BEST PICTURE
- American Hustle
- Captain Phillips
- Dallas Buyers Club
- Gravity
- Her
- Nebraska
- Philomena
- 12 Years A Slave
- The Wolf of Wall Street
Who Will Win: 12 Years A Slave, Gravity
Who Should Win: 12 Years A Slave, Gravity
Who Could Win: The Wolf of Wall Street
Who Got Snubbed: Prisoners, Blue is the Warmest Color, Only God Forgives
Really, this race is down to either 12 Years A Slave or Gravity, with respect to the other nominees. And either film would be worthy of the statue. Gravity is the most technologically advanced film to date. Not only that, it’s probably the years most entertaining as well. By the same token, 12 Years A Slave is a brilliant work displaying humanity vs. humanity. In the end, it can go either way and I wouldn’t really mind. Others, who have more opinionated thoughts and anger issues will think otherwise. Both are great works, in their own rights.
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
- American Hustle, David O. Russell
- Gravity, Alfonso Cuarón
- Nebraska, Alexander Payne
- 12 Years A Slave, Steve McQueen
- The Wolf of Wall Street, Martin Scorsese
Who Will Win: Alfonso Cuarón
Who Should Win: Steve McQueen
Who Could Win: Martin Scorsese
Who Got Snubbed: Harmony Korine, Nicolas Winding-Refn
This is another toss up. It could be Cuarón . It could be McQueen. Distantly it could possibly be Scorsese. Everyone in this category has earned their nomination, and quite a few deserve a nod as well.
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
- Christian Bale, American Hustle
- Bruce Dern, Nebraska
- Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
- Chiwetel Ejofor, 12 Years A Slave
- Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Who Will Win: Matthew McConaughey
Who Should Win: Matthew McConaughey
Who Could Win: Leonardo DiCaprio
Who Got Snubbed: Jake Gyllenhaal, Joaquin Phoenix
I’m a full supporter of the McConaissance. For an actor who for years was a rom-com punchline to become a dark force in dramas is an incredibly bold career shift that has paid off. His haunting performance as Ron Woodroof is one of the most emotional you could see in 2013. But what about Leo? His performance as scummy NY stock broker Jordan Belfort is the best of his career. And considering he has been snubbed many times by the academy over the years, is this statue his finally?
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
- Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
- Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
- Michael Fassbender, 12 Years A Slave
- Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
- Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Who Will Win: Jared Leto
Who Should Win: Jared Leto
Who Could Win: Michael Fassbender
Who Got Snubbed: Hugh Jackman
This is an easy choice for the most part. Jared Leto was simply devastating as Rayon, a transgender woman who acts as the buffer for Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club. If there is one person in this category who can really give Mr. Leto a run for the statue is Michael Fassbender’s hellish slave owner in 12 Years A Slave.
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
- Amy Adams, American Hustle
- Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
- Sandra Bullock, Gravity
- Judi Dench, Philomena
- Meryl Streep, August: Osage County
Who Will Win: Cate Blanchett
Who Should Win: ?
Who Could Win: Sandra Bullock
Who Got Snubbed: Scarlett Johansson, Adèle Exarchopoulos
Every year, when the nominations come out, I always end up looking at the leading/supporting actress category and I think… why the hell have I not seen any of these performances? Seriously, the only performance I’ve seen is Sandy B’s gut-wrencher in Gravity. I can only expect brilliance from the other wonderful women… although I consider Meryl Streep one of the most over-rated actresses. Anyways- it looks like Cate Blanchett is this years front-runner.
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
- Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
- Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
- Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years A Slave
- Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
- June Squibb, Nebraska
Who Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence
Who Should Win: Lupita Nyong’o
Who Could Win: Lupita Nyong’o
Who Got Snubbed: Léa Seydoux
I still have hope that Lupita Nyong’o can take home this trophy. But the Jennifer Lawrence love train is pretty strong. Not saying she doesn’t deserve it, because as I stated earlier I haven’t seen American Hustle, but I question whether I could be any better than Ms. Nyong’o.
Who do you think will or should win? Who got snubbed?
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