Best Picture Rankings 2015

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 3:37pm

Finally watched all the Best Picture nominees and this is my ranking of them (which has nothing to do with Oscar predictions):

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

With all the fuss over Selma, I was surprised how underwhelming and forgettable I found it. The facts are fascinating, but the screenplay, direction and performances were pretty bland and generic outside a couple of effective moments. The plot was terribly unfocused (all that stuff about his philandering seemed like a desperate last-minute attempt to add contrast to King's character "See? Even he has flaws like the rest of us!"). While watching it, I couldn't quite put my finger on what was wrong until the end when they showed the archival footage. For me, it was the only part of the movie with any real impact and I knew what was wrong. It should have been a documentary.

[Fantod]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 3:44pm

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

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 3:51pm

I'm seeing the last three on Saturday, so I'll come back and amend this, but so far:

1. Birdman
2. Whiplash
3. Selma
4. Boyhood
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel

But those first three are so close in quality for me that the ranking is practically arbitrary. I might rank them differently tomorrow.

[broadway86]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 3:52pm

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

[madbrian]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 3:59pm

Selma
Boyhood
Whiplash
Imitation Game
Birdman
Grand Budapest
Theory of Everything
American Sniper (didn't see)

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 4:00pm

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

Haven't seen Whiplash. I really loved the first three on my list. Really disliked The Theory of Everything and pretty much hated Boyhood and loathed American Sniper.
If I got to cast a vote I would write in The Lego Movie for Best Picture.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 4:00pm

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

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 4:08pm

Thanks for that list, broadway guy!

[dave1606]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 10:44am

It is rare for a crop oscar films that I have loved this much.

1. Boyhood
2. Birdman
3. Selma
4. Whiplash
5. Grand Budapest Hotel
6. Imitation Game
7. Theory of Everything
8. American SniperD
1-3 all could be #1 candidates in for me in Any year. But I also LOVED Whiplash, Budapest, and liked Imitation game. Theory of everything had two good performances, but not much else, and even American Sniper while overly simplistic, had the best performance I've ever seen Bradley Cooper give.


I think it was an extremely good year for film.

[JP2]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 10:52am

1. Birdman
2. Whiplash
3. Selma
4. The Imitation Game
5. The Theory of Everything
7. Boyhood

[The Josh]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 11:44pm

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

And for the first time in a while, I actually enjoyed all of them!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 11:52pm

1. Boyhood
2. Boyhood
3. Boyhood
4. Boyhood
5. Boyhood
6. Boyhood
7. Boyhood
8. The Theory of Everything

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 11:59pm

Best Actress was Jenny Slate in Obvious Child.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/21/15 at 12:19am

That's next up on my Netflix queue!

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 2/21/15 at 12:30am

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

Personally, I think that Gone Girl, Wild, and Into The Woods should be on there instead of Selma (which dragged in parts so much that it outweighed the more powerful moments) and American Sniper (which was a good war drama, but nowhere near the caliber of the Academy awards except for Cooper's performance).

I think Boyhood was good, but I feel like it is comparable to The Artist. A good film, not fantastic, but good and relies on a gimmick to draw in the audience (black and white and silent/12 years to film). I also think I had way too high of expectations, but I thought Ethan Hawke was fantastic. Meanwhile, Whiplash was a thrilling surprise and Birdman exceed my high expectations. Theory of Everything was a strong film that backed strong performances (unlike a great Julianne Moore in a so-so Still Alice). Grand Budapest Hotel was delightful. The Imitation Game was a little overwrought and has everything a prestige pic needs (World War II, Soviets, Nazis, homosexuals, an Alexandre Desplat score, British actors) but was still pretty fantastic.

Updated On: 2/21/15 at 12:30 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/21/15 at 12:32am

Best Actress Jenny Slate Obvious Child
Best Actor Bill Hader Skeleton Twins
Best Supporting Actress Gaby Hoffman Obvious Child
Best Supporting Actor Gabe Liebman Obvious Child
Best Picture Selma
Other Best Picture Boyhood
Other Best Picture Obvious Child
Runner Up Best Picture Skeleton Twins
Best Song Who gives a **** it's just some **** over the closing credits
Best Musical Stephen Sondheim James Lapine
Best First 2/3 of an Animated Feature Big Hero 6

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/21/15 at 12:33am

Seriously, it was the best picture of the year.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/21/15 at 12:33am

Best Documentary CITIZEN FOUR

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 2/21/15 at 12:50am

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

I just found Whiplash very entertaining, and I loved the performances of the two leads.

I wasn't a fan of Birdman. I just didn't find it that interesting. I thought Michael Keaton was ok. And quite honestly, I hated the ending. It's very stylized and the camera work was fantastic, but I wasn't that involved in the actual story.

The Grand Budapest Hotel started out very strong, but then got overly silly toward the end so for me it moved way down the list.

Personally, I thought this year was pretty strong, all and all. However, there are no movies on that list that scream, "Oscar winner" to me. Perhaps the closest is Selma, but for reasons only the Academy membership knows, it wasn't nominated in deserving categories. So, it won't win the big award (with it's two measly nominations). I guess it's between Birdman and Boyhood.