After months of film festivals, movie screenings, campaigning and galas, the Academy Awards are finally here and movie fans worldwide are getting set for their annual Oscar pools. The 86th Annual Academy Award is all set to take place on Sunday 2 March, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The awards ceremony will begin at 5:30 according to Indian time( Monday morning).
Ellen DeGeneres will host the 86th Academy Awards on Sunday. This is for the second time Ellen is hosting the ceremony, after an extremely appreciated performance in 2007. Frontrunners "Gravity" (ten nominations) and "12 Years a Slave" (nine nominations) are fighting it out for the best film, while "American Hustle" (ten nominations) is still in the game, with actors nominated in all four acting categories for the second year in a row, and three BAFTA wins. Jennifer Lawrence might win that second Oscar after all.
Here are my predictions on who will win in each category, who I think deserved(but won't win) and who I would hate to see win.
BEST PICTURE
“12 Years a Slave”
“Gravity”
“American Hustle”
“Captain Phillips”
“Nebraska”
“Philomena”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
“Her”
Some years, the winner of the best picture Oscar is a closed race. There was no serious competition against “The Artist” in 2011.
Some years, it’s a clear face-off. Think of the tough, little-seen Iraq War film “The Hurt Locker” in 2009 up against the most successful film ever, the special-effects driven “Avatar.” David toppled Goliath in the end.
And some years, it’s all-out chaos. Welcome to 2014. Between a 3 way competition between Gravity, 12 years a slave and American Hustle, 12 years a Slave is leading the race.
Who should win- 12 years a Slave
Who isn't even nominated- Inside Lweyn davis, Saving Mr. Banks, August Osage
Who should not win - American Hustle
BEST ACTOR
The nominees are-
Matthew McConaughey in “Dallas Buyers Club”
Chiwetel Ejiofor in “12 Years a Slave”
Bruce Dern in “Nebraska”
Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Christian Bale in “American Hustle”
This race just continues to mystify — and while Matthew McConaughey is out front, the love for "12 Years a Slave" and its central performance could push Chiwetel Ejiofor ahead. And how about that Leonardo DiCaprio? With Martin Scorsese as his wingman, the star of "The Wolf of Wall Street" is pushing hard for a win.
Who will win- Matthew McConaughey in “Dallas Buyers Club”
Who should win- Leonardo Di Caprio in Wolf of Wall Street”
Who isn't even nominated- Tom Hanks for "Captain Philips", Robert Redford for "All is lost" and Jaquin Phoenix for "Her"
Who should not win - Christian Bale in "American Hustle"
BEST ACTRESS
The nominees are -
Amy Adams in “American Hustle”
Judi Dench in “Philomena”
Sandra Bullock in “Gravity”
Meryl Streep in “August: Osage County”
Not only has Blanchett won everywhere else, but her performance so obviously towers above the rest. Her performance in Blue Jasmine will serve as a benchmark for generations of younger actresses to learn and admire. Hope Woody Allen's private life has no impact on a brilliant performance.
Who will win- Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine”
Who should win- Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine”
Who isn't even nominated- Emma Thompson for Saving Mr banks(I still cannot believe she isn't nominated)
Who should not win - Meryl Streep (Not again man!!!)
BEST DIRECTOR
The nominees are-
“12 Years a Slave” Steve McQueen
“American Hustle” David O. Russell
“The Wolf of Wall Street” Martin Scorsese
“Nebraska” Alexander Payne
Gravity was a film no one else could have executed. You can only ask "How'd he do it?!" so many times in regards to Cuarón's visually stunning work on "Gravity" before it's time to just give the man his Oscar.
Who will win- Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Who should win- Alfonso Cuarón
Who isn't even nominated- Spike Jonze for Her
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
The nominees are-
Michael Fassbender in “12 Years a Slave”
Barkhad Abdi in “Captain Phillips”
Jonah Hill in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Bradley Cooper in “American Hustle”
Jared Leto has been in the lead forever, with a Screen Actors Guild honor to back him up. But is it possible he was ahead for too long? Could that open a door for unknown Barkhad Abdi to bring one home for the "Captain Phillips" team? Or Michael Fasssbander for the evil role in 12 years a slave.
