Such is the prediction of David Schwartz, moderator and host of the Westchester Film Club and a visiting professor at Purchase College who predicts the Best Director nod will go to either Richard Linklater or Alejandro González as a result.
"The Academcy tends to like films about show business so that could be an advantage for 'Birdman,'" he said. "Though 'Boyhood' is a really special, one-of-a-kind experiment in filmmaking."
He also predicts Julianne Moore for Best Actress in "Still Alice," and either Eddie Redmayne for "The Theory of Everything" or Michael Keaton for "Birdman" as Best Actor.
As the chief curator for the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, Schwartz is also interested in the smaller categories such as cinematography, sound and visual effects.
"Honestly, the awards season starts in September so there's already been so much speculation, it's hard to come up with something fresh," he said.
"There are, however, always surprises," he added. "So you never know."
The best advice? Stay tuned. The Academy Awards will air Sunday on ABC beginning at 7 p.m.
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