It’s Oscar time again, and not a moment too soon. I don’t know about you but I can’t really take another awards show. But before we close the door on 2013 and finally move on with 2014, MoviefiedNYC celebrates Hollywood’s glitzy prom night known as The Academy Awards with our Oscar predictions—and dreams (we include the snubs)—for some of 2013’s best movies. Will Matthew McConaughey and Cate Balchett be crowned as this year’s Prom King and Prom Queen?
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: American Hustle (Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell), Blue Jasmine (Woody Allen), Dallas Buyers Club (Craig Borten, Melisa Wallack), Her (Spike Jonze), Nebraska (Bob Nelson)
- David:This is a tough one but I think Her will and should win but don’t be surprised by an American Hustle win.
- Myrna: Her will win and should win, but I believe American Hustle could sneak it out from under Spike Jonze.
- Eddie: Her is about a guy falling in love with his operating system and the award is for best original screenplay. Will win: Her; Should win: Her.
- Sinann: Her hands down! American Hustle is in the running but Spike Jonze deserves the win!
 |
| Her |
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Before Midnight (Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke), Captain Phillips (Billy Ray), Philomena (Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope), 12 Years a Slave (John Ridley), The Wolf of Wall Street (Terence Winter)
- David: 12 Years a Slave will win and should. However, um, Go, Before Midnight!
- Myrna: 12 Years a Slave will win but it should go to Before Midnight, though my heart belongs to The Wolf of Wall Street.
- Eddie: The Wolf of Wall Street is the most outrageous screenplay of the year, but I don’t think it will be able to overtake 12 Years a Slave even though that movie came alive more through the performances than the script. My choice would be Philomena for being deftly funny and touching within moments without ever feeling schizophrenic. Will win: 12 Years a Slave; Should win: Philomena
- Sinann: The Wolf of Wall Street was phenomenal, Philomena was touching, and Before Midnight has a place in my heart that only the final piece of a trilogy can take but 12 Years a Slave is the clear winner here.
 |
| Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke (Before Midnight)
|
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: Gravity (Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk, Neil Corbould), The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, Eric Reynolds), Iron Man 3 (Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash, Dan Sudick), The Lone Ranger (Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams, John Frazier), Star Trek Into Darkness (Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann, Burt Dalton)
- David: Gravity; Who should win: Gravity
- Myrna: Gravity should and will win.
- Eddie: Not every day does a film come around that changes moviemaking. Will win/should win: Gravity
- Sinann: Gravity. No doubt.
 |
|
Gravity |
.BEST SOUND MIXING: Captain Phillips (Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith, Chris Munro), Gravity (Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead, Chris Munro), The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick, Tony Johnson), Inside Llewyn Davis (Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff, Peter F. Kurland), Lone Survivor (Andy Koyama, Beau Borders, David Brownlow)
- David: Gravity, Gravity, Gravity
- Myrna: Gravity should and will win. Sorry Llewyn Davis.
- Eddie: Sandra Bullock’s breathing sold half the movie. Will win/should win: Gravity.
- Sinann: Gravity. It’s got some good competition but nothing that’s going to come close.
 |
| Inside LLewyn Davis |
BEST SOUND EDITING: All Is Lost (Steve Boeddeker, Richard Hymns), Captain Phillips (Oliver Tarney), Gravity (Glenn Freemantle), The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Brent Burge, Chris Ward), Lone Survivor (Wylie Stateman)
- David: Gravity will and should win.
- Myrna: Will win and should win Gravity. Space was actually silent!
- Eddie: See above. Will win/Should win: Gravity.
- Sinann: Again, Gravity. Although, Captain Philips is worth a mention as its breath stopping tension is due, at least in part, to it’s sound editing.
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT: Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me) (Esteban Crespo), Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything) (Xavier Legrand, Alexandre Gavras), Helium (Anders Walter, Kim Magnusson), Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?) (Selma Vilhunen, Kirsikka Saari), The Voorman Problem (Mark Gill, Baldwin Li)
- David: That Wasn’t Me (Spain) left me wanting more than just its short 24 minutes. Just Before Losing Everything (France) kept me on the edge of my seat, it could win; but, I predict Esteban Crespo the director of That Wasn’t Me’s will take home a well deserved Oscar.
- Myrna: The Voorman Problem will win. Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything) should win.
- Eddie: I abstain due to ignorance.
