Margaret And David Give Us Their Exclusive Picks For This Year’s Academy Awards

Aussie icons Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton might be gone from our screens, but they’re by no means forgotten. With Margaret set to have her own show on Foxtel and the duo curating the French Film Festival which tours Australia next month, the famous film critics aren’t putting their feet up just yet.

This will be the first time in 28 years that Margaret and David have not been on-air following the Academy Awards, but in an exclusive chat with Junkee, the silver foxes have shared their picks for the big winners ahead of time.

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Best Picture

Margaret: I’m torn between Birdman, which was such an exciting film to see when I knew absolutely nothing about it and The Grand Budapest Hotel, which had me on the edge of my seat. Wes (Anderson) gets better and better with age and he has such a nuanced, gentle heart about him.

David: I think Birdman is probably the film that stands out for me. Looking back, it has been quite a good year — especially for actresses and actors — but as far as achievement in cinema goes I think Birdman is best film.

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Best Director

M: I think Alejandro (González Iñárritu) will win purely for the stylishness of Birdman. Oh, but I love Wes — he’s just so nice and his work is whimsical. He’s very eccentric and obviously a skilled filmmaker who loves the craft.

D: I always think if you give Best Film and then don’t award the filmmaker Best Director then there’s something wrong. Alejandro González Iñárritu for Birdman.

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Best Actor

M: Ralph (Fiennes) is not nominated and you see, he really should be but it was very early in the year and everyone has forgotten about it. I look at the performances and they’re all so good, but I think I’d have to go for Michael Keaton.

D: I think Michael Keaton for Birdman because it’s such a bold change for him and such a heartfelt performance. Eddie Redmayne is exceptional and Benedict Cumberbatch is very, very good but I think Keaton’s is the performance to beat.

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Best Actress

M: Julianne Moore has to win; she had the stand out role in Still Alice. It’s the performance of the year.

D: Julianne Moore: it’s time for her. Still Alice is a powerful performance for her and it will touch a lot of people. She has given a lot of wonderful performances all throughout her career, but this is one of the best.

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Best Supporting Actor

M: I thought Ed Norton would be a sure thing with Birdman, but then J.K. Simmons came along with Whiplash and blew everyone away.

D: Ethan Hawke in Boyhood was great, but it’s a tough category with Ed Norton and J.K. Simmons too. I think it’s a real shame the performances in The Babadook didn’t receive any award recognition internationally, as Essie Davis is brilliant but the young child actor Noah Wiseman doesn’t get enough credit for what an extraordinary performance that is.

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Best Supporting Actress

M: Emma Stone is someone who is pretty good every time in every thing she has been in, but she’s really good in Birdman. I hope she gets it.

D: I think Patricia Arquette in Boyhood was quite mesmerising.

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The 87th Academy Awards will kick off this Monday, February 23 at 12.30pm on Channel Nine.