OSCARS 2014: Final Predictions

Artwork: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Artwork: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

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!