- Sinann: The Voorman Problem. Martin Freeman wins all.
 |
| The Voorman Problem
|
BEST ANIMATED SHORT:Feral (Daniel Sousa, Dan Golden), Get a Horse! (Lauren MacMullan, Dorothy McKim), Mr. Hublot (Laurent Witz, Alexandre Espigares), Possessions (Shuhei Morita), Room on the Broom (Max Lang, Jan Lachauer)
- David: Sadly this is not a great selection, but the cute and charming Room on the Broom will win. My “should” vote goes to the visually scrumptious Mr. Hublot.
- Myrna: I think Room on the Broom will win, but Mr. Hublot stole my heart and I think was beautifully animated.
- Eddie: I got nada.
- Sinann: Mr. Hubolt should win, but I imagine Room on the Broom will win.
 |
| Mr. Hublot
|
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: The Croods (Chris Sanders, Kirk DeMicco, Kristine Belson), Despicable Me 2 (Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin, Chris Meledandri), Ernest & Celestine (Benjamin Renner, Didier Brunner), Frozen (Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, Peter Del Vecho), The Wind Rises (Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki)
- David: Frozen will win, I can’t forget the beauty and depth of Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises
- Myrna: The Wind Rises should and will win.
- Eddie: Frozen is this generation’s The Little Mermaid, reminding people that Disney (not just it’s Pixar arm) can make animated classics. Will/should win: Frozen.
- Sinann: Despicable Me 2 is adorable, The Wind Rises is a masterpiece but the Disney machine will once again prevail with Frozen.
 |
| The Wind Rises |
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: American Hustle (Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler), Gravity (Andy Nicholson, Rosie Goodwin, Joanne Woollard), The Great Gatsby (Catherine Martin, Beverley Dunn), Her (K.K. Barrett, Gene Serdena), 12 Years a Slave (Adam Stockhausen, Alice Baker)
- David: The Great Gatsby will likely win, but I give it to 12 Years a Slave.
- Myrna: The Great Gatsby should win ( I love Catherine Martin). Gravity will win but Her could also sneak in there.
- Eddie: There is subtler work being done here like in Her, but the glitz and glamour of the world of Gatsby was exactly as intoxicating as it was supposed to be. Will win/should win: The Great Gatsby.
- Sinann: The Great Gatsby will win, and deservedly so, it’s just made for Academy recognition. However, the subtly futuristic world of Her and could surprise us all.
 |
| The Great Gatsby
|
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: “Happy” (Despicable Me 2), “Let It Go” (Frozen), “The Moon Song” (Her), “Ordinary Love” (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
- David: “Let It Go” should and will win.
- Myrna: It is Pharrell’s year; “Happy” will and should win.
- Eddie: “Let It Go” is a musical comeback for Disney Studios, despite the pure joy of Pharrell’s “Happy.” Will win/Should win: “Let It Go”.
- Sinann: Pharrell’s “Happy“ has been contagiously catchy but everyone and their mother have being making covers of “Let It Go”. It’s this years winner.
Best Original Song 2013 – Adele for SkyFall
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: The Book Thief (John Williams), Gravity (Steven Price), Her (William Butler, Owen Pallett), Philomena (Alexandre Desplat), Saving Mr. Banks (Thomas Newman)
- David: Gravity will and probably should
- Myrna: Her should win a haunting score. Gravity will win.
- Eddie: Gravity’s score was exactly what the movie needed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Will win/Should win: Gravity.
- Sinann: Her was pretty memorable for it’s score, if you’ve seen the film you’ll remember that scene on the beach.
BEST MAKE UP & HAIR: Dallas Buyers Club (Adruitha Lee, Robin Mathews), Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (Stephen Prouty), The Lone Ranger (Joel Harlow, Gloria Pasqua-Casny)
- David: Dallas Buyers Club will win. American Hustle should win (The HAIR–just pick a character!).
- Myrna: Dallas Buyers Club will win and should win.
- Eddie: I get concerned when subtler work is up against things like making Johnny Knoxville look like an old man, but I think cooler heads will prevail. Will win/Should win: Dallas Buyers Club.
