Imaginary Oscars

These are the movies of 2014 that would win and be nominated for Oscars if my wife and I were the Academy. Because it's more fun than predictions.

We've seen more than fifty eligible movies this year (50 from 2014, and a handful that I consider 2013 releases), but still, thanks to not living in a major metropolis, there are a lot of important movies we haven't seen. Some notable omissions include: Whiplash, Nightcrawler, Inherent Vice, Mr. Turner, Two Days One Night, Goodbye to Language, The Immigrant, The Babadook, A Most Violent Year, Still Alice, and American Sniper.

Best Visual Effects
runners-up:
- Birdman
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
- Edge of Tomorrow
- Guardians of the Galaxy
winner:
- Interstellar

Best Costume Design
runners-up:
- The Imitation Game
- Mockingjay Part 1
- Only Lovers Left Alive
winner:
- The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Production Design
runners-up:
- Foxcatcher
- Interstellar
- Only Lovers Left Alive
winner:
- The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Original Score
runners-up:
- Alexandre Desplat, Godzilla
- Alexandre Desplat, The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Hans Zimmer, Interstellar
winner:
- Mica Levi, Under the Skin

Best Song
runners-up:
- "Everything Is Awesome," The Lego Movie
- "I'll Get You What You Want," Muppets Most Wanted
winners (tie):
- "For the Dancing and the Dreaming," How to Train Your Dragon 2
- "Glory," Selma

Best Cinematography
runners-up:
- Daniel Landin, Under the Skin
- Fredrik Wenzel, Force Majeure
winners (tie):
- Ryszard Lenczewski & Lukasz Zal, Ida
- Robert D. Yeoman, The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Directing
runners-up:
- Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Ava DuVernay, Selma
- Richard Linklater, Boyhood
- John Michael McDonagh, Calvary
winner:
- Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher

Best Adapted Screenplay

runners-up:

- Darren Aronofsky & Ari Handel, Noah

- Walter Campbell & Jonathan Glazer, Under the Skin

- Lukas Moodysson, We Are the Best!

- Gillian Robespierre, Obvious Child

winner:

- Andrew Bovell, A Most Wanted Man

Best Original Screenplay
runners-up:
- Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Steven Knight, Locke
- Paul Webb, Selma
winner:
- John Michael McDonagh, Calvary

Best Supporting Actor
runners-up:
- Neil Patrick Harris, Gone Girl
- Stephan James, Selma
- Edward Norton, Birdman
- Chris O'Dowd, Calvary
winner:
- Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher

Best Supporting Actress
runners-up:
- Carmen Ejogo, Selma
- Emma Stone, Birdman
- Tilda Swinton, Snowpiercer
winner:
- Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

Best Lead Actor
runners-up:
- Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
- Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Brendan Gleeson, Calvary
- Tom Hardy, Locke
winner:
- David Oyelowo, Selma

Best Lead Actress
runners-up:
- Tilda Swinton, Only Lovers Left Alive
- Scarlett Johansson, Under the Skin
- Jennifer Lawrence, Mockingjay Part 1
winners (tie):
- Agata Trzebuchowski, Ida
- Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Best Picture
runners-up:
- Boyhood
- Foxcatcher
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Ida

- A Most Wanted Man
- Selma
winner:
- Calvary