Usually in the weeks leading up to the Oscar nominations, a pattern from other awards shows begins to develop and we kind of have a clue of who will ultimately be nominated for Hollywood's top prize. This year is a bit different because so many of the categories are wide open with numerous strong contenders. This morning, Star Wars director JJ Abrams and last year's Best Director winner Alfonso Cuaron announced the first 12 categories live while Chris Pine and Academy President Cheryl Boone Pine followed with the next 12 categories.
When all was said and done, Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel are leading the nominations with nine each. There are also a few surprises in there. Jennifer Aniston has been acknowledged with a few best actress nominations for Cake, but she was not on the Academy's radar and neither was perennial favorite Amy Adams. Also missing was a nod for Angelina Jolie's directing in Unbroken.
Check out a rundown of some of the major categories and tell us your thoughts!
Best Motion Picture of the Year
American Sniper: Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan, producers
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance): Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher and James W. Skotchdopole, producers
Boyhood: Richard Linklater and Cathleen Sutherland, producers
The Grand Budapest Hotel: Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson, producers
The Imitation Game: Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky and Teddy Schwarzman, producers
Selma: Christian Colson, Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, producers
The Theory of Everything: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce and Anthony McCarten, producers
Whiplash: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook and David Lancaster, producers
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Steve Carell in Foxcatcher
Bradley Cooper in American Sniper
Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game
Michael Keaton in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Robert Duvall in The Judge
Ethan Hawke in Boyhood
Edward Norton in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Mark Ruffalo in Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons in Whiplash
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Marion Cotillard in Two Days, One Night
Felicity Jones in The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore in Still Alice
Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon in Wild
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Patricia Arquette in Boyhood
Laura Dern in Wild
Keira Knightley in The Imitation Game
Emma Stone in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Meryl Streep in Into the Woods
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Big Hero 6: Don Hall, Chris Williams and Roy Conli
The Boxtrolls: Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable and Travis Knight
How to Train Your Dragon 2: Dean DeBlois and Bonnie Arnold
Song of the Sea: Tomm Moore and Paul Young
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya: Isao Takahata and Yoshiaki Nishimura
Achievement in Directing
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Boyhood, Richard Linklater
Foxcatcher, Bennett Miller
The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson
The Imitation Game, Morten Tyldum
Achievement in Film Editing
American Sniper, Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach
Boyhood, Sandra Adair
The Grand Budapest Hotel, Barney Pilling
The Imitation Game, William Goldenberg
Whiplash, Tom Cross
Who do you think is missing from this list? Who should and will win? Tell us in the comments section below.
