The Academy Awards are a time of enthusiasm and revilement for most viewers. Everyone has an opinion on who should win and who should have been nominated. Everyone wants to know who will win and then complain the next day at the office, because their choices were not the winners.
This is the time of year for the rolling of eyes with the consideration of the ceremony. The Academy seems to be at a loss regardless who they choose to host the evening. It is either so politically correct, it turns off most viewers or the Academy's other choice of late is to try to relate to the 'younger viewer'. Once people hear that phraseology they respond to it like a child being told that cereal is good for them, the target audience does not watch and the rest of us endure another boring or embarrassing ceremony.
Why do we care? I am not sure, but the world watches with interest every year. I used to be a big fan of the event, but over the years it has dimmed in value. I usually watch a few minutes of the show, go to bed, wake the next day, look to see who won the awards and then complain at the office, because my choices were not the winners.
Regardless of what feelings come out on the announcement of the Oscars, everyone will have an opinion and want to know other people's picks. I will share my preferences and I will try to predict the actual winners too. I will admit to not seeing all of the films, but if you have endured the awards in the past, it is quite an easy process to predict the winners. (Look for the Weinstein Bros. associated with a film and it tends to win, they are brilliant players in the industry.)
I will only choose the awards that people really care about on the night. Not that the others do not have value, but most people do not even know what the award is for in the Sound Editing category and other technical awards. So, I will keep my choices to the key awards.
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Christian Bale in “American Hustle”
Bruce Dern in “Nebraska”
Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Chiwetel Ejiofor in “12 Years a Slave”
Matthew McConaughey in “Dallas Buyers Club”
RRs Choice: Christian Bale
Oscar will go to: Matthew McConaughey
Matthew has redefined his career as of late. The extreme physical measures and AIDS storyline will pull the award in for him.
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Barkhad Abdi in “Captain Phillips”
Bradley Cooper in “American Hustle”
Michael Fassbender in “12 Years a Slave”
Jonah Hill in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Jared Leto in “Dallas Buyers Club”
RRs choice: Bradley Cooper
Oscar will go to: Michael Fassbender
12 Years a Slave will not win best picture, but it will take some of the key acting and directing awards.
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Amy Adams in “American Hustle”
Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine”
Sandra Bullock in “Gravity”
Judi Dench in “Philomena”
Meryl Streep in “August: Osage County”
RRs choice: Amy Adams
Oscar will go to: Amy Adams
I know this is a risky one, since Cate has own numerous awards this season, but in the category Amy is the only one to not win an Oscar. I think this is her year.
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Sally Hawkins in “Blue Jasmine”
Jennifer Lawrence in “American Hustle”
Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”
Julia Roberts in “August: Osage County”
June Squibb in “Nebraska”
RRs choice: Julia Roberts
Oscar will go to: Lupita Nyong'o
This is the PC award of the year. Every year the Academy picks a relative unknown to push into the limelight. This is the obvious choice.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR
“The Croods”
“Despicable Me 2”
“Ernest & Celestine”
“Frozen”
“The Wind Rises”
RRs choice: Frozen
Oscar will go to: Frozen
Big hit, original storyline, Frozen is set to win this award.
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
RRs choice: “American Hustle” David O. Russell
Oscar will go to: “12 Years a Slave” Steve McQueen
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“Before Midnight”
“Captain Phillips”
“Philomena”
“12 Years a Slave”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
RRs choice: Captain Phillips
Oscar will go to: 12 Years a Slave
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“American Hustle”
“Blue Jasmine”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“Her”
“Nebraska”
RRs choice: Her
Oscar will go to: Her
BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
“American Hustle”
"Captain Philips"
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“Gravity”
“Her”
“Nebraska”
“Philomena”
“12 Years a Slave”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
RRs choice: Gravity
Oscar will go to: American Hustle
The momentum seems to be in American Hustle's favour this year. There are quite a few deserving films, but Russell seems to be on the wave to winning.
Conclusion: Agree or disagree, no matter. Just go and watch more films, enjoy the awards and complain in the office the next day about your choices not being chosen.
Send me your thoughts...
Awards Predictions by Russell Matthews @ Russelling Reviews
Well, they were not my favourites. No real surprises, except American Hustle going home with none.
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