2014 OSCAR PREDICTIONS:Costume Design : The grandiose and the musical often take the prize. Art Direction : Ditto. Cinematograph y: Yet another year where the voters favor a CGI post-production heavy shoot in this category. This is fast becoming more a Tech category than a purely artistic one. And, why did the cinematographers nominate NEBRASKA for its lousy digital “Black & White” with faux “film grain”? Roger Deakins’ work fully imbued PRISONERS with a mood and atmosphere that set the template for one of the more intense films of the year.Visual Effects : There is only one. The lock of the night.Sound Editing & Sound Mixing : More tech nods for GRAVITYMusical Score : Steven Price’s music for GRAVITY impressed many. It’s good, but too emphatic. Best Song : This isn’t the star-f#ckers from the Golden Globes who wanted to see Bono at the podium. The others will be frozen out. Film Editing : If 12 YEARS wins this one, it’ll likely take Best Picture. GRAVITY could add one to its tech total, but let’s go with the actual best.Makeup & Hairstyling : It would be a kick if BAD GRANDPA could tout itself as an “Oscar Winning Film!”, but.......Documentary Feature : Two of the films, THE SQUARE and ACT OF KILLING are among the very best films of any kind from last year. Unfortunately, the more audience friendly 20 FEET FROM STARDOM seems to be the likely winner.Foreign Language Film : One of the 5 nominees has still not be commercially released. But, of those that have been, one is an absolute standout, the great Italian film by Paolo Sorrentino, THE GREAT BEAUTY. The best film I saw in 2013. Period. The spoilers could be BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN or THE HUNT.Best Supporting Actress : Jennifer Lawrence is getting a lot of buzz, and there’s no doubt she’s had an extraordinary early career. Still, Lupita Nyong’o’s searing work must be honored.Best Supporting Actor : This has seemed a lock for a while. I honestly had little thought about Jared Leto as an actor before seeing his showy, by heartfelt performance.Best Actress : With so many great under the radar performances such as Brie Larrson (SHORT TERM 12), Adele Exarcopolous (BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR) and Berenice Bejo (THE PAST) why did the actor’s branch have to reflexively give Meryl Streep yet ANOTHER nomination? Come on, thespians, think outside the box (and see a wider range of movies!) And, Sandra Bullock for GRAVITY? Really? All this shouldn’t take away from Cate Blanchett and her gifted work in Woody Allen’s BLUE JASMINE. Best Actor : Never have been much of a DiCaprio fan, but his work in WOLF OF WALL STREET was a career best. Christian Bale delivered as usual when he’s not behind a Bat-Mask. Chiwetel Ejiofor has a shot, but the time has come for cool smooth, Matthew.Best Original Screenplay : If Jennifer Lawrence doesn’t win, then this category might be multi-nominee AMERICAN HUSTLE’s best chance. But, the sentiment seems to be that HUSTLE was too improvised, and Spike Jonze’s more supple work should take the day.Best Adapted Screenplay : WOLF OF WALL STREET may be a dark horse here, and there is certainly sentiment on the side of indie fave BEFORE MIDNIGHT, but, this will honor the prose and skill of John Ridley’s adaptation of Solomon Northup’s extraordinary life and tale.Best Director : Alfonso Cuaron’s extraordinary technical skill will take the day over Steve McQueen’s more nuanced work.Best Picture : The numbers seem to add up to a GRAVITY win. But, it’s thin storyline certainly doesn’t make it the sure frontrunner. AMERICAN HUSTLE is probably the most fun of the top contenders, but is seen as lite. 12 YEARS A SLAVE has the passion and the gravitas. But, this is one of the CLOSEST races in years!Live Action Short Subject : The Voorman ProblemAnimated Short : Get A HorseDocumentary Short : Lady in Number Six
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