"The 86th Annual Academy Awards" - My Predictions

 

As ever, there will be potentially be two nominees for some categories, the one I want to see Win, and what I think will win. I did think that last year there would be some surprises, and sadly there were not that many, apart from a tie. Hopefully this year could be a little different, especially in one particular field.

Best Picture

Despite nine nominees for Best
Picture, for me it is a two horse race. However, I firmly believe that the reason "12 Years" will win Best Picture is that the old guard of The Academy do not deem a sci-fi worthy of the acolade 'best film of the year'. Though for me "Gravity" is the most deserving of the Oscar.

Best Director

This is an easy one to call. Alfonso Cuaron is both the nominee I want to win, and also the man I am certain will win Best Director Oscar. Having said that I was fairly certain last year, and got it wrong. But if Cuaron does not win, then it would be a real travesty. But I do not think we have to worry too much.

Best Actor in a Leading Role 

It is probably fair to say that Matthew McConaughey is most people's favourite to win Best Actor for his role as the AIDs victim Ron Woodroof. 

It is a curious category, which has at least one nominee I personally would not have included. But other than that, any of the other four could also go home with Oscar. 

I do not think you can discount Chiwetel Ejiofor or Leonardo DiCaprio, who also deserves the Award.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Again, the bookies favourite has to be Cate Blanchett, for her work on the Woody Allen film "Blue Jasmine". This is a battle between two previous Oscar winning actresses. Purely for the fact that Blanchett has won every major award going I see her triumph as a foregone conclusion but would be over the moon if Sandra Bullock won for "Gravity".

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

This is another easy category, again Jared Leto I think almost certainly win and also is the nominee I would like to see get Oscar, for his great work as Rayon, in "Dallas Buyers Club". This could be the category though that could spring a surprise or two, especially with Barkhad Abdi also in the running for "Captain Phillips". This is another category with at least one nominee I would not have included, but shows another strong year for Best male support.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Like so many categories this year, this one seems to be a two nominee race. Now Jennifer Lawrence, like Blanchett, has won just about every major award. And as good as she is in the film, for me, newcomer Lupita Nyong'o acts her off the screen, with her remarkable work on "12 Years A Slave". This is the toughest one to call, as I believe there is a chance that Nyong'o could bag the Oscar, and I hope she does. I would also be equally delighted if June Squibb won for her great performance in "Nebraska".

Best Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen

As I have said, as good as the acting is in "American Hustle", the film is woefully too long and the screenplay is not that enthralling. So although it pains me, I have to say that I think that it will win Best Original Screenplay, although a far more worthy winner, in my humble opinion is Spike Jonze's "her". In fact any of the other three nominees would make a better win, than David O. Russell & Eric Warren Singer's work.


Best Screenplay Based On Material Previously Produced or Published 

The writing awards are the area I think we could see some serious surprises, and this one is no different. I would say that the slave drama has to be favourite, but the Scorsese movie screenplay may pip it to the post, and I for one would be chuffed to see Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope win for "Philomena".






So to recap, here is my list of who I think the winners will be in Hollywood tonight....

Best Picture - 12 Years A Slave
Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron
Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey
Best Actress - Cate Blanchett
Best Actor in a Supprting Role - Jared Leto
Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Jennifer Lawrence
Best Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen - American Hustle
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published - 12 Years A Slave

And a special wish of good luck to Nottingham's Steven Price, who I hope and believe will bag the Oscar for Best Score for "Gravity".