Oscar season is definitely the greatest part of the year for any movie lover because it seems like every weekend produces at least one contender for the race. This time of year really allows every moviegoer to stop and truly appreciate the masteful work being done in Hollywood as audiences celebrate actors, directors, and films as a whole.
Every Oscar race in recent memory has often proclaimed that their race is the best in the Academy's history. While this has often proven not to be the case, the 2014 Oscars can very easily make that argument when it's all said and done. To begin with, a couple of films have already emerged as the race's frontrunners. Steve McQueen's 12 Years A Slave has received rave reviews across the board and has just began to make some money at the box office, a hidden key to a successful Oscar campaign. Gravity, Alfonso Cuaron's space thriller, has also received worldwide praise for not only its technical advancements, but also for the direction and acting. The film also continues to far exceed expectations at the box office as it has passed $200 million this past week.
In the second tier of contenders, we find two films helmed by none other than Tom Hanks. Captain Phillips have emerged in the same likeness as Gravity as it was expected to be good, but not one of the best films of the year. Hanks along with director Paul Greengrass and co-star Barkhard Abdi have received much deserved praise and the film is performing extremely well at the box office. The next Tom Hanks-led contender is Saving Mr. Banks. While yet to make its North American debut, it has premiered in Europe, and early word is very positive, citing the picture as a whole as well as Hanks and co-star Emma Thompson. A story about the making of Mary Poppins with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) himself in the film is not only pure Oscar gold, but this film's box office performance should also be strong.
Two films have yet to be released anywhere, but if they deliever, both could be heavy hitters this season. Martin Scorsese reteams with Leonardo DiCaprio for The Wolf of Wall Street, a behind the scenes look at Wall Street and its corruption. The first two trailers have been received with universal acceptance and the expecations are high, but rumors of the film's editing being rush have made people, including myself, a little skeptical until we see the final product. American Hustle, on the other hand, should make its deadline with ease, and it has the makings of a potential winner. David O. Russell has missed out twice in the last three years on the Academy's top prize, and this year, he wants the golden statuette. He has assembled quite an ensemble to pull this film off, starring Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jeremy Renner. If this film is up the standards of Russell's previous works, The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook, look out.
So all that being said, let's take a quick look at the major categories and where we stand going into November.
Best Picture
12 Years a Slave
Gravity
Captain Phillips
Saving Mr. Banks
The Wolf of Wall Street
American Hustle
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
Lee Daniels' The Butler
Alternates
Prisoners
Rush
August: Osage County
Her
Blue Jasmine
The first four I feel extremely confident about. If The Wolf of Wall Street and American Hustle live up to the hype, I'll feel really confident in them as well. The final three could easily be switched with one of the alternates. Prisoners and Rush are both very worthy films, but I unfortunately feel like their staying power won't be strong enough. August: Osage County has the pedigree (based on a Tony award-winning play) and the starpower (Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Benedict Cumberbatch, etc.), but while the reviews have positive, they're hardly rave. Her is a dark horse in this race, but I ultimately think that the Academy will find the film too different for their liking.
Best Director
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
David O. Russell, American Hustle
Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street
Alternates
Joel and Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis
Lee Daniels, Lee Daniels' The Butler
Spike Jonze, Her
John Lee Hancock, Saving Mr. Banks
J.C. Chandor, All is Lost
Best Actor
Chiwetal Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Robert Redford, All is Lost
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Alternates
Forest Whitaker, Lee Daniels' The Butler
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Joaquin Phoenix, Her
Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County
Amy Adams, American Hustle
Alternates
Judi Dench, Philomena
Kate Winslet, Labor Day
Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Berenice Bejo, The Past
Brie Larson, Short Term 12
Best Supporting Actor
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Tom Hanks, Saving Mr. Banks
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Barkhard Abdi, Captain Phillips
Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
Alternates
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Jeremy Renner, American Hustle
James Gandolfini, Enough Said
Daniel Bruh, Rush
John Goodman, Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Supporting Actress
Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels' The Butler
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Orange County
Octavia Spencer, Fruitvale Station
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Alternates
Sarah Paulson, 12 Years a Slave
Amy Adames, Her
Carey Mulligan, Inside Llewyn Davis
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
June Squibb, Nebraska
