My Oscars Picks

It's coming up to the Academy Awards and I thought that I would put forward my opinions on the big categories for this years event.

Best Picture

Nominees

• 12 Years a Slave
• American Hustle
• Captain Philips
• Dallas Buyers Club
• Gravity
• Her
• Nebraska
• Philomena
• The Wolf of Wall Street

Out of this list I haven't seen Nebraska or Gravity. The Wolf of Wall Street will be a big frontrunner along with American Hustle. I think 12 Years a Slave will also have a decent chance.

Should Win: 12 Years a Slave

Will Win: American Hustle

Best Director

Nominees

• Alfonso Cuaron - Gravity
• Steve McQueen - 12 Years a Slave
• Alexander Payne - Nebraska
• David O. Russell - American Hustle
• Martin Scorsese - The Wolf of Wall Street

All of these directors are well regarded. Scorsese has already won this in the past, but that doesn't mean that the Academy won't give it to him again. McQueen did an excellent job with 12 Years and it looks like he might be a favourite.

Should Win: Steve McQueen

Will Win: Steve McQueen

Best Actor

Nominees

• Christian Bale - American Hustle
• Bruce Dern - Nebraska
• Leonardo DiCaprio - The Wolf of Wall Street
• Chiwetel Ejiofor - 12 Years a Slave
• Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyers Club

DiCaprio's performance was very intense, but based on the Academy's previous grudge against him, I don't think he's going to see a win. Ejiofor gave a good performance but not good enough for a newcomer to American screens. McConaughey gave a fantastic performance, but too many people loved American Hustle.

Should Win: Matthew McConaughey

Will Win: Christian Bale

Best Actress

Nominees

• Amy Adams - American Hustle
• Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine
• Sandra Bullock - Gravity
• Judi Dench - Philomena
• Meryl Streep - August: Osage County

Despite all the recent Woody Allen controversy, Blanchett's performance in Blue Jasmine is enough to make people forget about it. Her only real competition could come from Streep. I would support Amy Adams if she was nominated for Her.

Should Win: Cate Blanchett

Will Win: Cate Blanchett

Best Supporting Actor

Nominees

• Berkhad Abdi - Captain Philips
• Bradley Cooper - American Hustle
• Michael Fassbender - 12 Years a Slave
• Jonah Hill - The Wolf of Wall Street
• Jared Leto - Dallas Buyers Club

I wish that they were able to split the award between to people because I want both Leto and Fassbender to win this award. I think Fassbender has a bit more of a chance. But like with Best Actor, I think the popularity of American Hustle will come out for Cooper.

Should Win: Michael Fassbender

Will Win: Bradley Cooper

Best Supporting Actress

Nominees

• Sally Hawkins - Blue Jasmine
• Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle
• Lupita Nyong'o -12 Years a Slave
• Julia Roberts - August: Osage County
• June Squibb - Nebraska

Nyong'o was fantastic but the heavy-hitters here are Roberts and Lawrence. I didn't fancy Lawrence's performance too much and Roberts did a great job.

Should Win: Julia Roberts

Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence

Best Original Screenplay

Nominees

• American Hustle - Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
• Blue Jasmine - Woody Allen
• Dallas Buyers Club - Craig Borten and Melissa Wallack
• Her - Spike Jonze
• Nebraska - Bob Nelson

Both Dallas Buyers Club and Blue Jasmine were masterfully written, but for me Spike Jonze wrote a fantastic film about modern relationships with Her.

Should Win: Her

Will Win: Her

Those are my picks for the big awards this year. I would write my views on all of them, especially the technical awards that I love, but I haven't seen all the films and that would take forever to write about.