The 87th Academy Award nominations earlier this month were not announced without criticism. The film “Selma,” which chronicled the 1965 march that Martin Luther King Jr. led from Montgomery to Selma, Alabama, brought in only two nominations, despite receiving box office success and outstanding critical reviews.

Despite the controversy that “Selma’s” race-centric plot was the reason for it’s less than anticipated amount of nominations, the biggest snub this year would arguably go to “The Lego Movie,” which was noticeably left out of the running for Animated Feature.

While some films may have been overlooked, let’s take a moment to look at the names that were nominated, and will hopefully take home the prize on Oscars night. Without further ado, here are three of my Academy Award predictions:

Best Picture: “Boyhood”

It’s easy to distinguish and appreciate a movie based on how different it is to anything you may have ever seen, and this movie was just that. Shot over the course of twelve years, this film followed a 6-year-old boy into adolescence and early adulthood, giving a glimpse into growing up with a struggling single mom, abuse, bullying, and more. While the plot of the movie wasn’t anything radical, the simple and realistic script gave the film a relatable touch. To top it off, the effect of seeing the main character grow twelve years in a couple hours was unlike anything ever successfully been done before. “Boyhood” relied not on big-budget special effects, but instead on dedication and simplicity, and a win would be deserved.

Best Actor: Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything”

While Benedict Cumberbatch seems to be getting the most buzz of the nominees for his role in “The Imitation Game,” Redmayne is definitely deserving of the win. Portraying the life of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, Redmayne not only had to play the role of a living person, but also show audiences the progression of the motor neuron disease ALS that the real-life Hawking battles. The actor spent time with Hawking’s family as well as others suffering from the disease to capture Hawking’s experience and condition as best he could. He succeeds. This extremely difficult and often uncomfortable performance is enthralling and unique, and Redmayne share’s the film’s story arguably better than the other contenders.

Best Actress: Rosamund Pike in “Gone Girl”

Pike played the role of a lifetime in “Gone Girl” this year, with a performance so stunning that it managed to land the only Oscar nomination this year for the blockbuster. “Gone Girl” was a big-budget, highly anticipated screenplay adapted from an already-popular book, the kind of characteristics that generally steer the Academy away. However, several of its feature components, most arguably Pike, brought buzz to the film. Pike’s depiction of her mysterious, questionably psychotic character not only drew moviegoers in, but satisfied fans of the book as well. This is the first Academy Award nomination for Pike.

The 87th Academy Awards will air on February 22nd on ABC.