2015 Saturn Awards Predictions

So the nominations for this years Saturn Awards (the Oscars for nerds, essentially) have been announced, and as the local awards show buff, I'm going to run through the major categories and make some predictions. In the style of Indiewire, I'm going to say who will win, who could win, who should win, and who got snubbed. (I won't do the snubbed part for every category, only the ones that had particularly bad snubs.)

(NOTE: Blogger was being an ass and wouldn't let me add some of the other pictures. I'll try to get them in later.)
Film

Best Science Fiction Film
        

There's really no doubt of who the winner is here. Interstellar is the buzziest film of the bunch, and its also from Saturn-favorite Christopher Nolan. As long as it doesn't pull an Avatar and sweep every category, I'd be fine with it winning here, even if Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was the more critically favored film.

The Nominees:
*Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
*Edge of Tomorrow
*Godzilla
*The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1
*Interstellar
*The Zero Theorem

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Interstellar
*Could Win: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
*Should Win: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Best Fantasy Film

A solid set of nominees here, even with the confusing addition of the Grand Budapest Hotel. Ultimately, I think the Saturn Awards will either go the way of the Academy and give it to the daring and original Birdman or give the Hobbit a final send-off.

The Nominees:
*Birdman
*The Grand Budapest Hotel
*The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
*Into the Woods
*Maleficent
*Paddington

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Birdman.
*Could Win: The Hobbit.
*Should Win: Birdman.

Best Horror Film

Yeah, there's no way the Babadook isn't winning this one. Moving on.

The Nominees:
*Annabelle
*The Babadook
*Dracula Untold
*Horns
*Only Lovers Left Alive
*The Purge: Anarchy

The Predictions:
*Will Win: The Babadook.
*Could Win: Only Lovers Left Alive.
*Should Win: The Babadook.
*Should've Been Here: Tusk

Best Thriller Movie

Wouldn't American Sniper go under Action or Adventure instead of here? Hm. This is a really awesome set of nominees, with any of these films (except The Equalizer) standing a chance of winning. However, I feel as though the Saturns will give this to American Sniper, despite the lack of other nominations. While that would seem like a guaranteed loss, it didn't stop Saving Private Ryan from winning here back in '98. However, this is far from a sure thing, as I could see either the equally fantastic Nightcrawler or Gone Girl pulling a steal.

The Nominees: 

*American Sniper
*The Equalizer
*Gone Girl
*The Guest
*The Imitation Game
*Nightcrawler

The Predictions:
*Will Win: American Sniper.
*Could Win: Pretty much anyone's game, but if I had to pick, I'd say either Nightcrawler or Gone Girl.
*Should Win: Gone Girl.
*Should've Been Here: Foxcatcher.

Best Action or Adventure Film
         

Without John Wick or American Sniper, this is a rather meh category. Exodus, Lucy, Noah, and Unbroken received mixed reception and feel more like placeholders rather than actual competitors. Snowpiercer, the instant and beloved cult classic, more or less has this in the bag, though perhaps its a little bit of bias convincing me that the wonderfully bizarre Inherent Vice could pull an upset.

The Nominees:
*Exodus: Gods and Kings
*Inherent Vice
*Lucy
*Noah
*Snowpiercer
*Unbroken

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Snowpiercer.
*Could Win: Inherent Vice.
*Should Win: Inherent Vice. (Though anyone except Lucy would be great.)
*Should've Been Here: John Wick.

Best Animated Film

  

How the hell is The Wind Rises considered a 2014 film? Anyway, I think the Lego Movie, the most talked about and acclaimed of all these films, can take this. It's taken most of the other major "Best Animated" awards, and I don't see that changing here, though I wouldn't cut out the beloved How to Train Your Dragon 2 or Oscar-winning Big Hero 6. 

The Nominees:
*Big Hero 6
*The Boxtrolls
*How to Train Your Dragon 2
*The Lego Movie
*The Wind Rises

The Predictions:
*Will Win: The Lego Movie
*Could Win: Either Big Hero 6 or How To Train Your Dragon 2
*Should Win: How To Train Your Dragon 2
*Should've Been Here: The Book of Life.

Best Comic Book Film

It's kind of great that no matter what happens here, Marvel wins. But the question is which Marvel film will cease the trophy? Will the Saturns stick with the MCU, or will they venture to other non-Marvel produced films? Ultimately, I think this comes down between Guardians of the Galaxy and Cap 2, both great films, and I'm thinking the award will go to the more unconventional Guardians, though I wouldn't be surprised if Cap triumphs. 

