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BroadwayWorld's Experts Pick Oscar Winners; featuring Randy Rainbow, Michael Paul Smith, More

By: Feb. 20, 2015
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Are you struggling to fill out the top categories in your office Oscar pool? Well, have no fear, BroadwayWorld is here to help. We have assembled a panel of experts to help narrow things down for you.

On our panel is the host of BroadwayWorld's "Chewing the Scenery," the very smart and very funny Randy Rainbow (@RandyRainbow). Randy is a writer, actor, comedian and Internet celebrity that can be seen on BWW, VH1, and many other places across the internet. Learn more about him at randyrainbow.com.

Next up is the writer, director, and star of BroadwayWorld's newest webseries partner THE RESIDUALS, Michael Paul Smith (@MPSmithnyc). THE RESIDUALS focuses on the bizarre world of commercial auditions and the second seasonwill debut this spring exclusively on BroadwayWorld.

Third is BroadwayWorld's Academy Award Insider, Courtney Henley (@CourtHenley). Courtney will be at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, and will have a behind the scenes look at the Oscars for BWW readers next week.

Finally is BroadwayWorld's Senior Movie Critic Matt Tamanini (@BWWMatt). Make sure to check out all of BroadwayWorld's Oscars Coverage before, during, and after the ceremony.

Best Supporting Actor
Nominees: Robert Duvall (THE JUDGE), Ethan Hawke (BOYHOOD), Edward Norton (BIRDMAN), Mark Ruffalo (FOXCATCHER), J.K. Simmons (WHIPLASH)

Randy Rainbow: "I'd be happy with Robert Duvall for THE JUDGE or J.K. Simmons for Whiplash. Both gave two of the best performances of the year, unfortunately in two of the most underrated films."

Michael Paul Smith: "Edward Norton- Birdman: This role was almost certainly tailor-made for Norton, and he approaches it with fearless comedic choices that usually don't get enough respect by the Oscars. I hope that isn't the case this year."

Courtney Henley: "J.K. Simmons - If you haven't seen Whiplash, get your butt to a movie theater right now and fix that. He's incredible, Miles Teller is incredible, and the movie is incredible (The film itself, for the record, would be my pick after BIRDMAN if I was the one deciding the Oscar winners)."

Matt Tamanini: "I have significant issues with the message that WHIPLASH seems to be trying to teach, but J.K. Simmons gives an incredibly terrifying performance. Not only do I think that he should win, I think he will. Besides, have you heard him sing?"

Best Supporting Actress
Nominees: Patricia Arquette (BOYHOOD), Laura Dern (WILD), Keira Knightly (THE IMITATION GAME), Emma Stone (BIRDMAN), Meryl Streep (INTO THE WOODS)

Randy Rainbow: "JOANNA GLEASON! (Now I'm just writing in my own actresses.) All arrows point to Patricia Arquette. I enjoy her, but again, if anyone can tell me what she did in this movie that's deserving of all the awards she's been getting, I'll buy them lunch."

Michael Paul Smith: "Laura Dern- Wild: She may be a bit of a dark horse candidate, but I loved Laura Dern's profound example of strength through optimism in this role. It is just about perfect."

Courtney Henley: "Patricia Arquette - Sorry, Meryl (and Keira and Laura and Emma...), I think Patricia Arquette's taking this one home. She's won the at all of the other award shows for this role, so why stop now?"

Matt Tamanini: "To me what Meryl Streep and Emma Stone did is what Supporting Actors and Actresses should do. In limited screentime, they should make you wish that there was an entire other movie specifically about their characters. So, while I would like to see Emma win, we all know that Patricia Arquette (the least crazy of the Crazy Arquette Clan) is the odds on favorite to take home the trophy, simply for getting older over the past 12 years."

Best Director
Nominees: Wes Anderson (THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL), Alejandro G. Iñárritu (BIRDMAN), Richard Linklater (BOYHOOD), Bennett Miller (FOXCATCHER), Morten Tyldum (THE IMITATION GAME)

Randy Rainbow: "Alejandro González Iñárritu. BIRDMAN wasn't my favorite film of the year, but stylistically I loved it and appreciate his artistic achievement."

Michael Paul Smith: "Alejandro G. Iñárritu- Birdman: Well, he directed my pick for best picture for one thing! His ambitious follow-through in sticking with the style of using as few cuts as possible was perfect for the story, and hopefully will challenge us "creative types" to keep looking for the road less traveled."

Courtney Henley: "Richard Linklater - Again, I'd personally go with my boy Alejandro on this one, but odds are, if BOYHOOD wins, so will Linklater. That being said, I'm still holding out hope for a BIRDMAN come-from-behind surprise!"

Matt Tamanini: "While you can probably tell that I didn't love BOYHOOD, I do admire Linklater's ambition and vision; I think that what he undertook was incredibly risky, and, for the most part, it was successful. However, It was a gimmick, and a pretty simple one at that. What Iñárritu created was nothing short of stunning. The unbelievable visual cohesion in BIRDMAN was remarkable. Every frame of that film is the cinematic equivalent of a seven-layer cake. You think you know what you've got until you notice a completely new nuance that you had no idea was there before. He should obviously win, but I'm worried Linklater will win with the sentimental vote."

