Predicting the Oscar Nominations- 2017 Edition

It’s my favorite time of the year. The expectations, the disappointments, the wildcards and the snubs- There’s nothing like Award Season. And what is Award Season without the Oscars, nominations for which will be announced tomorrow 24^th January, 5:18 AM (PT), 6:45 PM (IST). There are some pressing questions that the nominations will answer-

• Will La La Land Break the record of most nominations (14) at this year Nominations?
• Will Martin Scorcese get a Best Director Nod for Silence this year? (He has been nominated for EVERY film he has directed in this century- Gangs of New York, Aviator, Departed, Hugo, Wolf of Wall Street)
• Will Deadpool create history by getting an Oscar nomination in the non-technical categories?
• Who will be the nominees in the super competitive Best Actress race, where no one other than Stone and Portman are a lock.
• What will be the fate of Loving and Jackie, whose momentum seems to have fizzled out.

While we wait with fingers crossed for the announcement, here’s my two cents on the Oscar nominations this year.

Best Picture

While one would expect any Best Picture discussion this year to begin with La La Land, there’s one film that’s at a better position than La la land in the award race. That’s Moonlight. The journey of an African American boy to adulthood has so far won the topmost prize at almost every critics award ceremony-

• LA Critics Award
• Chicago Critics Award
• San Francisco Critics Award
• Toronto Critics Award
• Dallas Film Critics
• Denver Film Critics
• Austin Film Critics Award
• Indie Wire Critics Poll
• National Society of Film critics, to name a few.

Coming into the New Year it seemed like it was a battle between La La land and Manchester by the Sea for the Best Picture at Oscars 2017. But in a dramatic turn of events, Moonlight trumped Manchester by the Sea to take the topmost prize at the Golden Globes and became the strongest threat to La La land.

Additionally Moonlight and Manchester By the Sea are the only 2 films this year to have been nominated by all the 4 guilds-

• PGA’s Best Picture award
• DGA’s Best Director award
• SAG’s Best Ensemble award
• WGA’s Best Screenplay award

Taking nothing away from La La Land– It is no doubt the most buzzed film this award season. It has earned close to $150M at the box office so far and has miraculously kept its momentum from August till February and is still the film to beat on Oscar night. The one issue is that it did not get nominated for SAG Best Ensemble award- but that could be because the SAG voters saw it as a 2 person film. Anyways, a nomination is sure for it. Hence three films are locked for nomination- La La Land, Moonlight and Manchester.

Next comes Lion, which a month back was not even sure of being nominated. But after the Guild Awards, Lion bagged a PGA, WGA and not one but 2 DGAs. This could be the ‘Room’ of 2017, thanks to the strong performance by 8 year old Sunny Pawar, and I think it has the 4^th highest chance of getting nominated.

Next is Arrival which has also been nominated for the same number of guild awards as La La Land– losing only the SAG Ensemble nomination. The only thing against it is its sci fi genre, which does not exactly scream Oscar. But Amy Adam’s sincere performance and the technical superiority will definitely take it all the way to a nomination.

These are the 5 films I think will definitely cross the boundary. The rest will depend on how many film does the Academy decide to nominate this year.

There is Fences and Hacksaw Ridge, both of which are helmed by Actor turned Directors and both are getting appreciated for the acting. Hacksaw may suffer due to Mil Gibson’s controversial image.

Another film which so far has not done well at the Awards is Hidden Figures, but I expect it to do well at the Oscar nominations given the kind of standing ovations it’s been getting in theatres across America. I would also not be surprised if Taraji P Henson manages a Best Actress nod for this film.

The biggest surprise this Oscar Season has been Martin Scorcese’s Silence– which has been called a long, hard watch and shut out at every award ceremony. Will the Academy be softer to their favourite director of all time? Silence won’t be nominated for Best Picture but could get a Director nod for Scorcese, as he is revered in the Academy circles.

