Academy Award Week 2014: Oscar Predictions

Best Picture

American Hustle

Captain Phillips

Dallas Buyers Club

Gravity

Her

Nebraska

Philomena

The Wolf of Wall Street

12 Years a Slave 

See my analysis here:

http://eternalthoughtsofkevinsmind.blogspot.com/2014/02/academy-award-week-2014-and-best.html

Will Win: 12 Years a Slave 

Spoiler (s): Gravity followed by American Hustle

Best Actor 

Christian Bale-American Hustle 

Matthew McConaughey-Dallas Buyers Club

Bruce Dern-Nebraska

Leonardo DiCaprio-The Wolf of Wall Street

Chiwetel Ejiofor-12 Years a Slave 

See my analysis here:

http://eternalthoughtsofkevinsmind.blogspot.com/2014/02/academy-awards-week-2014-its-mans-world.html

Will Win: Matthew McConaughey-Dallas Buyer Club

Spoiler (s): Chiwetel Ejiofor followed by Leonard DiCaprio

Best Actress 

Amy Adams-American Hustle 

Cate Blanchett-Blue Jasmine 

Sandra Bullock-Gravity

Judi Dench-Philomena

Meryl Streep-August: Osage County

As much as this could have been a contest, Dench has never won a leading actress Oscar, and Adams has never won an Oscar, Blanchett has never lost the momentum.

Will Win: Cate Blanchett-Blue Jasmine 

Spoiler(s): (not needed) Amy Adams and Judi Dench

Best Supporting Actor 

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

There has never been much of a race, Leto has dominated this award the way people believe McConaughey has (which he has not).  Leto has really only lost BAFTA.  Another semi-easy win to predict.

Will Win: Jared Leto-Dallas Buyers Club

Spoiler(s): Barhad Abdi

Best Supporting Actress

Sally Hawkins-Blue Jasmine

Jennifer Lawrence-American Hustle

Lupita Nyong'o-12 Years a Slave 

Julia Roberts-August: Osage County

June Squibb-Nebraska 

There are strong possibilities for upsets in this category, and Lead Actor, but surprises happen way more often here than in Lead Actor.  Past surprises were Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love), Marcia Gay Harden (Pollock), and Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton).  At the moment this is race between Nyong'o and Lawrence.  Lawrence has the Globe, and BAFTA.  Nyong'o has SAG.  SAG and BAFTA matter more, they each have constituents who vote at the Oscars.  I believe Lawrence won at BAFTA because she did not win last year.  My money is on Nyong'o but never count out Squibb, she is fire cracker, and if enough people liked Nebraska they may vote for her.

Will Win: Lupita Nyong'o-12 Years a Slave

Spoiler(s): Jennifer Lawrence followed by June Squibb

Best Director

Alfonso Cuaron-Gravity 

Steve McQueen-12 Years a Slave

Alexander Payne-Nebraska

David O. Russell-American Hustle 

Martin Scorsese-The Wold of Wall Street

No question, Cuaron wins this in a cake walk

Will Win: Alfonso Cuaron-Gravity 

Spoiler: Steve McQueen-12 Years a Slave 

Best Original Screenplay-Her (American Hustle is VERY close)

Best Adapted Screenplay-12 Years a Slave (Philomena is VERY close)

Best Documentary Feature: 20 Feet from Stardom

Best Foreign Language Feature: The Great Beauty

Best Animated Feature: Frozen

Best Cinematography: Gravity 

Best Costume Design: The Great Gatsby 

Best Film Editing: Captain Phillips

Best Production Design: The Great Gatsby

Best Makeup/Hair Styling-Dallas Buyers Club

Best Original Score: Gravity

Best Original Song: Frozen-"Let it Go"

Best Sound Editing: Gravity

Best Sound Mixing: Gravity

Best Visual Effects: Gravity 

Best Animated Short: Get a Horse  

Best Documentary Short: The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved my Life

Best Live Action Short: Helium