- Sinann: Dallas Buyers Club will win. Johnny Knoxville’s make up was fantastic but the world just isn’t ready to hear the words “And the Academy Award goes to Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.”
 |
| The Lone Ranger |
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: The Broken Circle Breakdown (Belgium), The Great Beauty (Italy), The Hunt (Denmark), The Missing Picture (Cambodia), Omar (Palestine)
- David: It’s been 15 years since Italy last won this category. The Great Beauty should give one more to the country that’s won the most Foreign Language Oscars (13 so far). Who should win: Blue is the Warmest Color or Wadjda but they didn’t make it to this year’s awards
- Myrna: The Great Beauty (Italy) will win, The Broken Circle Breakdown (Belgium) could win. Post Tenebras Lux should win.
- Eddie: Let’s say Omar. Why not?
- Sinann: The Great Beauty.
 |
| The Great Beauty |
BEST FILM EDITING: American Hustle (Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers, Alan Baumgarten), Captain Phillips (Christopher Rouse), Dallas Buyers Club (John Mac McMurphy, Martin Pensa), Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón, Mark Sanger), 12 Years a Slave (Joe Walker)
- David: Gravity will win. American Hustle should win.
- Myrna: Gravity will and should win, seamless long gorgeous shot of space.
- Eddie: American Hustle rested on the ability to bring that whole story together and make it seems cohesive, but Gravity‘s general flash might make it unstoppable in the technical categories. Will win: Gravity; Should win: American Hustle.
- Sinann: America Hustle should win but Gravity will get it.
 |
| American Hustle |
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: The Act of Killing (Joshua Oppenheimer, Signe Byrge Sørensen), Cutie and the Boxer (Zachary Heinzerling, Lydia Dean Pilcher), Dirty Wars (Richard Rowley, Jeremy Scahill), The Square (Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer), 20 Feet from Stardom (Nominees to be determined)
- David: 20 Feet from Stardom has all the attention, it’s a safe choice. The Act of Killing is one of the year’s best picture, it should win.
- Myrna: The Act of Killing should win, 20 Feet from Stardom will win and The Stories We Tell should be on this list.
- Eddie: The Act of Killing; who should win: 20 Feet from Stardom
- Sinann: I loved 20 feet from Stardom and it’s definitely worthy of its nomination but The Act of Killing just seems to have more of an award buzz around it.
 |
| The Act of Killing
|
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT: CaveDigger (Jeffrey Karoff), Facing Fear (Jason Cohen), Karama Has No Walls (Sara Ishaq), The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life (Malcolm Clarke, Nicholas Reed), Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall (Edgar Barens)
- David:Karama Has No Walls will and should win. Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall is a close for its effectively powerful and intimate look at the elderly in prisons, WW II war heroes, and race healing (all that in 40 minutes).
- Myrna: Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall should win, Karama Has No Walls will win.
- Eddie: I abstain.
- Sinann: The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life.
 |
| Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall (Edgar Barens)
|
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: American Hustle (Michael Wilkinson), The Grandmaster (William Chang Suk Ping), The Great Gatsby (Catherine Martin), The Invisible Woman (Michael O’Connor), 12 Years a Slave (Patricia Norris)
- David: Who will win? Gatsby. Who should win? American Hustle for its subtle, effective, yet ’70s fun costumes.
- Myrna: The Great Gatsby will win. American Hustle should win; they did the ’70’s with class.
- Eddie: I’d love to see American Hustle take this one because it managed to be very ’70’s without being a joke. However, The Great Gatsby is more the type of picture that takes this kind of award. The Great Gatsby; Should win: American Hustle
- Sinann: The Great Gatsby swept the nation, it influenced fashion shows, celebrities and the public alike. Gatsby parties are now a thing. It will and should win.
 |
| The Great Gatsby |
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: The Grandmaster (Philippe Le Sourd), Gravity (Emmanuel Lubezki), Inside Llewyn Davis (Bruno Delbonnel), Nebraska (Phedon Papamichael), Prisoners (Roger A. Deakins)
- David: Gravity to win. For its gorgeous, soft focus, faded-color look, I say Inside Llewyn Davis.
- Myrna: My “should win” is not even nominated Her. It’s Gravity’s to lose.
- Eddie: Not to put too fine a point on it, but the cinematography in Gravity was mind-blowing for the way it, huh, defied gravity. Will win/should win: Gravity
- Sinann: Gravity.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine), Jennifer Lawrence ( American Hustle), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), Julia Roberts (August Osage County), June Squibb (Nebraska)
- David: This is tough but I think Lupita Nyong’o is going to win. Who should win is Lupita Nyong’o.
- Myrna: Lupita Nyong’o should win, Jennifer Lawrence will win, she is Hollywood’s new favorite.
