The 87th Academy Awards ceremony provided little drama this year as the winners mostly followed the script of the guilds. Host Neil Patrick Harris [NPHAR] provided some light-hearted comedy while Common and John Legend stole the show with their powerful rendition of "Glory", their Oscar-winning original song from Selma. HSX offered traders AwardOptions of nominees in the top 8 categories and the HSX collective wisdom correctly predicted the winners in 7 of them.
Best Picture
Fox Searchlight triumphed with Birdman [A5PBRD], a foregone conclusion after the film won Best Director, Original Screenplay and Cinematography. A win at the Independent Spirit Award on Saturday helped convinced HSX traders to push Birdman ahead of Boyhood.
Best Director
Unlike the Independent Spirit Awards, Best Director did not split from Best Picture in favor of Richard Linklater for Boyhood. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu was honored for Birdman [A5DAGI] in the only category missed by HSX.
Best Actor
Eddie Redmayne emerged victorious for The Theory of Everything [A5AERE], after also edging out Michael Keaton on HSX Sunday morning.
Best Actress
Julianne Moore finally won an Oscar for Still Alice [A5CJMO] on her fifth nomination, which was forecasted by HSX.
Best Supporting Actor
HSX predicted J.K. Simmons would take home the first award of the night for Whiplash [A5RJKS], one of three Oscars for the small drama directed by Damien Chazelle.
Best Supporting Actress
HSX also pegged Patricia Arquette for Boyhood [A5SPAR], the only Oscar for the IFC release out of six nominations.
Adapted Screenplay
The Imitation Game [A5ETIG] secured its sole Oscar in this category, proving the HSX community was presicent to switch their choice from The Theory of Everything.
Original Screenplay
As perdicted by HSX, Birdman [A5OBRD] beat out The Grand Budapest Hotel, which tied both films with 4 Oscars on the night.
Tag(s): NPHAR, A5PBRD, A5DAGI, A5AERE, A5CJMO, A5RJKS, A5SPAR, A5ETIG, A5OBRD