What about Deadpool? It did manage a historic PGA nod and a best picture nomination for it would be historic and would shake up the entire industry. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

Nocturnal Animals, has shot out from the BAFTAs and could be a wild card. Then there is Loving, a film about inter racial love which has campaigned extensively and spent a lot of money but isn’t getting recognized.

I would be thrilled if the animated Zootopia makes the list. We haven’t seen anything animated since Toy Story 3 in this list and Zootopia deserves all the love.

But like every year, I sense that the Academy will chose an outlier- a wildcard which is not in anyone’s radar- something like an Amour or a Philomena. Hope that is 20^th Century Women this year.

Best Actor

The Best Actor race this year is not very competitive and is over before it has begun- Casey Affleck is a sure shot win in this category. Ryan Gosling and Andrew Garfield are both guaranteed a nomination each- for their immensely liked characters in La la Land and Hacksaw Ridge. Denzel Washington for Fences is another performance that’s hard to ignore. That leaves us one spot. Personally I would love to see Ryan Reynolds, make history by getting nominated for a $700M grosser Deadpool. But I think the Academy will go with either Viggo Mortensen for Captain Fantastic or Joel Edgerton for Loving.

 Best Actress

The tightest race at the Oscars this year is the Best Actress category. Such was the competition this year, that even Viola Davis was not confident of being nominated and opted for the less crowded supporting actress category (Where she is all but assured of a win). The past year has seen as many as 10 exemplary performances, of which only 2 performances are locked of nomination- Emma stone and Natalie Portman. The globes have propelled French veteran Isabelle Huppert as a big bet, but it should be understood that the HFPA are foreign critics and the Oscar voters might not be so aware of her work. Elle did not even make it to the last 9 films for Foreign Language category. Nevertheless a nomination for her work in Elle would be criminal to ignore.

6-0, yes that is how many times Amy Adams would have lost the Oscar in a month. This year in the running for two films- Arrival and Nocturnal Animals, Adams is likely to be nominated for her work as a linguist in Arrival. That leaves one spot which is really tricky. I would love if Annette Benning gets this spot for 20^th Century Women, a film which is being unfairly overlooked. But I think this last spot will go to Ruth Negga for Loving. Frankly, I would be happy as long as I don’t see Meryl Streep in this list.

If we were to take acting skills only, Natalie Portman would be winning her 2nd Oscar for portraying Jackie, but as a film Jackie seems to be losing steam in the award race.

Supporting Actor

This is one category which has almost locked all of its 5 nominations- atleast 4 for sure. Mahersala Ali for Moonlight, Dev Patel for Lion, Jeff Bridges for Hell or High Water and Lucas Hedges for Manchester by the Sea. The 5^th spot is mostly going to Hugh grant for Florence Fester Jenkins, who is also nominated for SAG. If not him either Aaron Taylor Johnson who has managed a Golden Globe win and a BAFTA nomination, or maybe Kevin Costner for Hidden Figures.

Supporting Actress

This category should be renamed as the Oscar for playing the Best Mother of a small boy. Viola Davis, Nicole Kidman and Naomi Harris all play the mother of a young boy in Fences, Lion and Moonlight respectively, and all of them are sure of getting nominated.

Until October, Michelle Williams was winning this hands down for her heart wrenching 10 min performance in Manchester by The Sea. But then Viola Davis chose to go supporting and anyone who has seen The Help knows Viola deserved an Oscar 5 years ago. So however much I am happy for Viola winning this award, I am equally sad for Michelle Willaims, who will be nominated for her 4^th Oscar this year, without winning any.

The last nomination spot will be taken by either Octavia Spencer or Janelle Monae for Hidden Figures, although I would love if Greta Grewig gets the 5^th spot for 20^th Century Women. She does amazing work year after year (Frances Ha, Mistress America, Maggie’s Plan) and deserves to be nominated.

