Best Picture | Best Director | Best Cinematography | Best Original Screenplay

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Country of Production: USA
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki
Now showing in TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku and other theaters nationwide from Friday, April 10, 2015.

The "Dark Horse" That Shone Brightly Wins Four Awards

Director Alejandro González Iñárritu, known for his serious human dramas such as "Babel" and "Amores Perros," takes on his first dark comedy with this film. Starring Michael Keaton, known for his role as Batman, the film depicts the struggle of actor Riggan, who once soared to fame with the superhero film "Birdman," as he attempts a comeback on Broadway. Iñárritu reflected, "I've always believed that anything you're afraid of after 40 is worth doing. This film was frightening in a good way. It was a new territory, and I was definitely outside my comfort zone." True to his words, he employed an unprecedented, fluid camera work in this film, appearing as if shot in a single take from beginning to end. This wasGravitythe work of the masterful Emmanuel Lubezki, who also won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography in 2014 for the immersive space visuals of "Gravity." The collaboration between these two geniuses has resulted in a masterpiece that redefines cinema history. It defied the jinx that "horror, comedy, and sci-fi cannot win Academy Awards," clinching a tie for the most awards at this year's Oscars with four wins.

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Best Actor

Eddie Redmayne in "The Theory of Everything"

Country of Production: UK
Director: James Marsh
Now showing in TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku and other theaters nationwide from Friday, March 13, 2015.

"This Oscar belongs to everyone fighting ALS."

Stephen Hawking, the brilliant physicist in a wheelchair, who, despite battling the debilitating disease ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), continues to challenge the origins of the universe and profoundly influence modern cosmology. Beside him was Jane, the woman he met in his student days. From their meeting to marriage and children... they faced the growing challenges of aging with the strength of their enduring love, yet at times they hit walls, felt their limitations, and were crushed by their own powerlessness. "The Theory of Everything" is a moving human love story that depicts their struggles and pure love. Eddie Redmayne, who deservedly won Best Actor, said with deep emotion, "This Oscar belongs to everyone fighting ALS. Stephen, Jane, and your children. I will responsibly take care of this statue on your behalf. I promise to polish it and cherish it every day, so please rest assured."

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Best Supporting Actress

Patricia ArquetteBoyhood

Country of Production: USA
Director: Richard Linklater
Now Showing

An Actress's Dedication: Portraying 12 Years of Life with a "Natural" Performance

"Boyhood" is a drama that chronicles the growth of a boy and the changes in his family over the span of 12 years. Director Richard Linklater, known for films like "Before Sunrise," undertook this groundbreaking filming approach. Along with the main cast of four, who developed a bond like a real family during the filming, he created a human drama that will be etched in film history. Patricia Arquette, in particular, captivated the Academy members with her performance, embodying her character from ages 33 to 46 with minimal makeup, showcasing her dedication as an actress. Arquette, receiving her first Oscar, passionately appealed from the stage, "To every woman who gave birth, who's been a parent, who's been told since you've had children that you're not gonna be able to work for the last 18 years... It is our time to have equal rights and pay for every woman, for every woman in this country."

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Best Actress
Julianne Moore in "Still Alice"
Country of Production: USA
Directors: Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland
Now showing in Shinjuku Piccadilly and other theaters nationwide from Saturday, June 27, 2015.

Best Supporting Actor
J.K. Simmons in "Whiplash"
Country of Production: USA
Director: Damien Chazelle
Now showing in TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku and other theaters nationwide from Friday, April 17, 2015.

Best Adapted Screenplay
Graham Moore for "The Imitation Game"
Country of Production: UK, USA
Director: Morten Tyldum
Now showing in TOHO Cinemas Miyuki-za and other theaters nationwide from Friday, March 13, 2015.

Best Foreign Language Film
Ida
Country of Production: Poland
Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
Encore screening until Friday, March 6, 2015, at Theater Image Forum.

 

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