Best Actress
Nominees: Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night), Felicity Jones (THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING), Julianne Moore (STILL ALICE), Rosamund Pike (GONE GIRL), Reese Witherspoon (WILD)

Randy Rainbow: "Julianne Moore. She was stunning and heartbreaking in Still Alice. Having said that, I'll also add that Jennifer Aniston was robbed of a nomination for her performance in CAKE which I believe was an equal acting triumph. And I'm not just saying that because we both moisturize with Aveeno Positively Radiant."

Michael Paul Smith: "Julianne Moore- Still Alice: Julianne Moore reminded me once again why she is one of the most versatile actors alive. She was mesmerizing in this film: getting me in touch with emotions that I'd much rather suppress. That's why I do comedy."

Courtney Henley: "Julianne Moore - Regardless of the fact that STILL ALICE got mixed reviews and only ever achieved a very limited theatrical release, Moore's performance is nonetheless award-worthy. She's really the only nominee that could've beat out Reese Witherspoon this year."

Matt Tamanini: "I would really like to say Rosamund Pike will win. She gave a jaw-droppingly chilling performance in a film that deserved much better from the Academy than it got (no Gillian Flynn nomination?). However, Julianne Moore has been nominated four times without a win, and it just feels like everyone thinks that it is her turn."

Best Actor
Nominees: Steve Carrell (FOXCATCHER), Bradley Cooper (AMERICAN SNIPER), Benedict Cumberbatch (THE IMITATION GAME), Michael Keaton (BIRDMAN), Eddie Redmayne (THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING)

Randy Rainbow: "Michael Keaton or Eddie Redmayne. Again, I didn't flip for BIRDMAN like many did, but I found myself compelled to rewind some of Michael Keaton's monologues over and over again because I think he's that good. Redmayne, on the other hand, has the more "Oscar-y" role, historically speaking."

Michael Paul Smith: "Michael Keaton- Birdman: Keaton shoulders the burden of carrying this fantastic story. He is complicated, tortured, and strange; with a decent portion of "Rudy" sprinkled on for good measure."

Courtney Henley: "Eddie Redmayne - This is by far the hardest category. Every single actor nominated could deservedly take home a trophy for this. Sadly, though, there can be only one, and my spinny wheel landed on him."

Matt Tamanini: "I would be very happy if Eddie Redmayne won. He seems like a really sweet, down-to-Earth guy, and he's a Tony winner. It's always nice when a theatre star gets a Hollywood award, rather than the other way around, but come on. This has to be Keaton's, right? I mean, I'm assuming the Oscar voters watched BIRDMAN, and if they did, there is no logical way that anyone but Birdman Michael Keaton could take home this trophy."

Best Picture
Nominees: AMERICAN SNIPER, BIRDMAN, BOYHOOD, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, THE IMITATION GAME, SELMA, THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, WHIPLASH

Randy Rainbow: "INTO THE WOODS! Just kidding, but I wish... (more than anything.) I have a strong feeling it will be Boyhood. It seems to be the most popular girl in school this awards season, but I believe it's the emperor's new clothes. I understand it's a "mediation on time" but I like stuff to happen in movies. I slept through about 4 years of it."

Michael Paul Smith: "Birdman: I love this film, and I know that I will love it more and more with each viewing. It might be the most earnest attempt to represent the world of theatre on the big screen: both in subject and style. The humor is infectious."

Courtney Henley: "Boyhood - This one makes me sad. If I were choosing the winners, I'd go with BIRDMAN (Seriously, have you seen Birdman? It's incredible.), but judging by how the other major award ceremonies went, I think BOYHOOD will take home the biggest award of the night."

Matt Tamanini: "I feel like I'm beating a dead horse with this one, but out of the eight nominees, there are only two or three that are actually deserving of being considered a Best Picture; unfortunately one of those is not BOYHOOD. It has the clever little gimmick, but really, that's all it has. True, I don't have children, so perhaps the emotional journey of watching a boy grow into a man didn't move me like it did others, but to be a Best Picture, there has to be something more than that. BOYHOOD has no story, it had nothing revolutionary, it had no revelatory performances; it had a boy growing up from age six to 18; that's it.

BIRDMAN, on the other hand, had incredible direction, searing performances, and a story that stuck with you long after you left the theater. Without a doubt, BIRDMAN is the Best Picture in this category, and I have faith in the Academy voters that they will do the right thing."

Don't forget, BroadwayWorld has you covered with our own special brand of Oscars Coverage. We have profiles of your favorite nominees, including looks into their theatrical pasts. On Sunday night we will have news, videos, live recaps, commentary, and a special look at the Academy Awards' Broadway connections, so make BWW your online Oscars home.




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