With the 87th Academy Awards airing on Feb. 22, the Falcon staff voted for winners among the nominees of a few main categories.

Best Picture:

“Boyhood”

for capturing the trials and tribulations of growing up through a series of realistic and relatable vignettes filmed in real-time.

Best Actor:

Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Imitation Game”)

for skilfully revealing the inner workings of the mind of Alan Turing, an ingenious English mathematician who created the world’s first computer to decode Nazi messages.

Best Actress:

Reese Witherspoon (“Wild”)

for her candid and reflective portrayal of Cheryl Strayed, a woman who goes on a trip of rediscovery after her mother passes. Witherspoon flawlessly brings to life a story of grief and self-discovery.

Best Supporting Actress:

Emma Stone (“Birdman”)

for rawly portraying Sam, the main character’s daughter and personal assistant, who is fresh out of rehab and is not afraid to speak her mind.

Best Supporting Actor:

Ethan Hawke (“Boyhood”)

for embracing the role of Mason’s father with a brilliant realism not present in stereotypical father-son relationships.

Best Animated Feature:

“Big Hero 6”

for an imaginative spin on the Marvel franchise, complete with a spectacular soundtrack and impressive character development.

Best Director:

Richard Linklater (“Boyhood”)

for uniquely filming in real time the fleeting moments of a young boy’s coming of age over the course of 12 years.

Best Costume Design:

Colleen Atwood(“Into the Woods”)

for crafting relatable yet artistic costumes of the fantasy world, inspired by the textures and colors of the woods and clothing from various time periods.

Best Original Score:

Hans Zimmer (“Interstellar”)

for capturing the tension and emotion in the storyline of this space epic through personal and powerful compositions.

Best Original Screenplay:

“Boyhood” (Richard Linklater)

for his original approach to an inspiringly typical boy and his family dealing with the struggles of life, untainted by formulaic storylines.