Oscar 2014: Preview,Predictions, Preferences and Snubs.









2013 has been one of the toughest years for movie critics. It can

also be called a biographical year. Six of the nine films nominated for best

picture this year are based or inspired by true events in varying degrees.

Several of the Award season favourites which did not make the cut for the

nominations were based on true events. There is a common misunderstanding among

audiences that a feature film based on an event is often true from the first

frame to the last. But after all the movies one sees of the year gone by,

you realise that it is not so. The director/writer often make changes to

better suit a narrative or make the movie entertaining. You often want a

tragic/happy event to follow which may not necessarily be the case in real

life. If one wants to see the mirrored truth onscreen, documentaries will still

be your best bet. But the biographical films this year need to be appreciated

because they make us aware about the instances in a person/communities

life.Here is my preview for the upcoming Oscar Ceremony on March 2nd.



Best Actor in a Leading role



This year's best actor award is not going to be about the best

performance of the year,but more about the paying of dues. The front-runner so

far-Matthew McConaughey seems to be jovial and expecting his first Oscar win.I

had previously stated that sometimes challenging roles which are done right

need to be awarded. The role of a HIV patient who fights for his life has

always been looked on generously by the Academy though Tom Hanks in

Philadelphia still remains a class apart for me.But my preference is going to

be for Leonardo DiCaprio.I feel if he is not awarded this year, the Academy

runs the risk of creating another Peter O' Toole. This is not to ignore the

fact that in Wolf Of Wall Street he goes all in, more than any of his previous

performances.



My Preferences:1) Leonardo DiCaprio





2)Chiwetel Ejiofor





3)Christian Bale



Who Will Win: Matthew McConaughey



Shocking Snubs: The Oscars are not about who wins. With a

year full of so many good films and performances, it is also about giving

recognition through nominations. Joaquin Phoenix (Her),Tom Hanks (Captain

Philips) and according to many critics-Robert Redford (All is Lost) (I

haven't seen the movie so can't comment) have been ignored by the Academy.



Best Actress in a Leading Role



A year where Meryl Streep is nominated, competition is a word

which means nothing. However, despite her extraordinarily "Meryl"

performance this year, there were few which seem to deserve more. Besides,

Legends can rarely be honoured with only awards. Cate Blanchett seems to be

running clearly unopposed for her honest and staggeringly brutal performance in

Blue Jasmine.



My Preferences:1) Cate Blanchett





2)Sandra Bullock



Who Will Win: Cate Blanchett





Snubs: There was a lot said about the snub given

to Emma Thompson for "Saving Mr Banks". But the performance which I

feel should have atleast gained a nomination was Brie Larson in "Short

Term 12". I found her as effective as Cate.













Best Actor in a Supporting Role



The supporting role and lead role male have a similar trend. Jared

Leto's performance in Dallas Buyers Club seems to be running as a clear

favourite. It was again a role like McCounaghey's which required effort and

overcoming challenges. But I am a vicious Michael Fassbender fan. I still

believe that his performance in Shame was worthy of a nomination in 2011. In 12

Years A Slave, his role of a merciless slave owner conflicted in his obsession

for a woman was terrifying and honest to watch.



My Preferences: 1) Michael Fassbender





2)Jared Leto





3)Barkhad Abdi





4)Jonah Hill



Who Will Win: Jared Leto



Best Actress in a Supporting Role



2012-13 has been a golden run for Jennifer Lawrence. She has

quickly established herself as a performer above all. I thoroughly enjoyed her

short but memorable performance in American Hustle. But all the nominees in

this list pale in comparison to Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years A Slave. Her

performance and reactions haunt you.



My Preferences:1)Lupita Nyong'o





2)Julia Roberts





3) June Squib



Who Will Win: Too close to call.



Best Film in a Foreign Language



Of the nominated films in this category, I have only been able to

see The Hunt and The Great Beauty. The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza) is art film of the year for

me. The scale and the narration are unlike any other I have ever seen. It is

sure to be the favourite to win this category.









Best Director



A tough category to pick and choose, with legends and future

legends in the mix. Alfonso Cuaron has been the front runner for the

inexplicable experience of Gravity. I prefer Steve McQueen for his unafraid,

artistic style of directing. 12 Years A Slave has the desired impact simply

because of this visionary artist. If 12 Years is not awarded best film, there is a

high chance of Steve picking up the Oscar as per the tradition of the Academy.



