Having fallen behind on the Oscar Challenge, today will be my last ditch effort to see all the films I have yet to see. There are also two films as of today that I cannot find; “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me” and “The Salt Of The Earth”. There’s still a dead heat between “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” and “Boyhood”, Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Richard Linklater, so I’m predicting yet another split between Best Picture and Best Director. But even if Iñárritu wins Best Director, I will be extremely happy. People are also predicting a dead heat between Eddie Redmayne and Michael Keaton for Best Actor In A Leading Role, which I could easily see going to Redmayne, but I’m still pulling for Keaton. Ideally, I’m hoping for a few wins for “Whiplash” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel”. Also, anything “American Sniper” wins will make me extremely happy. As always, these predictions are a mixture of educated guessing and wishful thinking, but any surprises are always welcome:

Best Picture

“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)“

Runner-Up: “Boyhood”

Best Directing

Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”

Runner-Up: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”

Best Actor In A Leading Role

Michael Keaton, “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)“

Runners-Up: Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory Of Everything”

Best Actress In A Leading Role

Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”

Runner-Up: Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”

Best Actor In A Supporting Role

J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”

Runner-Up: Edward Norton, “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)“

Best Actress In A Supporting Role

Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”

Runner-Up: Emma Stone, “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”

Best Animated Feature

“How To Train Your Dragon 2”

Runner-Up: “Big Hero 6”

Best Cinematography

“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance),” Emmanuel Lubeszki

Runner-Up: “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Robert Yeoman

Best Costume Design

“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Milena Canonero

Runner-Up: “Maleficent,” Anna B. Sheppard and Jane Clive

Best Documentary Feature

“CitizenFour”

Runner-Up: “Last Days In Vietnam”

Best Documentary Short

“Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1”

Runner-Up: “Joanna”

Best Film Editing

“Whiplash,” Tom Cross

Runner-Up: “Boyhood,” Sandra Adair

Best Foreign Language Feature

“Ida”, Poland

Runners-Up: “Leviathan”, Russia

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

“The Grand Budapest Hotel”

Runner-Up: “Guardians Of The Galaxy”

Best Music (Original Score)

“The Theory Of Everything,” Jóhann Jóhannsson

Runner-Up: “Interstellar,” Hans Zimmer

Best Music (Original Song)

“Glory” from “Selma”

Runner-Up: “Everything Is Awesome” from “The LEGO Movie”

Best Production Design

“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Adam Stockhausen & Anna Pinnock

Runner-Up: “Into The Woods,” Dennis Gassner & Anna Pinnock

Best Short Film – Animated

“Feast”

Runner-Up: “The Dam Keeper”

Best Short Film – Live Action

“Boogaloo And Graham”

Runner-Up: “The Phone Call”

Best Sound Editing

“American Sniper”

Runner-Up: “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”

Best Sound Mixing

“American Sniper”

Runner-Up: “Whiplash”

Best Visual Effects

“Interstellar”

Runner-Up: “Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes”

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“Whiplash,” Damien Chazelle

Runner-Up: “The Imitation Game,” Graham Moore

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

“Birdman,” Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., Armando Bo

Runner-Up: “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness