Here are the nominees for Best Adapted Screenplay:

Jason Hall – American Sniper

Graham Moore – the Imitation Game

Paul Thomas Anderson – Inherent Vice

Anthony McCarten – the Theory of Everything

Damien Chazelle – Whiplash

Who Should Win: Another tough category where I can easily see the case for every nominee.  Based on the story being told, my gut says ‘the Imitation Game’.  Making ‘the father of computers’ interesting is no easy cinematic feat.

Who I’m Cheering For: P.T.A. just out of lifelong appreciation and fandom for his individuality.

Who Will Win: Not the first time you’ll hear me say, I won’t be surprised if American Sniper pulls this one out.  It’s (very obviously) a fan favorite.

Here are the nominees for Best Original Screenplay:

Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr & Armando Bo – Birdman

Richard Linklater – Boyhood

E. Max Frye & Dan Futterman – Foxcatcher

Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Dan Gilroy – Nightcrawler

Who Should Win: Wes Anderson had made many ‘Wes Anderson’ films before, Birdman (to its fault in this category) feels very ‘improv’ed’ at times, so in a vacuum I’d say Nightcrawler.

Who I’m Cheering For: The auteur in me is cheering for Wes.

Who Will Win: If Birdman runs through every category, it starts here.  But the wind seems to be blowing in Wes Anderson’s direction at the moment.