And the nominees for the Oscars will be

Best Picture-

1. Moonlight
2. La La Land
3. Manchester by the Sea
4. Lion
5. Arrival
6. Fences
7. Hidden Figures
8. Hell or High Water
9. Hacksaw Ridge
10. 20th Century Women

Best Director

1. Damien Chazelle, La La Land
2. Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
3. Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
4. Denis Villeneuve, Arrival
5. Garth Davis, Lion

Best Actor

1. Casey Affleck, Manchester By the Sea
2. Ryan Gosling, La la Land
3. Denzel Washington, Fences
4. Andrew Garfeild, Hacksaw Ridge
5. Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic

Best Actress

1. Emma Stone, La La Land
2. Natalie Portman, Jackie
3. Amy Adams, Arrival
4. Isabelle Huppert, Elle
5. Ruth Negga, Loving

Best Supporting Actor

1. Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
2. Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
3. Dev Patel, Liom
4. Lucas Hedges, Manchester
5. Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins

Best Supporting Actress

1. Viola Davis,Fences
2. Michelle Williams,Manchester by the Sea
3. Naomie Harris,Moonlight
4. Nicole Kidman,Lion
5. Octavia Spencer,Hidden Figures

Best Original Screenplay

1. La La Land
2. The Lobster
3. Manchester by the Sea
4. Hell or High Water
5. Zootopia

Best Adapted Screenplay

1. Moonlight
2. Fences
3. Lion
4. Nocturnal Animals
5. Arrival

Best Animated Feature

1. Zootopia
2. Kubo and the Two Strings
3. Moana
4. The Red Turtle
5. Finding Dory

 

Ryan Gosling in La La Land, Ashton Sanders in Moonlight,  Michele Williams in Manchester and Janelle Monae in Hidden Figures

Who do you think will make the cut tomorrow? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Also check out ‘Ten Months Too Soon: Oscar Predictions 2017‘ when I predicted the Oscar Nominees for 2017 Oscars a year ago.

Ten Months Too Soon – Oscar Predictions 2017

I know what you must be thinking. Didn’t the Oscars just end. Who tries to predict the Oscars in April, 10 months in advance. Well, Movies keep coming throughout the year without a break and hence The Award Season never halts. Sundance is already over. Cannes and Tribecca are lined up in the next two months.

Trailers are coming out each day and it’s time we try to separate the best from the good and try to predict which of these could land up at the Oscars 2017. Expect Martin Scorcese, Ang Lee, Michael Keaton, David Oyelowo, Jessica Chastain, Michelle Williams and a lot of familiar faces in addition to the breakout stars. Don’t get Star Struck. Here are the films you can expect to see next year at Oscars 2017.

The Birth of A Nation

When this film premiered at Sundance earlier this year, it blew everyone away. Such was the acclaim that it went on to win the top prize and also clinched a historical deal with Fox SearchLight for $17.5 Mn. With the trailer which debuted yesterday, expect it to sweep the Oscars after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy gripping the Academy this year.

The film is written, produced, and directed by Nate Parker, who also stars as Nat Turner, a slave boy who learns the Bible and when given an opportunity of a preaching tour uses the Bible to start the biggest slave revolt in American History. (Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezWiUTXB11A)

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 9/10

Silence

Directed by Martin Scorcese, Need I Say more? His last 5 films have been The Wolf of Wall Street, Hugo, Shutter Island, Departed and The Aviator. And with a December release consider this a lock for the Best Picture race. Set in Japan, the story is about two Jesuit priests from Portugal who face persecution when they travel to Japan to spread Christ’s message. The priests are played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver, with Liam Neeson as their mentor.

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 9/10

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

Ang Lee, an Oscar favourite, winning Best Director for both of his past two films Life of Pi and Brokeback Mountain is back with a war drama comedy based on Ben Fountain’s award-winning novel. It’s a story told from the point of view of 19 year old private Billy Lynn who along with a group of soldiers from the Iraq war reveal what actually happened in the Iraq battle featuring a Football game. Although the lead is a newcomer Joe Alwyn but the supporting cast has the likes of Kristen Stewart, Steve Martin and Vin Diesel. Steve martin is expected to finally win after his 3 hosting stints. Expect this to do well in technical categories as well and maybe this will even win Ang Lee his first Best Picture.

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 8/10

The Founder

Both the 2015 and 2016 Oscar Best Picture films starred Michael Keaton (Birdman and Spotlight). In Founder, Keaton plays Ray Kroc, an Illinois salesman who meets the brothers Mac and Dick McDonald, operating a hamburger restaurant in southern California in the 1950s. Kroc subtly manoeuvres himself into a position to take control of their company, buys it and makes it one of the most famous brands in the world- McDonalds. Laura Dern plays Keaton’s wife. Directed by Jon Lee of The Blind Side.

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 7/10

Sully

Clint Eastwood + Tom Hanks. Just give it the Oscar already. Tom Hanks plays American pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who saves 155 passengers abroad his plane by heroically landing on the Hudson River. No one expected American Sniper to win 6 nominations at the 2014 ceremony, similarly Sully should benefit from Clint Eastwood’s reputation and Tom Hank’s popularity.

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 7/10

Manchester by the Sea

Another winner from Sundance, this one is a family drama which has been getting unprecedented acclaim for Casey Affleck, who has to return to Manchester by the Sea after the death of his brother. Michelle Williams also stars as Casey’s bitter, brittle ex-wife and Kyle Chandler as Casey’s brother. I am expecting a lot of acting nominations in addition to the Screenplay and Dialogue. If it can carry its momentum it could well get a Best Picture nod.

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 6/10

A United Kingdom

The film tells the epic love story of Prince Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo), heir to the throne of Botswana who shocked the world after marrying a white British Bank clerk Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike) in the late 1940s. Forced to renounce the throne after marrying Rosamund, he returns back when the country’s economy falters. With powerful actors, expect this to get acting nominations and a Best pic nom isn’t outrageous.

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 6/10

The Light Between Oceans

Acclaimed director Derek Cianfrance, (Blue Valentine, A place beyond the Pines) is back with a tearjerker set after WW1 about love and sacrifice. An Australian lighthouse keeper (Michael Fassbender) and his wife (Alicia Vikander) find a baby girl stranded near the beach and adopt the girl. Some years later their world turns upside down when they meet a woman (Rachel Weisz) who claims she lost her child at the same time when they found the girl. If the trailer is any indication, the cinematography, music and acting should see nominees. (Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk7yw00a4fs)

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 6/10

Promise

Helmed by the director of Hotel Rwanda, this is an epic love triangle between a medical student (Oscar Issac), an American journalist (Christian bale) based in Paris and a sophisticated woman. The story will take place in the final days of the Ottoman Empire, which was dissolved by the World War allies in 1922. Christian Bale is an Oscar favourite and after upsets in form of Inside Lewyn Davis, A most violent year and Ex-Machina, Will this be the film that finally gets Oscar Issac his nomination?

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 6/10

The Zookeeper’s Wife

Schindler’s list won the Best Picture for Schindler’s efforts to save the Jews from the Nazi army. This one tells the true story of Antonina Żabińska, the wife of the Warsaw Zookeeper in the late 1930s who saved the lives of Jews fleeing the Nazis by hiding them in animal cages. Jessica Chastain plays the titular role and we can safely presume a Best Actress nod for her.

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 5/10

Loving

This drama from Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter (2011), Mud (2012) and Midnight Special (2016)) is the most talked about film at Cannes this year.The story is about the interracial marriage of Mildred and Richard Loving, following which the couple was sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958. This landmark 1967 civil rights case Loving v. Virginia resulted in the legalization of interracial marriages in America.

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 5/10

La-La Land

This one can go any way as past musicals have done and its Summer release isn’t making a case for it either. But Damien Chazelle’s follow-up to his Oscar-nominated “Whiplash cnnot be out of the race completely. The story is about a jazz pianist (Ryan Gosling) who falls for an aspiring actress (Emma Stone).

