Knee-Jerk 2014 Oscar Predictions

Probably 12 Years a Slave. Probably.

As I'm writing a more in-depth look at each of the six major categories, I thought it'd be a fun idea to give incredibly premature predictions for each nominated group. These predictions will inevitably change as the March 2 ceremony gets closer, but I couldn't resist throwing my hat into the prediction ring. I'll give a quick explanation of my picks, but again, I'll have a more "official" final prediction closer to the actual Academy Award show.

BEST PICTURE

Who Should Win: 12 Years a Slave
Who Will Win: 12 Years a Slave

Such a powerful film. No doubt it faces stiff competition from American Hustle and Gravity, but 12 Years is a safe pick for now.

BEST DIRECTOR

Who Should Win: David O. Russell
Who Will Win: Steve McQueen

I'd be very surprised if the Best Picture and Best Director weren't tied together this year, unlike last year with that Argo fiasco (still mad about the Affleck snub). If the decision is split, Russell would be most likely to win, but I'm really hoping that Spike Jonze gets a write-in win, 'cause that's totally a thing (it's not).

2014 Oscar Nominations

woo.

Ho hum. No real big surprises here.

American Hustle and Gravity lead the talented group with 10 nominations, followed closely by 12 Years a Slave's 9 Oscar nods. Philomena is the biggest surprise nomination with its Best Picture nod. This year the category boasts 9 amazing films, yet none of them are the Coen Brothers' Inside Llewyn Davis.

It seems the Golden Globes had a bit of an impact here, with Dallas Buyers Club grabbing nominations for Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, and a Best Picture spot. Since the Oscars are not separated into Drama and Comedy categories as the Globes are, Globe winners in the Best Actor (McConaughey and Leonardo DiCaprio) and Best Actress (Cate Blanchett and Amy Adams) enter an incredibly talented pool of actors and actresses. Yes, Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson were both snubbed for Captain Phillips and Saving Mr. Banks respectively, as was Robert Redford (All is Lost), but it's nice to see Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine make the cut, as I am still upset she was snubbed in '08 for Happy-Go-Lucky.

I totally didn't just mention ScarJo
to post a pic of her. 

Side note: Meryl Streep gets a nomination (shocker). It is her 18th of her career.
Second side note: Scarlett Johansson does not receive a nomination for playing Siri Samantha, a voice-only role, despite the clamoring for her to be included. Personally, I would have loved for her to have been nominated, as it would have been a big step for non-physical/voice-only roles to be included in the Oscars.

The Directors Guild of America also closely mirrors the Best Director nominations with the exception of Alexander Payne (Nebraska) being nominated in place of DGA nominated Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips). I doubt anyone is seriously angered over Greengrass or Spike Jonze (Her) being snubbed as the masses were when Ben Affleck was left off the ballot last year.

Honestly, all the technical award categories might as well celebrate their nominations and be proud of that, as Gravity will inevitably sweep those.

Voting goes from February 14 to February 25 with the final announcements coming at the 86th Academy Awards Ceremony held March 2 at 7 pm aired on ABC. Ellen DeGeneres hosts what will be a "hero" theme to the festivities (Chris Hemsworth aka Thor announced the nominees), as the Oscars continue to hopelessly pander to younger audiences. 

THE FULL LIST OF NOMINEES:

Cannes Film Festival 2012: Films in Competition

50th Anniversary of the Death of Marilyn Monroe

While Cannes is usually packed full of foreign language films, there is a strong presence of films from the United States for the 2012 festival. With six entries to compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or (or Golden Palm), the United States has as many films in competition as they have in the last three years combined. The class of 2012 should probably thank their predecessors, at least a little bit.

Can I have one...? My birthday's coming up...

Cannes 2011 featured three films from the United States, and all three ended up not only making a huge impact on Cannes but also on later film festivals and competitions. While only two of the entries from the United States were in competition, Terrence Malick's trippy dino romp Tree of Life won the Palme d'Or. The other two highly regarded films were Drive directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (who also won Best Director at Cannes) and Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris (which unfortunately wasn't in the running for the top prize). While these three films lost some steam heading into the "big time" award shows (specifically the Oscars), all of them generated a whole lot of buzz. Drive was featured on the top of many critics' best films of the year lists; Woody Allen took home Best Original Screenplay awards at the Golden Globes and the Oscars for Paris, and Malick's film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. 

Even though many of the films that are highly regarded at Cannes don't usually make big splashes in the mainstream award shows (seriously, have you even heard of 2010's winner? Doubtful. Fun to say though), 2012 features many films that should be major players in competitions to come. 

While Paul Thomas Anderson's highly anticipated film, The Master, or Malick's latest and untitled project will not be unveiled at Cannes, the film festival still is packing a ton of power. It's not only the films from the United States that are going to make a splash either...

13 Oscar Contenders for '13

Well, we swung and totally missed out on the festivities of the 2012 Oscars... Some movie won, there was award show banter, and people were happy or sad about the winners. There. We didn't miss much... However, we do apologize whole-heartily for not covering the Oscars, as well as we should have. After all, we are, oh yeah, A MOVIE BLOG. Le sigh.

That being said, out with the old, in with the new! It's time to look forward and look forward we will. While the Oscar season may seem to be far off in the distance, it's never too early to think about what films are contenders to snatch up those weird gold, naked-men statues.

Do yourself a favor and WATCH THIS FILM!!!

After all, if we didn't cover the Oscars over the summer, you'd be bogged down by the latest superhero flick or mindless action movie... Not that there's anything wrong with that, just... Sometimes, a breath of high-brow film making is a sweet, sweet thing.

Like in years past, I have compiled a list of films that could be contenders in the upcoming Academy Awards. While my track record is less than stellar... these are films that should at least be kept tabs on. Even though some of the main Oscar buzz won't come until October or November at the earliest, again, it's never too early to look forward to these Oscar-esque films!

Here is a list of 13 films that should be contenders for the 2013 Academy Awards...