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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM

ARTS

EDITED BY CLIO MCCONNELL ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Unprecedented talent compete for glory at 2014 Oscars By IFE OLUJOBI and DANIEL RUBIN LIEBERSON The nominations for the 86th Academy Awards were released Jan. 16, putting a much-needed lid on the wild prognostications that have been going on since July of last year. The announcement did not come with any huge surprises in major categories, but rather with exclusions — the problem this time around is that there are too many deserving artists and too few nomination spots. This year’s scope of films make for an enjoyably perplexing puzzle to predict winners for the upcom-

ing Oscars. However, the results from the Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice and Screen Actors Guild awards all show a trend of winners that make predictions a bit easier. Here we’re giving you a breakdown of the nominees in the major categories to give you a better grasp of how the Oscar race is shaping up as we get closer to March 2. In recent years, especially with the best picture race expanding to include more nominees, some projects feel like filler, earning nominations such as “Oscar bait” (see “The Reader” in 2008, “Extremely Loud and In-

Best Actress

credibly Close” in 2011, etc). This year’s race is so stacked with amazing contender’s that a Martin Scorsese directed film starring Leonardo DiCaprio could easily walk away with no awards. Whoever takes home gold on March 2 will have endured one of the most impressive arrays of nominees in Oscar history. Nothing is certain yet, but look for things to solidify, and for WSN’s coverage and predictions leading up to the awards.

Best Picture

Ife Olujobi is film editor. Daniel Rubin Lieberson is a contributing writer. Email them at film@nyunews.com.

Frontrunner 12 Years a Slave As a well-made film with high social and political relevance, and after wins at the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards, “12 Years a Slave” is due for the win.

Dark Horse American Hustle “American Hustle” is still a strong contender after winning best acting ensemble at the SAG awards and Best Comedy at the Golden Globes, but “Gravity” could very well come out on top.

Should Win Gravity All the nominated films are fantastic and any one of them is worthy of the win, but “Gravity” was our pick for the best film of 2013 over on our Arts blog, The Highlighter, so it should take home the Oscar.

Best Actor

Frontrunner Cate Blanchett

Frontrunner Matthew McConaughey

Screen Actors Guild awards, Oscar winner Cate Blanchett

won at every major awards ceremony this month and

looks poised to win Best Actress for her outstanding work

has the most momentum going into Oscar night.

in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine.”

Dark Horse Christian Bale

Fresh off her wins at the Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice and

Dark Horse Sandra Bullock

Matthew McConaughey of “Dallas Buyers Club” has

Christian Bale, whose performance in “American

Oscar winner Sandra Bullock, who gives the best per-

Hustle” had been quietly building buzz until his sur-

formance of her career in Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity.”

prise nomination last week.

Should Win Amy Adams

Should Win Chiwetel Ejiofor

Chiwetel Ejiofor, in a performance that seems to

Best Supporting Actress Frontrunner Jennifer Lawrence

It’s really a tie between Jennifer Lawrence for “American Hustle” and Lupita Nyong’o for “12 Years a Slave.” Lawrence won the Golden Globe but Nyong’o won both the Critics’ Choice and the SAG awards, so either one could take it.

Dark Horse Sally Hawkins

Sally Hawkins for her strong turn opposite Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine.”

Should Win Lupita Nyong’o

We pick Amy Adams, the only actress in this category

be getting overlooked in favor of actors in showier,

to never have won an Academy Award, though she’s

more accessible roles. His work is the anchor of the

mance that, in a film full of suffering, stood out as

been nominated four times before.

fantastic and harrowing “12 Years a Slave.”

truly heartbreaking.

Best Supporting Actor

Best Director

Frontrunner Jared Leto

Frontrunner Alfonso Cuaron

performance as transgender AIDS patient Rayon in

three major awards of the season for his revelatory

“Dallas Buyers Club.” Like co-star McConnaughey,

technical masterpiece.

Far and away Jared Leto, who gives a transformative

Leto has won every major award up to this point.

Dark Horse Bradley Cooper

“Gravity” helmer Alfonso Cuarón has won the first

Dark Horse Steve McQueen

Lupita Nyong’o for a brave and affecting perfor-

Best Animated Picture Frontrunner Frozen “Frozen,” without a doubt.

Dark Horse The Wind Rises “The Wind Rises” has potential, though contro-

NYU alumnus Steve McQueen might win for his

versy surrounding the film’s seemingly positive

Second-time nominee Bradley Cooper for “American

unflinching look at slavery in “12 Years a Slave.”

message about Japan’s role in WWII has dragged

Hustle” or first-time nominee Michael Fassbender for

But we also cannot forget everyone’s favorite little

it down. “Despicable Me 2” is also vying hard for

“12 Years a Slave” could surprise us.

director, Martin Scorsese.

the win.

Should Win Jared Leto

Should Win Alfonso Cuaron

Should Win Frozen

Jared Leto and his beautiful hair.

Our money is on Alfonso Cuarón.

“Frozen,” no contest.