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 4/10

Jackie

In an election year, Natalie Portman plays Jackie Kennedy, wife of ex President John F Kennedy. The film will recount the days of Jackie right after the assassination of JFK in 1963. After Naomi Watts failed to win any applause for Diana and Nicole Kidman’s Grace of Monaco opened to bad reviews, I doubt if this will reach Best Picture, but if it’s any good, expect a best Actress Nomination for Natalie.

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 3/10

Lion

This Harvey Weinstein backed film tells the story of an Indian kid (Dev Patel) who searches for his parents after being adopted by an Australian couple. Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara also star in this film.

Chances of Best Picture nomination- 3/10

The list doesn’t end here. There are more films like

Passengers
The romantic space thriller starring Chris Pratt and Jlaw. Blockbusters usually don’t get the Oscar acclaim.

Weightless
Terrence Malik directs this romantic thriller starring Christian Bale and Natalie Portman. The film has voice overs by Ryan Gosling, Cate blanchett, Rooney Mara, Michael fassbender. But there are concerns if this will release in 2016.

Queen of Katwe
David Oyelowo also co-stars in this biopic of Ugandan-born world chess champion Harriet Mutesi, played by LupitaNyong’o, Oscar winner for “12 Years a Slave.

Florence Foster Jenkins
Meryl Streep is playing the alleged worst singer of all time. Maybe a nomination for Streep, but no way Best Picture. Directed by Stephen Frears and co-starring Hugh Grant.

Nocturnal Animals – A drama starring Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kim Basinger, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Michael Shannon, Isla Fisher, and Armie Hammer.

Collateral Beauty
An amazing cast led by Will Smith, Kate Winslet, Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, Edward Norton, Michael Peña, and Naomie Harris. But again it will be more of a box office wonder than awards darling

Hacksaw Ridge
A world war drama directed by Mel Gibson. Given the hate for Mel gibson currently in Hollywood, the film looks like a hard sell to the Academy.

Snowden
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays ex- CIA agent Edward Snowden.

The Girl on the Train

Helmed by Tate Taylor who directed The Help back in 2011, this has potential. But, not every film can be Gone Girl.

Looking at all the expected frontrunners, the Oscars next year again seem to be heavily skewed toward drama, wars, biographies and emotional films. One thing that’s certain we shall many faces of color walking the red carpet next year. This list shall obviously be altered when smaller indies get noticed at the various film festivals throughout the rest of the year. There will be more films like Precious, Selma and Beasts of the Southern Wild which have not been noticed yet. And there shall be some in this list which will open to awful reviews at and shall lose the steam off in the race. The Award season shall officially begin in September. Until then keep a lookout for more Oscary stuff. See you at the movies!

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO…..PREDICTING THE 86TH ACADEMY AWARDS 2014

After months of film festivals, movie screenings, campaigning and galas, the Academy Awards are finally here and movie fans worldwide are getting set for their annual Oscar pools. The 86th Annual Academy Award is all set to take place on Sunday 2 March, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The awards ceremony will begin at 5:30 according to Indian time( Monday morning).

Ellen DeGeneres will host the 86th Academy Awards on Sunday. This is for the second time Ellen is hosting the ceremony, after an extremely appreciated performance in 2007. Frontrunners “Gravity” (ten nominations) and “12 Years a Slave” (nine nominations) are fighting it out for the best film, while “American Hustle” (ten nominations) is still in the game, with actors nominated in all four acting categories for the second year in a row, and three BAFTA wins. Jennifer Lawrence might win that second Oscar after all.

Here are my predictions on who will win in each category, who I think deserved(but won’t win) and who I would hate to see win.

