Oscars: 'American Sniper' behind favorites 'Boyhood', 'Birdman' With less than a week to go before the Oscars, the all-important Best Picture prize appears locked in a two-horse race between dark comedy "Birdman" and coming-of-age drama "Boyhood". But "American Sniper" could win the prize thanks to its box office success, says Matthew Belloni, executive editor of "The Hollywood Reporter". IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES.