My Oscar predictions

Tomorrow is the big day!  The Academy Award nominations announcement will begin at 7:30 CT with the tech-y noms first, and then approximately eight minutes later the big ones will be revealed.  I've decided to list my predictions for the acting nominations with those I feel most likely to be nominated listed first.  Some of the categories, particularly Best Actor, are going to be tough.  Here we go!

Best Actor in a Leading Role
1. Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)
2. Michael Keaton (Birdman)
3. Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game)
4. David Oyelowo (Selma)
5. Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler)

*Bradley Cooper (America Sniper)
*Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
*Steve Carell (Foxcatcher)

I'm really only confident in the first three.  Honestly, any of the alternates wouldn't surprise me, but I would love to see Steve Carell recognized.

Best Actress in a Leading Role
1. Julianne Moore (Still Alice)
2. Reese Witherspoon (Wild)
3. Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl)
4. Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything)
5. Amy Adams (Big Eyes)

*Jennifer Aniston (Cake)

My hope is that Aniston replaces either Adams or Jones.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
1, J.K. Simmons (Whiplash)
2. Edward Norton (Birdman)
3. Ethan Hawke (Boyhood)
4. Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher)
5. Robert Duvall (The Judge)

*Tom Wilkinson (Selma)

Simmons is taking this so everyone else is basically going to be an also-ran anyway.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
1. Patricia Arquette (Boyhood)
2. Emma Stone (Birdman)
3. Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game)
4. Meryl Streep (Into the Woods)
5. Renee Russo (Nightcrawler)

*Jessica Chastain (A Most Violent Year)

Again, I'm confident in the top three, and I do think Meryl will get in, but she's not locked.  I wouldn't mind if Chastain made it in, but I just have a feeling the Academy likes Nightcrawler, Russo would be a first time nominee and she did just get a BAFTA nod last week.  A surprise nom for Carmen Ejogo in Selma, Laura Dern in Wild or even Tilda Swinton in Snowpiercer would not be completely out of  left field.  Do I even dare bring up Naomi Watts in St. Vincent?.  This and Best Actor will be the most fun categories to watch.

The live telecast can be streamed online here.