BEST PICTURE

The nominees are-

“12 Years a Slave”
“Gravity”
“American Hustle”
“Captain Phillips”
“Nebraska”
“Philomena”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
“Her”

Some years, the winner of the best picture Oscar is a closed race. There was no serious competition against “The Artist” in 2011.
Some years, it’s a clear face-off. Think of the tough, little-seen Iraq War film “The Hurt Locker” in 2009 up against the most successful film ever, the special-effects driven “Avatar.” David toppled Goliath in the end.
And some years, it’s all-out chaos. Welcome to 2014. Between a 3 way competition between Gravity, 12 years a slave and American Hustle, 12 years a Slave is leading the race.

Who will win- 12 years a slave

Who should win- 12 years a Slave

Who isn’t even nominated- Inside Lweyn davis, Saving Mr. Banks, August Osage

Who should not win – American Hustle

BEST ACTOR

The nominees are-
Matthew McConaughey in “Dallas Buyers Club”
Chiwetel Ejiofor in “12 Years a Slave”
Bruce Dern in “Nebraska”
Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Christian Bale in “American Hustle”

This race just continues to mystify — and while Matthew McConaughey is out front, the love for “12 Years a Slave” and its central performance could push Chiwetel Ejiofor ahead. And how about that Leonardo DiCaprio? With Martin Scorsese as his wingman, the star of “The Wolf of Wall Street” is pushing hard for a win.

Who will win- Matthew McConaughey in “Dallas Buyers Club”

Who should win- Leonardo Di Caprio in Wolf of Wall Street”

Who isn’t even nominated- Tom Hanks for “Captain Philips”, Robert Redford for “All is lost” and Jaquin Phoenix for “Her”

Who should not win – Christian Bale in “American Hustle”

BEST ACTRESS

The nominees are –

Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine”
Amy Adams in “American Hustle”
Judi Dench in “Philomena”
Sandra Bullock in “Gravity”
Meryl Streep in “August: Osage County”

Not only has Blanchett won everywhere else, but her performance so obviously towers above the rest. Her performance in Blue Jasmine will serve as a benchmark for generations of younger actresses to learn and admire. Hope Woody Allen’s private life has no impact on a brilliant performance.

Who will win- Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine”

Who should win- Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine”

Who isn’t even nominated- Emma Thompson for Saving Mr banks(I still cannot believe she isn’t nominated)

Who should not win – Meryl Streep (Not again man!!!)

BEST DIRECTOR

The nominees are-

“Gravity” Alfonso Cuarón
“12 Years a Slave” Steve McQueen
“American Hustle” David O. Russell
“The Wolf of Wall Street” Martin Scorsese
“Nebraska” Alexander Payne

Gravity was a film no one else could have executed. You can only ask “How’d he do it?!” so many times in regards to Cuarón’s visually stunning work on “Gravity” before it’s time to just give the man his Oscar.

Who will win- Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity

Who should win- Alfonso Cuarón

Who isn’t even nominated- Spike Jonze for Her

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

The nominees are-

Jared Leto in “Dallas Buyers Club”
Michael Fassbender in “12 Years a Slave”
Barkhad Abdi in “Captain Phillips”
Jonah Hill in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Bradley Cooper in “American Hustle”

Jared Leto has been in the lead forever, with a Screen Actors Guild honor to back him up. But is it possible he was ahead for too long? Could that open a door for unknown Barkhad Abdi to bring one home for the “Captain Phillips” team? Or Michael Fasssbander for the evil role in 12 years a slave.

Who will win- Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Cluby

Who should win- Michael Fassbender in “12 Years a Slave”

Who should not win- Jonah Hill in “The Wolf of Wall Street”

Who isn’t even nominated- Jeremy Renner(the only actor from American Hustle not nominated)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

The nominees are-

Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”
Jennifer Lawrence in “American Hustle”
June Squibb in “Nebraska”
Sally Hawkins in “Blue Jasmine”
Julia Roberts in “August: Osage County”

Finally, there’s some suspense! This would be Lawrence’s Oscar had she not just won last year — that’s just how Oscar politics go. Last year’s win for Jennifer Lawrence as Best Actress actually tips this in Lupita Nyong’o’s favor in her gutsy debut. But if “American Hustle” doesn’t win here — where will it win?

