandro González Iñárritu, “Birdman”

Richard Linklater, “Boyhood” – Winner

Bennett Miller, “Foxcatcher”

Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”

Morten Tyldum, “The Imitation Game”

Richard Linklater will win because of the technical difficulty of making a movie over 12 years and making it flow.

Adapted Screenplay

“American Sniper”

“The Imitation Game”

“Inherent Vice”

“The Theory of Everything” – Winner

“Whiplash”

The screenplay perfectly captured the emotional ups and downs of Stephen Hawking’s life.

Original Screenplay

“Birdman”

“Boyhood” – Winner

“Foxcatcher”

“The Grand Budapest Hotel”

“Nightcrawler”

Writing a screenplay that spans 12 years, flows well, and tells a good story is extremely difficult. For these reasons, Boyhood wins.

Best Picture

“American Sniper”

“Birdman”

“Boyhood” – Winner

“The Grand Budapest Hotel”

“The Imitation Game”

“Selma”

“The Theory of Everything”

“Whiplash”

When I went to see Boyhood, I thought I was going to be bored. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the story and the technical difficulty in making it. However, my close second is The Grand Budapest Hotel. It is entertaining and I consider it a must see.

What are your picks?