My Oscar predictions

Tomorrow is the big day.  Meryl basically has no chance for a win but it'll still be fun watching the ceremony.  As usual, I'm providing my predictions of who will take the trophy in some of the top categories.  I'll probably fill out a full ballot tomorrow, but here are my guesses for picture, director and acting:

Best Picture
1. Boyhood
2. Birdman
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel
4. American Sniper
5. The Imitation Game
6. Whiplash
7. Selma
8. The Theory of Everything

Best Director
1. Richard Linklater (Boyhood)
2. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Birdman)
3. Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
4. Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game)
5. Bennett Miller (Foxcather)

Best Actress in a Leading Role
1. Julianne Moore (Still Alice)
2. Marion Cotillard (Two Days One Night)
3. Reese Witherspoon (Wild)
4. Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl)
5. Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything)

Best Actor in a Leading Role
1. Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)
2. Michael Keaton (Birdman)
3. Bradley Cooper (American Sniper)
4. Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game)
5. Steve Carell (Foxcatcher)

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

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)

I think Actress, Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor are slam dunks.  Picture, Director and Actor and complete toss-ups between the top two for me.  I wanted to pick Michael Keaton for the win but I realized I was only doing it so that the payoff of being right would be a little more sweet.  If I'm truly choosing who I think is the most likely winner, then the above list is accurate.

In honor of Meryl's performance in Into the Woods, I'll leave you with the fun fact that she has just been nominated for her first Nickelodean Kids' Choice Award for "Best Villain" in her role as the Witch. Also, her performance of "Last Midnight" was released on You Tube yesterday.  Happy Oscars.