Chris Luckett
The biggest night of the year for movies is almost upon us. It’s the time of year to gather with friends, grab a ballot, and fight to the death over whether you think Leonardo DiCaprio could beat Matthew McConaughey in votes or if American Hustle stands a chance of taking the top award from 12 Years a Slave or Gravity.
If you feel lost as to what to fill in for your Oscar predictions at your office pool or a friend’s Oscar party, don’t fret. Here’s my helpful guide to what to mark down this year for each category.
BEST PICTURE
Should Win: Gravity
Will Win: 12 Years a Slave
Potential Upset: Gravity
Biggest Complete Snub: All is Lost
BEST DIRECTOR
Should Win: Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)
Will Win: Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)
Potential Upset: Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)
Biggest Complete Snub: Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips)
BEST ACTOR
Should Win: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
Will Win: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
Potential Upset: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Biggest Complete Snub: Robert Redford (All is Lost)
BEST ACTRESS
Should Win: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Will Win: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Potential Upset: Amy Adams (American Hustle)
Biggest Complete Snub: Scarlett Johansson (Her)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Should Win: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
Will Win: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
Potential Upset: Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
Biggest Complete Snub: Daniel Brühl (Rush)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Should Win: Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)
Will Win: Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)
Potential Upset: Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
Biggest Complete Snub: Carey Mulligan (Inside Llewyn Davis)
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Should Win: Captain Phillips
Will Win: 12 Years a Slave
Potential Upset: The Wolf of Wall Street
Biggest Complete Snub: The Spectacular Now
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Should Win: Her
Will Win: Her
Potential Upset: American Hustle
Biggest Complete Snub: Inside Llewyn Davis
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Should Win: Frozen
Will Win: Frozen
Potential Upset: The Wind Rises
Biggest Complete Snub: Monsters University
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Should Win: Gravity
Will Win: Gravity
Potential Upset: Inside Llewyn Davis
Biggest Complete Snub: Rush
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Should Win: American Hustle
Will Win: The Great Gatsby
Potential Upset: 12 Years a Slave
Biggest Complete Snub: Her
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Should Win: The Square
Will Win: The Act of Killing
Potential Upset: The Square
Biggest Complete Snub: Blackfish
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Should Win: CaveDigger
Will Win: The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life
Potential Upset: Karama Has No Walls
Biggest Complete Snub: SLOMO
BEST FILM EDITING
Should Win: Gravity
Will Win: Gravity
Potential Upset: American Hustle
Biggest Complete Snub: Rush
BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
Should Win: The Hunt
Will Win: The Great Beauty
Potential Upset: The Hunt
Biggest Complete Snub: The Past
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Should Win: Dallas Buyers Club
Will Win: Dallas Buyers Club
Potential Upset: Bad Grandpa
Biggest Complete Snub: American Hustle
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Should Win: Gravity
Will Win: Gravity
Potential Upset: The Book Thief
Biggest Complete Snub: The Place Beyond the Pines
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Should Win: “Let it Go” (Frozen)
Will Win: “Let it Go” (Frozen)
Potential Upset: “Ordinary Love” (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
Biggest Complete Snub: “For the First Time in Forever” (Frozen)
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Should Win: Her
Will Win: The Great Gatsby
Potential Upset: American Hustle
Biggest Complete Snub: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
BEST SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
Should Win: Feral
Will Win: Mr. Hublot
Potential Upset: Feral
Biggest Complete Snub: The Missing Scarf
BEST SHORT FILM (LIVE-ACTION)
Should Win: Avant Que De Tout Predre (Just Before Losing Everything)
Will Win: Avant Que De Tout Predre (Just Before Losing Everything)
Potential Upset: Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me)
Biggest Complete Snub: Record/Play
BEST SOUND EDITING
Should Win: Gravity
Will Win: Gravity
Potential Upset: Lone Survivor
Biggest Complete Snub: Rush
BEST SOUND MIXING
Should Win: Gravity
Will Win: Gravity
Potential Upset: Lone Survivor
Biggest Complete Snub: Rush
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Should Win: Gravity
Will Win: Gravity
Potential Upset: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Biggest Complete Snub: Ender’s Game
Think I’m off in my predictions? Post yours below!