16 Biggest Oscar Upsets Of The 21st Century
2. Best Actor - Eddie Redmayne, The Theory Of Everything
The Rightful Winner: Michael Keaton, Birdman
If there has ever been such a thing as a guaranteed Oscar, it would be for portraying Stephen Hawking. No matter how much he showered the audience with his bumbling Hugh Grant charm, Eddie Redmayne had known from day one that he would be standing there.
The Theory Of Everything chronicles the life of Hawking and his wife of 30 years Jane. More concerned with being a schmaltzy romantic drama than it is with any of the important work by the renowned theoretical physicist, it's not exactly a groundbreaking cinematic achievement.
Up against the unbeatable biographical Oscar-bait and ultimately triumphing (in the Best Picture category anyway) was Alejandro G. Iñárritu's phenomenal black comedy, Birdman.
Chronicling the last-ditch attempt to remain relevant by a struggling actor, the movie centres around Riggan Thomson as he struggles with production issues, unruly actors and his own sanity.
Michael Keaton's triumphant return to form in Birdman is a comeback story for the ages and has reignited a film career that shows no signs of slowing down. While he most certainly wasn't hurt by not receiving the Best Actor Oscar, Keaton deserved it more than anyone.