Who will win- Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Cluby
Who should win- Michael Fassbender in “12 Years a Slave”
Who should not win- Jonah Hill in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Who isn't even nominated- Jeremy Renner(the only actor from American Hustle not nominated)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
The nominees are-
Jennifer Lawrence in “American Hustle”
June Squibb in “Nebraska”
Sally Hawkins in “Blue Jasmine”
Julia Roberts in “August: Osage County”
Finally, there's some suspense! This would be Lawrence's Oscar had she not just won last year — that's just how Oscar politics go. Last year's win for Jennifer Lawrence as Best Actress actually tips this in Lupita Nyong'o's favor in her gutsy debut. But if "American Hustle" doesn't win here — where will it win?
Who will win- Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”
Who should win- Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”
Who should not win- Jennifer Lawrence in “American Hustle”
Who isn't even nominated- Léa Seydoux in Blue Is the Warmest Color
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The nominees are-
Her”
“American Hustle”
“Nebraska”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“Blue Jasmine”
Who will win- Her
Who should win- Her
Who should not win- American Hustle
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The nominees are-
“12 Years a Slave”
“Captain Phillips”
“Philomena”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
“Before Midnight”
Who will win- 12 years a slave
Who should win- Before Midnight
Who should not win- The Wolf of wall street
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The nominees are-
“Gravity” Emmanuel Lubezki
“Nebraska” Phedon Papamichael
“Inside Llewyn Davis” Bruno Delbonnel
“Prisoners” Roger A. Deakins
“The Grandmaster” Philippe Le Sourd
Hard to see this not going to "Gravity" for that breathtaking photography. It feels like we've all been to outer space after watching that film.
Who will win- Gravity
Who should win- Gravity
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Frozen”
“The Croods”
“The Wind Rises”
“Despicable Me 2”
“Ernest & Celestine”
Everyone agrees that all other contenders will be "Frozen" out.
Who will win- Frozen
Who should win- Frozen
Who should not win- Despicable me 2
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
The nominees are-
“Let It Go” from “Frozen”
“Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”
“Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
“The Moon Song” from “Her”
Who will win- Let it go
Who should win- Let it go (It will be a treat to watch Idina Menzel perform live at the oscars)
Who should not win- Ordinary Love (Although Nelson Mandela's family is coming to watch the performnace)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
The nominees are-
“The Book Thief” John Williams
“Gravity” Steven Price
“Her” William Butler and Owen Pallett
“Philomena” Alexandre Desplat
“Saving Mr. Banks” Thomas Newman
Who will win- Gravity
Who i want to win- Saving mr. Banks
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
The nominees are-
“American Hustle”
“The Great Gatsby”
“The Invisible Woman”
“12 Years a Slave”
“The Grandmaster”
The Great Gatsby," once thought to be a major Oscar contender (before anyone had seen the movie), will now get its consolation prizes for those parts of Baz Luhrmann's mortifying jazz age pastiche that worked, including his wife Catherine Martin's costumes.
Who will win- The Great Gatsby
Who should win- 12 years a slave
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
The nominees are-
“Her”
“The Great Gatsby”
“Gravity”
“American Hustle”
“12 Years a Slave”
Who will win- Confused between Gatsby, and 12 years a slave
Who should win- The Great Gatsby
BEST EDITING
the nominees are-
“Gravity”
“Captain Phillips”
“American Hustle”
“12 Years a Slave”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
Who will win- Gravity
Who should win- Gravity(Shortest film at 91 minutes)
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLE
Nominees are-
Dallas Buyers Club
The Lone Ranger
Bad Grandpa
Who will win- Dallas Buyers Club
Who should win- Dallas Buyers Club
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Nominees are-
“The Great Beauty” Italy
“The Hunt” Denmark
“The Broken Circle Breakdown” Belgium
“Omar” Palestine
“The Missing Picture” Cambodia
Who will win- The great Beauty
Who isn't even here- Blue is the warmest color
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Nominees are-
“Gravity”
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”
“Iron Man 3”
“The Lone Ranger”
“Star Trek Into Darkness”
The category with the most money at the box office. This award has been predicted as early as the eye-popping "Gravity" first screened for anyone.
Who will win - Gravity
Who should win- Gravity
Who isn't even nominated- Pacific rim
OTHER AWARDS
BEST SOUND EDITING- Gravity
BEST SOUND MIXING- Gravity
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM- Get a Horse
Catch the Oscars on Star Movies if you are in India live from 5:30 and come back to see how many of my predictions were correct. See you at the Oscars!!!
