Expectations and Oscar talk

It's that time of the year again, a time I both love and get frustrated with and you may wonder what I'm talking about, well it's academy awards I'm referring to. Every year you get the nominations and if you're like me you agree with most but scratch your head at a few. I guess I have certain expectations when it comes to either the film being nominated or actor, actress nominated.
I just saw Into the Woods because I had to see if Meryl Streep deserved her nomination and it's what I thought, she gets nominated because of who she is and not because of how great her performance was.
I give the actors and actresses credit who do musicals because not only do they have to act but they have to be able to sing as well. It's a slap in the face to the other participants of the movie that only Meryl gets nominated because I think Emily Blunt and Anna Kendrick are equally as good if not better than Mrs. Streep.
Another nomination I don't agree with is Laura Dern in Wild, I get she's the catalyst for the character but her performance didn't add anything to the movie such as Renee Russo in Nightcrawler whose smarmy news director is a great performance that was overlooked.
Ethan Hawke is another one whom I've begun to think plays the same character, another wasted nomination that should have gone to Tom Wilkinson or Tim Roth in Selma, two great performances that shouldn't be missed. Unfortunately I have to include Robert Duvall in this as well because that nomination is all about his age and how he may never get another shot at an academy award nomination. 
The other night I was leaving work and I was asked if I had seen American Snipper yet and at the time I hadn't, so this individual commented that it was going to win the best picture Oscar because it was the best movie they had seen. Well I'm going to strongly disagree because it's a good movie but it is not the best picture of the year. If I got to pick, it would be Guardians of the Galaxy hands down but that is never going to happen. Now back to reality. If I had to pick with what's nominated, it'd be between Birdman and Imitation Game and I might lean towards Imitation Game, I can't say enough how good that movie was.
This brings me to Bradley Cooper's nomination and I know a lot of people will disagree but I'm only telling you what's true. No he doesn't deserve the nomination because I've seen better work from him, in fact last year in American Hustle or the year before with Silver Linings Playbook. Personally Jake Gyllenhaal is great in Nightcrawler and should have been nominated, it's not an easy character to watch but without that performance you don't have that movie. I'd even say Ralph Finnes in Grand Budapest Hotel but comedies never get their just desserts.
Julianne Moore is going to win the Oscar for Still Alice and it's a fine performance but it isn't the best of the year. Rosamund Pike's performance in Gone Girl is the one I'd pick, I mean wow I could choose some choice words for her character but she played that character well. Felicity Jones is the other one I'd pick instead of Julianne Moore, her character had so much depth to it. 
Well as it is every year I enjoy watching the Oscar telecast and some years have been better than others it's the one thing I look forward to. So until next time, keep watching movies because you know I will.