Who will win- Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”

Who should win- Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”

Who should not win- Jennifer Lawrence in “American Hustle”

Who isn’t even nominated- Léa Seydoux in Blue Is the Warmest Color

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The nominees are-
Her”
“American Hustle”
“Nebraska”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“Blue Jasmine”

Who will win- Her

Who should win- Her

Who should not win- American Hustle

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The nominees are-
“12 Years a Slave”
“Captain Phillips”
“Philomena”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
“Before Midnight”

Who will win- 12 years a slave

Who should win- Before Midnight

Who should not win- The Wolf of wall street

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

The nominees are-
“Gravity” Emmanuel Lubezki
“Nebraska” Phedon Papamichael
“Inside Llewyn Davis” Bruno Delbonnel
“Prisoners” Roger A. Deakins
“The Grandmaster” Philippe Le Sourd

Hard to see this not going to “Gravity” for that breathtaking photography. It feels like we’ve all been to outer space after watching that film.

Who will win- Gravity

Who should win- Gravity

BEST ANIMATED FILM

The nominees are-
Frozen”
“The Croods”
“The Wind Rises”
“Despicable Me 2”
“Ernest & Celestine”

Everyone agrees that all other contenders will be “Frozen” out.

Who will win- Frozen

Who should win- Frozen

Who should not win- Despicable me 2

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

The nominees are-
“Let It Go” from “Frozen”
“Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”
“Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
“The Moon Song” from “Her”

Who will win- Let it go

Who should win- Let it go (It will be a treat to watch Idina Menzel perform live at the oscars)

Who should not win- Ordinary Love (Although Nelson Mandela’s family is coming to watch the performnace)

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

The nominees are-
“The Book Thief” John Williams
“Gravity” Steven Price
“Her” William Butler and Owen Pallett
“Philomena” Alexandre Desplat
“Saving Mr. Banks” Thomas Newman

Who will win- Gravity

Who i want to win- Saving mr. Banks

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

The nominees are-
“American Hustle”
“The Great Gatsby”
“The Invisible Woman”
“12 Years a Slave”
“The Grandmaster”

The Great Gatsby,” once thought to be a major Oscar contender (before anyone had seen the movie), will now get its consolation prizes for those parts of Baz Luhrmann’s mortifying jazz age pastiche that worked, including his wife Catherine Martin’s costumes.

Who will win- The Great Gatsby

Who should win- 12 years a slave

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

The nominees are-
“Her”
“The Great Gatsby”
“Gravity”
“American Hustle”
“12 Years a Slave”

Who will win- Confused between Gatsby, and 12 years a slave

Who should win- The Great Gatsby

BEST EDITING

the nominees are-
“Gravity”
“Captain Phillips”
“American Hustle”
“12 Years a Slave”
“Dallas Buyers Club”

Who will win- Gravity

Who should win- Gravity(Shortest film at 91 minutes)

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLE

Nominees are-
Dallas Buyers Club
The Lone Ranger
Bad Grandpa

Who will win- Dallas Buyers Club

Who should win- Dallas Buyers Club

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Nominees are-
“The Great Beauty” Italy
“The Hunt” Denmark
“The Broken Circle Breakdown” Belgium
“Omar” Palestine
“The Missing Picture” Cambodia

Who will win- The great Beauty

Who isn’t even here- Blue is the warmest color

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Nominees are-
“Gravity”
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”
“Iron Man 3”
“The Lone Ranger”
“Star Trek Into Darkness”

The category with the most money at the box office. This award has been predicted as early as the eye-popping “Gravity” first screened for anyone.

Who will win – Gravity

Who should win- Gravity

Who isn’t even nominated- Pacific rim

OTHER AWARDS

BEST SOUND EDITING- Gravity
BEST SOUND MIXING- Gravity
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM- Get a Horse

Catch the Oscars on Star Movies if you are in India live from 5:30 and come back to see how many of my predictions were correct. See you at the Oscars!!!