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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.