My Preferences:1) Steve Mcqueen



2) Alfonso Cuaron



3) Martin Scorsese



Who Will Win: Alfonso Cuaron



Best Picture



1)American Hustle: David O Russell's smart and funny take on

con jobs with a highly adept cast provides a thrilling ride, adding yet another

feather to the director's illustrious cap. Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence

are a must see.



2) Captain Philips: Paul Greengrass's Captain Philips is a

reminder on why Tom Hanks is a great actor. A fast paced action thriller based

on a true event makes for an unlikely Oscar favourite. But Tom Hanks carries

the film through with a terrific supporting cast. His performance in the last 5

minutes of the film will always stay with you.



3)Dallas Buyers Club: Dallas Buyers Club talks about the early

days of the AIDS epidemic and how one man who is diagnosed with HIV and given

30 days to live goes on to live for 7 more years. Matthew McConaughey and Jared

Leto as we have never seen them before, deliver their finest work till date.



4)Gravity: One of the best cinematic experience of

the past decade gives a bold statement on why watching movies in a theater is

still the best option even in the age of Netflix and On-Demand service. Alfonso

Cuaron creates a cinematic experience which will transport you to Space. Sandra

Bullock gives a mesmerizing performance without ever just letting the effects

and cinematography take all the credit for the film.



5)Her: Spike Jonze's Her talks about something so

real that it could have misfired if not for his steady direction and amazing

script. Jonze offers us a glimpse of our technology dependent future involving

human emotions. Joaquin Phoenix blends into his character to give a true portrayal

of love and loneliness in our time.



6) Nebraska: Nebraska offers us a look into the life

and trials of an old man as he looks for redemption for his mistakes and

regrets alongwith his son. Alexander Payne provides a witty and humorous take

on old age and the bond parents share with their children with a strong

performance by Bruce Dern.



7)Philomena: Steve Coogan (writer and actor) offers us

an effective dramedy with thespian Judi Dench in another film dealing with the

true story of an old woman seeking to find her child ,taken away from her when

she was a teenager. Philomena is both-funny and heartbreaking.



8)12 Years A Slave: Based on the true story of a free man who

was forced into slavery in America,12 Years offers an insight into one of the

darkest periods of human history. McQueen is unabashed in his portrayal of the

exploitation and injustice which was prevalent in America. A strong cast lead

by a harrowing performance by Chiwetel delves into the human shame to ask the

question-How could mankind ever live like this?



9) The Wolf Of Wall Street: Martin Scorsese's Wolf offers a comic take

at the rise and fall of Jordan Belfort. Made with an uncompromising fervour

with few things too extreme for few viewers, Scorsese wants us to laugh at the

characters as well as ourselves in the eternal pursuit of greed. Leonardo

DiCaprio and Jonah Hill give a full throttled performance in this joyride of a movie.

This movie is for the ages like all of Scorsese's movies.



My Preference: I think American Hustle is this year's

Argo. It is fictional yet based on a true event so it escapes any scathing

criticism and is a comedy which rarely offends anyone. I was satisfied with the

movie but it was not the best comedy of the year neither the best con movie. To

remain politically correct, the Academy may choose it. My preference is for 12

Years A Slave. Powerful visuals alongwith deeply impacting performances make this an instant classic. The question is not whether some of the brutality

shown actually happened. The question is-is it important? As I stated earlier,

movies on true events help us ask our own question to things we might have been

previously unaware of.12 Years A Slave is an important film like Schindler's

List. It needs to be lauded for its flawless execution and spirit based on

something so grotesque.



1) 12 Years A Slave

2) Gravity









Snubs of the Year: As I said previously, there were too many

good films this year for any single award season to give them their proper due.

Fruitvale Station, Short Term 12, Spectacular Now made a deep impact on me. But

one movie which I was really moved by and thought needed recognition was

Prisoners. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal were deserving of nominations in

this well designed thriller alongwith a best picture/director nomination.



Oscars are prestigious. But they don't certify legends. The

audience and the craft does. My preferences may not win. But their performances

are something I will always cherish as a part of me. That is what good cinema

is. It is alien at first and then it's a part of you. Happy Viewing!











