ACADEMY AWARDS SPECIAL: OSCARS PREVIEW

Whether it's the cringy acceptance speeches, incredible outfits or quite simply commemorating some of the best films of late, what's not to love about Los Angeles’ most prestigious night.

Hollywood's finest will be taking to the red carpet on Sunday for the 86th Academy Awards and I'm not going to even try and pretend I'm not knickers-in-a-twist excited. 

This is who I think will win the six major awards...and who should actually walk away with the wee gold man instead.

BEST PICTURE
American Hustle
Captain Phillips

Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

What will win? 12 Years a Slave
What should win? Wolf of Wall Street
Why? Captain Phillips was a surprise stand out last year, so along with Dallas Buyers Club, they both deserve their nominations. Nebraska, American Hustle and Philomena were excellent don’t feel up to the status of the Academy Award’s best picture. Her was an insult to cinema (review to follow, you have that to look forward to) and 12 Years a Slave was nothing but Oscar bait. As impressive as it was, it screams desperation for Hollywood gold. The Wolf of Wall Street, however, was yet another Scorsese masterpiece - original, charming and as gritty as it was crass.

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Christian Bale (American Hustle)
Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Who will win? Chiwetel Ejiofor
Who should win? Leonardo DiCaprio
Why? It’s a travesty in itself that Leo Di hasn't got a Hollywood star never mind an Oscar in his long and glittering career, but that injustice doesn't look like it will be ending anytime soon. I can’t see them commemorating his work for portraying someone who relies on drugs for the high life, over someone who relies on them to live. But I doubt McConaughey will win either, despite him and Bale deserving special praise for their significant changes in weight – all for the sake of entertainment. Instead, the inevitable win for Ejiofor proves the theory that this award goes to who acts the most, and not the best.


BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Amy Adams (American Hustle)
Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
Judi Dench (Philomena)
Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

Who will win? Cate Blanchett
Who should win? Amy Adams
Why? Dench’s role felt like an easy, and predictable character for the 79-year old, while panic screams shouldn't be enough to merit Bullock the gong. Gravity should be commemorated for its effects, but little more. Streep was outstanding as the troubled and tortured mother in August, but it will be the Blanchett’s troubled and tortured portrayal that will tip it her way. (I see a pattern emerging). Adam’s hurt and anguish was kept from the surface but deserves the credit for taking on the complex con artist role sublimely.


BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)
Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Who will win? Barkhad Abdi
Who should win? Jared Leto
Why? A tough category and it’s difficult to fault Hill, Fassbender and Cooper, but Abdi and Leto left a lasting impact. Abdi came from nothing to win the BAFTA for this category and even though it’s a difficult one to predict, he could make it a double. Leto’s heartwarming transgender performance would have melted an iceberg though, and deserves credit for the challenging and original performance he treated us to.



BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)
Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
June Squibb (Nebraska)

Who will win? Lupita Nyong’o
Who should win? Jennifer Lawrence
Why? You can rule Squibb and Roberts out already, and probably Hawkins too despite her delightful performance as the tolerant, yet naive sister in Blue Jasmine. It will come down to a battle between Lawrence and outstanding newcomer Nyong’o with most expecting the 12 Years’ youngster to take the glory. (And to be fair, she was the best thing about the film). Lawrence’s BAFTA victory in the same category, however, keeps the race open and rightly so considering she bettered her performance in Silver Linings Playbook – the one she won the Best Actress award for last year. 

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

Who will win? Alfonso Cuarón
Who should win? Martin Scorsese
Why? Russell and Payne both provided us with highly entertaining and captivating movies but I don’t think either will come within touching distance of this award. McQueen stands a good chance but is probably the least likely 12 Years winner from the top categories. Scorsese won’t win, but any director who is able to take a story about finance and turn it into a three hour epic deserves some form of golden high five. Cuarón’s wins at both the Golden Globes and the BAFTA’s however, makes this one a predictable category. 

There may be some glaring absentees from the big categories – Emma Thompson (Saving Mr Banks) and Matt Damon (Behind the Candelabra) being the two that spring to my mind, but nevertheless, enjoy the show fellow cinema lovers and let me know what you think too.