2014 Oscar Predictions

Time again for me to try my luck with the Oscar predictions.  Some years I do well, while others not so much.  Usually when I stumble, it’s because I let my personal preferences interfere with my objective judgement concerning the tastes and politics of the Academy.  This year, I have decided to do what I want to win and what I think will win.  We shall see…

Best Picture:

• I Think: American Hustle:  This film seems to have all the mojo.  Personally, I think it’s over-hyped, but still a fun film.

• Captain Phillips

• Dallas Buyers Club

• Gravity

• Her

• Nebraska

• Philomena

• I Want: 12 Years a Slave:  Fantastic movie. Steve McQueen’s best work to date.  It definitely has the Hollywood politics on it’s side, but I’m not sure it’s enough to beat the American Hustle bandwagon

• The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Actor:  Not to sound cliché, but everyone of these actors deserved to win.  I would be fun to see Bruce Dern pull out a dark horse win.

• Christian Bale – American Hustle

• Bruce Dern – Nebraska

• Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street

• I Want: Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave is the defining role of his career.  Incredible job.  It’s also who I think will win as well.

• Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

Best Actress:

• Amy Adams – American Hustle

• I Think: Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine.  Great performance and I will be very happy if she wins

• Sandra Bullock – Gravity

• I Want :Judi Dench – Philomena.  Everyone loves Judi Dench and in my opinion her best performance of her impressive and distinguished career.  I don’t think the film made enough of a splash to win.

• Meryl Streep – August: Osage County

Best supporting Actor:

• Barkhad Abdi - Captain Phillips

• I Think I Want Bradley Cooper - American Hustle:  I’m giving this to Cooper.  It’s who I think will win and who I want to win.  More about the intensity of the performance than the actual quality of the acting, but attitude counts.

• Michael Fassbender - 12 Years a Slave

• Jonah Hill - The Wolf of Wall Street

• Jared Leto - Dallas Buyers Club

Best Supporting Actress:

• Sally Hawkins - Blue Jasmine

• I Think I Want: Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle:  This will be year two for Jennifer Lawrence.  It wasn’t a good year for the supporting actress category.  I can’t think of another performance that will compete, although I did enjoy June Squibb’s performance in ‘Nebraska’

• Lupita Nyong’o - 12 Years a Slave

• Julia Roberts - August: Osage County

• June Squibb - Nebraska

Best Director:

• American Hustle – David O. Russell:  

• I Think:  Gravity – Alfonso Cuarón:  Changed my mind.  I think this will go to Alfonso

• Nebraska – Alexander Payne

• I Want: 12 Years a Slave – Steve McQueen.  Hands down the person who should win.  McQueen always makes thought provoking films and this is his best work to date. 

• The Wolf of Wall Street – Martin Scorsese