The Nominees: 

*The Amazing Spider-Man 2
*Captain America: The Winter Soldier
*Guardians of the Galaxy
*X-Men: Days of Future Past

The Predictions:

*Will Win: Guardians of the Galaxy
*Could Win: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
*Should Win: Guardians of the Galaxy

Best Independent Film

Oh, come on! There's no rational excuse for why Grand Piano, a (admittedly good) movie that came out in 2013, is nominated as one of the best independent films of 2014. Did they just forget to nominate it last year, and are throwing it in now as an apology? I wouldn't make such an issue of it, but there were plenty of indie films that came out this year deserving as a nod. Anyway, I think Whiplash will win this. It, notably, has the most nominations out of these films, alongside being the actual best of the nominees. Seems like a shoo-in to me. 

The Nominees: 

*Grand Piano

*I Origins

*A Most Violent Year

*The One I Love

*The Two Faces of January

*Whiplash

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Whiplash
*Could Win: A Most Violent Year
*Should Win: Whiplash
*Should've Been Here: Boyhood

Best Director

This is one particular category that I've had difficulty deciding upon. Will the award (rightfully) go to Oscar-winner Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, or will the Saturns give it to 3-time nominee Christopher Nolan? I'm predicting that the underdog pulls ahead, but I could see just about anyone winning it. 

The Nominees:

*Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman
*James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy
*Doug Liman, Edge of Tomorrow
*Christopher Nolan, Interstellar
*Matt Reeves, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
*Joe and Anthony Russo, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
*Bryan Singer, X-Men: Days of Future Past

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman
*Could Win: Christopher Nolan, Interstellar
*Should Win: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman
*Should've Been Here: Damian Chazelle, Whiplash

Best Writing

After a shocking loss for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars, it appears that The Grand Budapest Hotel will regain it's footing here. Though it won't be an easy win, as it has to compete with fellow-frontrunner turned Oscar loser Whiplash and dark horse Guardians, which stands its best chance of winning here then it does in most of it's other categories.

The Nominees:
*Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
*Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth, and John-Henry Butterworth, Edge of Tomorrow
*Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
*James Gunn and Nicole Perlman, Guardians of the Galaxy
*Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson, Phillipa Boyens, and Guillermo Del Toro, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
*Damien Chazelle, Whiplash

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
*Could Win: Either Damien Chazelle, Whiplash or James Gunn and Nicole Perlman, Guardians of the Galaxy.
*Should Win: Damien Chazelle, Whiplash.
*Should've Been Here: Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl/Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler.

Best Music

Hans Zimmer's Interstellar score is the best known of the bunch, so I'll put money there, though I'll admit this a boring category with no really unorthodox competitors. 

The Nominees:
*Henry Jackman, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
*Michael Giacchino, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
*Alexander Desplat, Godzilla
*Howard Shore, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
*John Powell, How to Train Your Dragon 2
*Hans Zimmer, Interstellar

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Hans Zimmer, Interstellar
*Could Win: Pretty much anyone.
*Should Win: Hans Zimmer, Interstellar.
*Should've Been Here: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Gone Girl/Johnny Greenwood, Inherent Vice/Antonio Sanchez, Birdman/Mica Levi, Under The Skin.

Best Actor

        

Is this Michael Keaton's award to lose? All signs seem to point to it, as not only is he a past nominee, his performance is widely seen as the best out of any of these seven. However, should they decide to (wrongly) snub Keaton, I could see either Jake Gyllenhal's chilling turn as sociopathic ambulance chaser Lou Bloom or Chris Pratt's hilarious breakthrough as Star-Lord pulling a upset. Though, just like most categories, anyone of these awesome performances could win. 

The Nominees: 

*Tom Cruise, Edge of Tomorrow

*Chris Evans, Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

*Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler 

*Micheal Keaton, Birdman

*Matthew McConaughey, Interstellar

*Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy

*Dan Stevens, The Guest

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Michael Keaton, Birdman.
*Could Win: Either Jake Gyllenhaal or Chris Pratt.
*Should Win: Micheal Keaton, Birdman.
*Should've Been Here: Bradley Cooper, American Sniper

Best Actress

Another solid, if predictable, batch of nominees. I think this comes down to a match between the quiet subtlety of Essie Davis or the star power of Angelina Jolie, though anyone who knows me and my love of Gone Girl knows who I think the winner should be. 

The Nominees: 
*Emily Blunt, Edge of Tomorrow
*Essie Davis, The Babadook
*Anne Hathaway, Interstellar
*Angelina Jolie, Maleficent
*Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1
*Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Essie Davis, The Babadook
*Could Win: Angelina Jolie, Maleficent
*Should Win: Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl

*Should've Been Here: Scarlett Johansson, Under the Skin

Best Supporting Actor

This might be my favorite category of the whole show, with each of these actors capable of winning in a different year (especially Josh Brolin). However, it's a two-man race this year, with the race coming down between Saturn-darling Andy Serkis and Oscar/BAFTA/SAG/Golden Globe/Literally everything winner J.K Simmons. In this case, I don't think the awards love will enable J.K Simmons to win, as awards love doesn't always guarantee victory at the Saturns. (See: Bryan Cranston's 1 win out of 6 goddamn nominations.) My money's on Andy Serkis pulling ahead for his increasingly strong work on the Apes franchise, but I'd be happy if Simmons pulled an upset. (Or Brolin, for that matter.)

The Nominees:
*Richard Armitage, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
*Josh Brolin, Inherent Vice
*Samuel L. Jackson, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
*Anthony Mackie, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
*Andy Serkis, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
*J.K Simmons, Whiplash

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Andy Serkis, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
*Could Win: J.K Simmons, Whiplash
*Should Win: J.K Simmons, Whiplash
*Should've Been Here: Ethan Hawke, Boyhood/Edward Norton, Birdman

Best Supporting Actress

Of all of the acting categories Interstellar is aiming to win, this seems like the safest bet. Jessica Chastain earned a fair amount of praise for her role, and while she's up against tough competition, I feel as though she'll win here to make up for the film not winning in the major acting categories.The Nominees:
*Jessica Chastain, Interstellar
*Scarlett Johansson, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
*Evangline Lily, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
*Rene Russo, Nightcrawler
*Emma Stone, Birdman
*Meryl Streep, Into The Woods

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Jessica Chastain, Interstellar
*Could Win: Scarlett Johansson, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
*Should Win: Rene Russo, Nightcrawler/Emma Stone, Birdman
*Should've Been Here: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood/Katherine Waterson, Inherent Vice.

Best Performance by a Younger Actor

Another two-person race between two breakout performances in two frontrunners in their respective categories. This will be close, but I'm going with Mackenzie Foy's beloved performance in Interstellar, as several (*cough* YMS *cough*) have pointed out the flaws of Wiseman's acting in Babadook. 

The Nominees:
*Elle Fanning, Maleficent
*Mackenzie Foy, Interstellar
*Chloë Grace Moretz, The Equalizer
*Tony Revolori, The Grand Budapest Hotel
*Kodi Smit-McPhee, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
*Noah Wiseman, The Babadook

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Mackenize Foy, Interstellar
*Could Win: Noah Wiseman, The Babadook
*Should Win: Mackenzie Foy, Interstellar
*Should've Been Here: Ellar Coltrane, Boyhood

Television

Best Network Television Series

No doubt about it. Hannibal will easily triumph over it's competition, and probably sweep a few of these other awards. Moving on. 

The Nominees:
*The Blacklist
*The Following
*Grimm
*Hannibal
*Person of Interest
*Sleepy Hollow

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Hannibal.
*Could Win: The Blacklist (but not really).
*Should Win: Person of Interest.

Best Syndicated/Cable Series

All signs point to the Walking Dead, after an excellent 4th and 5th season, managing to pull a win here, though I wouldn't be surprised if American Horror Story finally managed to win after 4 years of snubs. 

The Nominees:
*12 Monkeys
*American Horror Story: Freak Show
*Continuum
*Falling Skies
*Salem
*The Strain
*The Walking Dead

The Predictions:
*Will Win: The Walking Dead.
*Could Win: American Horror Story: Freak Show.
*Should Win: The Strain.
*Should've Been Here: The Americans.

Best Limited Run Television Series

I'm very confused by the naming of this category. The name implies that this is for miniseries like Fargo or American Horror Story, but none of these shows are miniseries. Anyway, Game of Thrones has got this tied up in a neat little bow, with only new series Outlander standing a chance of stopping the juggernaut.

The Nominees: 

*Bates Motel

*From Dusk Til Dawn: The Series

*Game of Thrones

*The Last Ship

*The Librarians
*Outlander

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Game of Thrones.
*Could Win: Outlander.
*Should Win: Game of Thrones.
*Should've Been Here: Fargo.

Best Superhero Adaption Television Series

While these are all solid nominees (yes, even Gotham), the obvious winner is The Flash, the strongest out of any of the new shows, and the flashiest (pun intended) nominee overall, pushing it to victory over the grittier Arrow and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The Nominees:

*Agent Carter

*Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

*Arrow

*Constantine

*The Flash

*Gotham

The Predictions:
*Will Win: The Flash.
*Could Win: Agent's of S.H.I.E.L.D
*Should Win: Arrow. (Though The Flash is fine in my book.)

Best Actor on Television

With frontrunner Matthew McCounaughey snubbed, there doesn't appear to be a whole lot holding back last year's winner Mass Mikklesen, whose fantastic performance as Hannibal Lecter actually pulled an upset over Bryan Cranston last year. Of course, maybe the Saturns will mix it up and give it to Mikklesen's co-star Hugh Dancy, or even throw Andrew Lincoln a bone.

The Nominees:
*Hugh Dancy, Hannibal
*Grant Gustin, The Flash
*Andrew Lincoln, The Walking Dead
*Tobias Menzies, Outlander
*Mads Mikklesen, Hannibal
*Noah Wyle, Falling Skies

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Mads Mikklesen, Hannibal
*Could Win: Hugh Dancy, Hannibal/Andrew Lincoln, The Walking Dead
*Should Win: Grant Gustin, The Flash
*Should've Been Here: Matthew McConaughey, True Detective

Best Television Actress

The Nominees:
*Hayley Atwell, Agent Carter
*Catriona Balfe, Outlander
*Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel
*Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven
*Rachel Nichols, Continuum
*Rebecca Romijn, The Librarians

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Catriona Balfe, Outlander
*Could Win: Hayley Atwell, Agent Carter
*Should Win: Hayley Atwell, Agent Carter
*Should've Been Here: Keri Russell, The Americans

Best Supporting Television Actor

This is pretty much the only category where I actually don't have the foggiest idea who will win. These are 6 great, varied performances where just about anyone could pull a surprise. 

The Nominees:
*David Bradley, The Strain
*Laurence Fishburne, Hannibal
*Sam Heughan, Outlander
*Erik Knudsen, Contiuum
*Norman Reedus, The Walking Dead
*Richard Sammel, The Strain

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Norman Reedus, The Walking Dead
*Could Win: Laurence Fishburne, Hannibal
*Should Win: Richard Sammel, The Strain
*Should've Been Here: Manu Bennett, Arrow/Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Best Supporting Television Actress

Will last year's winner Mellisa McBride pull a double win? All signs point to it, as the show's 4th season has proven to be McBride's best work. However, Emilia Clarke continues to excel on Game of Thrones, meaning an upset could be in the works.

The Nominees:
*Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
*Jenna Coleman, Doctor Who
*Caroline Dhavernas, Hannibal
*Lexa Doig, Contiuum
*Emily Kinney, The Walking Dead
*Mellisa McBride, The Walking Dead

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Melissa McBride, The Walking Dead
*Could Win: Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
*Should Win: Melissa McBride, The Walking Dead
*Should've Been Here: Allison Tolman, Fargo

Best Guest Star on Television

In a category packed to the gills with great performances, I'm thinking that Hannibal's domination will continue here with Michael Pitt. Of course, the Walking Dead could be setting up a sweep of it's own, and this seems like the tipping point between the two.

The Nominees:
*Dominic Cooper, Agent Carter
*Neil Patrick Harris, American Horror Story: Freak Show
*John Larroquette, The Librarians
*Wentworth Miller, The Flash
*Michael Pitt, Hannibal
*Andrew J. West, The Walking Dead

The Predictions:
*Will Win: Micheal Pitt, Hannibal
*Could Win: Andrew J. West, The Walking Dead
*Should Win: Neil Patrick Harris, American Horror Story. (Though all of these nominees are fairly fantastic.)

*Should've Been Here: Jon Hamm, The Black Mirror: White Christmas

Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Television Series

With a set of phenomenal performances, I think I'd be pretty satisfied with whoever won. The winner in my book is Maisie Williams, who has proven herself as a fantastic member of the Game of Thrones ensemble (She held her own against freaking Charles Dance!), with only Chandler Riggs standing between her and an easy win. 

The Nominees: 

*Carmen Bicondova, Gotham

*Maxim Knight, Falling Skies

*Tyler Posey, Teen Wolf

*Chandler Riggs, The Walking Dead

*Holly Taylor, The Americans

*Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones

The Predictions:

*Will Win: Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones

*Could Win: Chandler Riggs, The Walking Dead

*Should Win: Either Maisie Williams or Holly Taylor, The Americans