Way to early 86th Academy Award Predictions

Oscar season is only a quick hop into the future, and potential nominees are making their trips around to various festivals promoting their films. Without seeing any films that are garnering Oscar buzz (outside Fruitvale Station and Mud) the time for my Oscar Predictions are now. With undeniable knowledge and  dumb luck, I will be predicting the major categories in the 86th Academy Awards. If you are unaware, these categories consist of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Actor, and Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress and Best Animated film for fun. Here we go.

Best Picture

Gravity

Twelve Years A Slave
Inside Llewyn Davis
The Monuments Men
Wolf Of Wall Street
American Hustle
Saving Mr. Banks

I am giving the nod here to Twelve Years A Slave, though at this point who really knows. I know I don't. However due to its fantastic reviews, emotion story arc and the potential of world class performances, this one could go for a sweep. Last years Django Unchained was essentially a semi-comical slave film that garnered a Best Picture nod. Twelve Years A Slave is going for pure emotional punch and it seems to have achieved that. (Runner up for me was Gravity)

Best Director

Steve McQueen- Twelve Years A Slave
Alfonso Cuaron- Gravity
Coen Brothers- Inside Llewyn Davis
Martin Scorcese- Wolf Of Wall Street
David O. Russel- American Hustle

Due to its technical prowess and overall beauty, I think Alfonso Cuaron will get it this year for Gravity. Much like Ang Lee won last year with the stunning film Life of Pi. Though stats show that it's rather rare for this to happen, I believe whoever wins Best Picture won't take home the award for Best Director.

Best Actor

Chitwel Elojifer- Twelve Years A Slave
Christian Bale- Out Of The Furnace
Idris Elba- Mandela: Long Road To Freedom
Leonardo DiCaprio- Wolf Of Wall Street
Michael B. Jordan- Fruitvale Station

I have been predicting DiCaprio to win for years now, only to see him go home empty handed. Once again I am going to take that bet and give him one last go. Though I would find it sad to see him win for a role that is more comical than some of his truly great performances, I would be ecstatic to see it.

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett- Blue Jasime
Sandra Bullock- Gravity
Meryl Streep- Osage: August County
Amy Adams- American Hustle
Emma Thompson- Saving Mr. Banks

This will be the one performance that may push Gravity into the winning circles of Best Picture. Sandra Bullock has won before and is beloved by the academy. Not to mention she has to carry a film where she acts solely in front of a green screen, hanging from wires like a marionette. She is stuck in space! how creepy is that, and reviews have pointed towards here towering performance.

Best Supporting Actor

Michael Fassbender- Twelve Years A Slave
Tom Hanks- Saving Mr. Banks
Daniel Bruhl- Rush
Matthew McConaughey- Mud
James Gandolfini- Enough Said

Though DiCaprio could garner a nomination for his performance as a plantation owner last year. I doubt Fassbender will be that full of life and comical, it will be a villainous and gut wrenching performance. One that will brand itself into audiences brains, giving Twelve Years A Slave its first Oscar Win.

Best Supporting Actress

Oprah Winfrey- Lee Daniels: The Butler
Luptia Nyong'o- Twelve Years A Slave
Jennifer Lawrence- American Hustle
Naomi Harris- Mandela: Long Road To Freedom
Octavia Spencer- Fruitvale Station

I have no idea about this category, hence why I just followed my game plan and chose a Twelve Years A Slave actor. To give me some validity people have raved about her performance, whoever she is.

Animated Film

The Wind Rises
Monsters University
Frozen
Ernest & Celestine

Though many people don't know this film, I have probably my strongest argument of this whole article about The Wind Rises. What makes this film a sure fire winner is legendary Director Hayao Miyazaki. I believe that he has garnered 2 nominations (Ponyo and Spirited Away) and the latter won. What makes him such a sure fire winner is the fact that it;s his final film in his illustrious career. What better way to acknowledge such a career, than giving him one final award. If he doesn't win, expect Frozen to be a massive hit and for a lifetime achievement award to follow in the upcoming years. Not to mention this year is what I consider one of the poorest for truely great animated films.