Thoughts on filmmaking

Oscar predictions 2014

By - Richard - 25th February 2014

Having seen all 9 of the films shortlisted for the 2014 Best Picture Oscar, I feel somewhat entitled to offer my prediction as to who or what may win the coveted statues in Los Angeles this Sunday (2nd March 2014). What I predict will win, is of course not necessarily what I think should win

The Oscars do have a history of throwing in a few surprises (as well of plenty of predictable outcomes – nominations for Dame Judi Dench and Meryl Streep amongst others…) and this year the field does appear to be wide open. Feasibly the Best Picture Oscar could go to Gravity, 12 Years a Slave or American Hustle. What the Baftas have confirmed to us is that any of the current front runners could walk away with the most prestigious gongs. But I’m going to stick my neck out and state that I expect Alfonso Cuaron’s sublime Gravity to be the biggest winner on Sunday night. I hope this is the case too.

I watched the first 10 minutes of Gravity in awe with my mouth wide open. I had never experienced anything like it in a cinema before. I was in space! For that reason alone, it deserves to be lauded with awards. Looking back in 20 years time, Gravity will be the only film amongst this year’s crop of nominations which could be considered to push the cinematic medium forward. I am however slightly biased: composer Gareth Cousins worked in the Music Department on Gravity as the score mixer and recorder. I would love it for him if Gravity is successful on Sunday night. Gareth composed and performed the original score for our Scottish Bafta nominated feature documentary End of the Road.

Paul Greengrass’s Captain Philips was certainly one of the beshttps://itunes.apple.com/gb/movie/end-of-the-road/id725380690t thrillers of the year. Taut and tense with powerhouse performances from a never-better Tom Hanks and exceptional newcomer Barkhad Abdi, the timing of its release is what counts against it to be considered one of the front runners. Typically the period from November to February is when Oscar voters are most influenced by the spate of new film releases. Which is why 12 Years a Slave and American Hustle are certainly in contention to walk away with the most prestigious awards of the night. Steve McQueen’s adaption of Solomon Northup’s horrific memoirs is the film which left the biggest impact on me this year. Beautiful cinematography and a compelling, harrowing story , it is not necessarily a film which is to be enjoyed, but a film which must be experienced, much like his earlier films Hunger and Shame. McQueen’s muse – Michael Fassbender certainly deserves the statue for Best Supporting Actor. He burns up the screen in every scene in which he appears; a snarling and odious character, but brutally compelling to watch.

David O Russell’s American Hustle has every chance of snapping up the awards in the acting categories. A great ensemble cast with universally pitch perfect performances from the likes of Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, no-one would be surprised if the film takes home the top acting prizes. Christian Bale’s physical transformation alone – complete with pot belly and stick on comb over is worthy of praise.

Personally, I have a real soft spot for Alexander Payne movies and Nebraska was one of my favourite experiences in a cinema this past year. If any film deserves to be an outsider and take home Oscars in the acting categories, I hope it’s Bruce Dern for his fastidious performance as the wayward Woody Grant and June Squibb for her comedic turn as his stubborn, foul-mouthed wife.

I was so pleased to see Steve Coogan win the Bafta for Adapted Screenplay. Philomena is a beautiful film. Heartbreaking, but wryly humorous, for me it ranks as one the best British films of the last decade. Once and for all it confirms Coogan as an actor of immense talent and versatility. The film however may have to console itself with going home empty handed on Sunday night, even with the presence of Oscar heavyweight Dame Judi Dench. As will Spike Jonze’s beautiful, dream-like Her, which sees Joaquin Phoenix’s character fall in love with the voice inside his computer’s new operating system.

I would predict that Matthew McConaughey is pretty much a shoe-in for Best Actor for his immense performance as Ron Woodroff in Dallas Buyers Club. Oscar voters love a physical transformation and Matthew McConaughey’s weight loss is stark and shocking. So I’m predicting that Leonardo DiCaprio will go home empty handed once again despite his slick and impressive turn as playboy broker Jordan Belfort in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street. For the record, Scorsese’s expletive-ridden opus is probably the most entertaining film from the shortlist of Best Picture nominees. But like with Gangs of New York from 11 years ago, I suspect it may come away with no Oscars. Close but no cigar.

So, putting my money where my mouth is, I’m going all out to predict the following:

BEST PICTURE

Will win: 12 Years a Slave
Should win: Gravity

BEST DIRECTOR

Will win: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Should win: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity

BEST ACTOR

Will win: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Should win: Bruce Dern, Nebraska

BEST ACTRESS

Will win: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Should win: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Will win: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Should win: Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Will win: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Should Win: June Squibb, Nebraska

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Will win: American Hustle
Should Win: American Hustle

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Will win: 12 Years a Slave
Should win: 12 Years a Slave

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Will win: Frozen

BEST FOREIGN FILM

Will win: The Broken Circle Breakdown

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Will win: The Great Gatsby

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

Will win: ‘Let it Go’ from Frozen

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Will win: 20 Feet from Stardom

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Will win: The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Will win: Dallas Buyers Club
Should win: American Hustle

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Will win: The Great Gatsby
Should win: Gravity

BEST FILM EDITING