Oscar Picks: 15 Dec 2013

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney in Gravity
BEST PICTURE
12 Years a Slave
American Hustle
August: Osage County
The Butler
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska

Falling off: Saving Mr. Banks
Rising star: Philomena

The skinny: While Banks is still firmly in the Academy’s wheelhouse, its lack of citations from both the Screen Actors Guild and Hollywood Foreign Press has to be troubling. In its place, The Butler has emerged as a real contender for more than just Best Supporting Actress. And thanks to a large response from critics’ groups, Her has proven to be the off-beat indie all but destined to make a strong showing. If Harvey Weinstein launches a full-scale campaign for Philomena ,it has a shot, but he’s got his hands full.

Alfonso Cuarón directs George Clooney and Sandra Bullock in Gravity
BEST DIRECTOR
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
David O. Russell, American Hustle
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
Alexander Payne, Nebraska

Falling off: Joel & Ethan Coen
Rising star: Spike Jonze, Her

The skinny: We’ll see if the Directors Guild changes anything in January, but Alexander Payne and Paul Greengrass seem to be the new sure things, despite their films not receiving as many accolades on the whole. We’ll see if Her continues to rack up critics’ prizes.

Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
BEST ACTOR
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Forest Whitaker, The Butler

Falling off: Robert Redford
Rising star: Joaquin Phoenix, Her

The skinny: Redford getting snubbed by SAG could signal a quick death on the awards’ circuit. There may only be room for one septugenarian in the final five.

Sandra Bullock in Gravity
BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County
Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks

Falling off: None
Rising star, still: Julie Delpy, Before Midnight

The skinny: It’s still rare for one category to be made up exclusively of former winners, but I don’t see how anyone else breaks into this category at this point.

The cast of 12 Years a Slave
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Daniel Bruhl, Rush
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
James Gandolfini, Enough Said
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Falling off: Bradley Cooper, Tom Hanks
Rising star, still: Will Forte, Nebraska

The skinny: Cooper, Hanks and Forte all still have a shot, especially if their films are well-received. But the window is closing. If these five hold, they’d all be first-time nominees. While I wrote Bruhl off just a few weeks ago, his strong showing at SAG and the Globes brings him right back into the fold.

Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska
Oprah Winfrey, The Butler

Falling off: Octavia Spencer
Rising star: Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine

The skinny: Winfrey’s omission at the Globes is curious, but they’re often an inaccurate barometer for the Oscars. Sally Hawkins is the only outsider with a shot. Woody Allen still has a great track record of his supporting actresses receiving nominations and wins. However, all the praise has been heaped on her co-star Cate Blanchett.

Joaquin Phoenix in Her
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
American Hustle
Blue Jasmine
Inside Llewyn Davis
Her
Nebraska

Falling off: None
Rising star, still: Gravity

The skinny: As always, there are the indie curiosities that deserve attention (looking at you Upstream Color, even if no one else is). But they’re the long shots. Unless American Hustle flops with the Academy, these five are your nominees.

Leonardo Dicaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
12 Years a Slave
August: Osage County
Before Midnight
Captain Phillips
The Wolf of Wall Street

Falling off: None
Rising star: Philomena

The skinny: A stronger slate than the original category, this field has some serious competition. 12 Years a Slave is the only lock, but I don’t know who would fall out, but Philomena is the likelist replacement.

A scene from The Wind Rises
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The Croods
Epic
Frozen
Monsters University
The Wind Rises

Falling off: None
Rising star: Despicable Me 2

The skinny: The Globes offered nothing in terms of excitement or insight as they simply picked the highest-grossing nominees, snubbing Monsters University. That’s the first time Pixar’s been shut out of this category, but I wouldn’t worry about its Oscar prospects.

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