- Eddie: I have to say that I loved Julia Roberts’ performance in August: Osage County – I think it was her best ever performance. That being said, I, like most people, am torn between Lawrence’s mesmerizing turn and Nyong’o’s heartbreaking performance. I give Lawrence the slight age, because the screen erupts whenever she is on it. Will win: Lupita Nyong’o; Should win: Jennifer Lawrence.
- Sinann: I love Jennifer Lawrence in both her personal sentiments, interviews and ideas as well as her acting. She’s fantastic. However, Lupita Nyong’o deserves it. Whether she get it though, is another thing entirely. I just don’t know.
Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: 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)
- David: And the winner is Jared Leto, full stop!
- Myrna: Jared Leto hands down.
- Eddie: Jared Leto is flat-out revelatory. And he’s the heart of what can sometimes be a very frustrating film. Will win/Should win: Jared Leto.
- Sinann: Jared Leto. Rayon won all our hearts.
 |
| Jared Leto
|
BEST ACTRESS: Amy Adams (American Hustle), Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), Sandra Bullock (Gravity), Judi Dench (Philomena), Meryl Streep (August Osage County)
- David: Cate Blanchett has owned this trophy since Blue Jasmine was released last summer. Who should win: Cate Blanchett
- Myrna: Cate Blanchett will win, though I would love to see Amy Adams walk away with it.
- Eddie: For me this is a four-way tie (sorry, Meryl). The reason that Gravity is more than just a technical triumph is because of Bullock’s layered performance, but it’s being overshadowed by a variety of other things and I just flat-out loved Judi Dench in Philomena. In the end, Blanchett’s devastating infuriating performance will take the prize, but my vote would go to Amy Adams for her riveting performance that was equal parts Junebug and The Fighter. Will win: Cate Blanchett; Should win: Amy Adams.
- Sinann: Cate Blanchett, no question about it. It’s tough luck for Bullock who would have shined if not for Blue Jasmine.
 |
| Cate Blanchett |
BEST ACTOR: 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)
- David:This is Matthew McConaughey’s year! DiCaprio should win for his for his unforgettable performance, it’s time and well deserved! All five men are fantastic! What a year for the Actors!
- Myna: This is tougher than in other years both McConaughey and DiCaprio have turned in career changing performances. McConaughey will win, DiCaprio should win.
- Eddie: While there’s no denying that McConaughey is great in Dallas Buyers Club, Leonardo DiCaprio gave the performance of the year. And while I’m at it, I’d vote Chiwetel Ejiofor because his performance made me forget I was watching a movie. Will win: Matthew McConaughey; Should win: Leonardo DiCaprio
- Sinann: The internet is just dying for Leonardo DiCaprio to win, and after all, doesn’t he deserve it? However, can his glamerous role compare to Chiwetel Ejiofor’s sole wrenching performance in 12 Years a Slave? Will win: Matthew McConaughey. Should win: Chiwetel Ejiofor. Little part of me wants to win: Leo DiCaprio. Sadly, Bruce Dern has been side lined and I genuinely keep forgetting that Christian Bale is even in this category.
 |
| Matthew McConaughey
|
BEST DIRECTOR: American Hustle (David O. Russell), Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón), Nebraska (Alexander Payne), 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen), The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)
- David: Alfonso Cuarón will win, managing special effects wins the Oscars these days. Who should win: Martin Scorsese, it’s his best work in years.
- Myrna: Alfonso Cuarón will win. Who should win Steve McQueen but my heart belongs to Marty.
- Eddie: No question: Will win/Should win: Alfonso Cuarón.
- Sinann: Will Win: Alfonso Cuarón
 |
| Alfonso Cuarón
|
BEST MOTION PICTURE: American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street
- David: I’m happily going with 12 Years a Slave to win. Out of this group of nine, Her is my best picture of 2013.
- Myrna: 12 Years a Slave will win and I’m OK with that. Might win Gravity. But deep down in my heart I believe Her should really be the winner. Spike Jonze is a story teller at the height of his powers.
- Eddie: Tough race. American Hustle is the more entertaining choice and I was unexpectedly charmed and moved by Philomena. However, I think after Gravity sweeps the technical categories, 12 Years a Slave will be rightfully rewarded for the magnitude of its subject matter and the precision of its storytelling. Will win/Should win: 12 Years a Slave
- Sinann: Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave will and should win.
 |
| Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) |
moviefiednyc.com 