2014 ACADEMY AWARDS Here are my picks for the 2014 Academy Awards. As always: no wagering. Best Supporting Actress This seems like a fairly weak race this year. Ive seen 4 of the 5 performances and while Id like to say that Jennifer Lawrence will win, its going to be tough for her to win an Oscar in back-to-back years. 12 Years a Slave has some momentum so Ill go with the newcomer Lupita Nyongo to take the trophy. Best Supporting Actor The pundits have this as an easy win for Jared Leto. His performance was great, for sure but this is a very deep group. Jonah Hill stole ever scene he was in in Wolf of Wall Street and Michael Fassbender was outstanding in 12 Years a Slave. I think Leto will win (hes won all the major pre-Oscar awards) but I think Fassbender is the most deserving and Id like to see either he or Hill win this year. Best Actress In a battle that was apparently decided months ago, Cate Blanchett looks to be the runaway winner here for her performance in Blue Jasmine. She was strong. Ive see three of the five performances and I agree that hers was the strongest. I dont see Streep or Dench winning this year. Blanchett will win the Best Actress Oscar to go along side her Best Supporting Actress Oscar from 2004 (The Aviator). Best Actor This is another race that has seemingly been decided already. Matthew McConaughey is the virtual lock but Leonardo DiCaprio was excellent as the exuberant Jordan Belfort in Wolf. His performance at the country club alone was Oscar-worthy. Chiwetel Ejiofor was also great in 12 Years a Slave but his buzz has cooled. Id like to see DeCaprio take the statue but the odds suggest its McConaugheys to lose. Best Director This is a very tough race and of the five nominees, I feel that only Alexander Payne (Nebraska) has no shot. Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity) is the front-runner. For reasons similar to those that earned James Cameron his award for Titanic, Cuaron is likely to win the award this year. His ability to expertly command the effects-driven, tension-full drama that is Gravity makes him deserving. Dont be surprised if the statue goes to McQueen (Slave), Scorsese (Wolf) or Russell (Hustle) either. My preference would be to see Marty win (big fan) but I think Cuaron is your safe bet. Best Picture There are nine nominees this year and I saw 8 of them. For my money, the best film of the year was Captain Phillips. It had all the things I look for when going to the movies: great acting, a compelling story and outstanding direction (Greengrass was snubbed!). The thing is: it has virtually no chance. Gravity, 12 Years a Slave and American Hustle are the favorites. Having won the majority of the pre-Oscar awards, I think well see 12 Years a Slave come away with the Best Picture Oscar. Gravity was good but it wasnt great (the direction was, but the story wasnt). So good luck in your Oscar pools. Ill leave you with the stone cold lead pipe lock of the Oscars: Frozen to win Best Animated Film. If it doesnt win, Id be very, very surprised.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 03:12:20 +0000
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