MY FINAL AND OFFICIAL PREDICTIONS FOR THE 87TH ACADEMY AWARDS

Alright, folks!  I've done all of the research I can with my 2015 Awards Tracker.  I've read all of the tea leaves and broken down every race.  I've made my detailed picks in seven columns and editorials over the past week.  Here's my master list.  In the three years of writing these Oscar nominations and following the data on my website, my prediction score has improved every year.  Last year, I correctly guessed 20 of 24 awards up from 19 and 17 from the two years before.  I'm gunning for another 20+ night again.  

I've said it all along.  Stick with me and I will win you that Oscar pool at home or at work!  To my fellow Chicagoans, there's a Classic Cinemas raffle ticket with these picks on it under my name that is begging and hoping for that coveted one-year pass movie prize.  Last year, I won a pair for free tickets for being one of the raffled finalists. 

Beyond my home, there are bragging rights on the line against my fellow movie writer Louis Plamondon of The Sleepy Skunk, something that has been brewing on Facebook.  That man is going down, because I've got the winners right here.  In any case, enjoy Oscar night!  As they always say, it's "movies' biggest night."  It should be a great show!

BEST PICTURE:  "Boyhood"

BEST DIRECTOR:   Richard Linklater- "Boyhood"

BEST ACTOR:  Michael Keaton- "Birdman"

BEST ACTRESS:  Julianne Moore- "Still Alice"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:  J.K. Simmons- "Whiplash"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:  Patricia Arquette- "Boyhood"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:  Wes Anderson and Hugo Guinness- "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:  Graham Moore- "The Imitation Game"  

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:   "Ida"

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:  "How to Train Your Dragon 2"

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM:  "The Dam Keeper"

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:  "Citizenfour"

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT:  "Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1"

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM:  "The Phone Call"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:  Emanuel Lubezski- "Birdman"

BEST EDITING:  "Boyhood"

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:  "The Grand Budapest Hotel"  

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:  "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING:  "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:  "Interstellar"

BEST SOUND EDITING:  "American Sniper"

BEST SOUND MIXING:  "Whiplash"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:  Johann Johannson- "The Theory of Everything"

BEST ORIGINAL SONG:  "Glory" by John Legend and Common- "Selma"

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter throughout Oscar night as I will be updating the award results, my prediction results, and overall reaction and responses to the winners and losers all night.  On Monday, the day after the Academy Awards, just as I did last year, I will present a deep look into the crystal ball and set up for the potential Oscar contenders for next year's 88th Academy Awards in 2016.  Once one year ends, the next year already starts up.  Enjoy the night, everyone!