The year 2013 has been a fantastic year for films – a film about an HIV positive patient, another about the smirk of a drug lord with metal teeth; one about a lesbian love affair and another showing the re-enactment of a genocide.
The year saw the triumph of documentaries such as The Act of Killing, the emergence and success of acting careers with the likes of Mathew McConaughey and Bruce Dern, and the introduction of low-key Indie style filmmaking into mainstream cinema with Inside Llewyn Davis. These elements made 2013 a very special year for the world of cinema.
On January 16, 2014 the Oscar nomination list was announced.
Although some of my personal favourites did not make it on the list, one thing is for certain – it will be quite a competition this time around. A number of its critics believe the Academy not to be impartial when it comes to handing out the Oscar and claim that melodramas and historical epics are much more popular with the Academy than comedies. They also assert that actors who play in biopics have a better chance of receiving the golden statue than fictional ones.
And the complaint list goes on.
I personally think that most of the criticism is quite valid. And so, in this list I have decided to examine the major nominees and have dissected it into two different categories – who I think should win and whom the Oscar might actually go to.
So, here is my dissection of the list of nominees for the 2014 Oscars:
Best movie
-12 Years A Slave
-American Hustle
-Dallas Buyers Club
-Her
-Nebraska
-Captain Phillips
-The Wolf of Wall Street
-Gravity
-Philomena
My opinion: Her
The Oscar might go to: Gravity
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I believe that Her is one of those films that not only visually stands out from the rest but compels you to become emotionally engaged with the protagonist. Although I believe that the Oscars snubbed Inside Llewyn Davis undeservedly, Her is still the most deserving film on the list in my opinion. But Gravity seems to have won their hearts with its visual effects and will probably grab the gold.
Yes, it is a good film but certainly not the most innovative film on this list – at least not that I think.
Best actor in a leading role
-Bruce Dern for Nebraska
-Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years a Slave
-Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club
-Christian Bale for American Hustle
-Leonardo DiCaprio for The Wolf of Wall Street
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Photo: AFP[/caption]
When I saw this list, my first thought was,
“Where’s Tom Hanks for Captain Phillips?”But looking at the list a bit more closely, I realised that this one was really close competition. Sticking to the list, this is what I think. My opinion: Chiwetel Ejiofor The Oscar might go to: Matthew McConaughey It is tough but I think Ejiofor manages to win just a notch over McConaughey and what a great year he has had! Sorry Leo, you were great but better luck next year maybe.
Best actor in a supporting role
-Barkhad Abdi for Captain Phillips
-Michael Fassbender for 12 Years a Slave
-Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club
-Bradley Cooper for American Hustle
-Jonah Hill for The Wolf of Wall Street
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Photo: AFP[/caption]
My opinion: Bradley Cooper
The Oscar might go to: Jared Leto
This was another tough one, but for me, Bradley Cooper brought just the right amount of craziness that the role required, while Jared – although good – was more of a generic character whose sole purpose was to serve McConaughey’s character to become more ‘open’ towards his fears.
His performance lacked the originality that Cooper brought onto the screen.
Best actress in a leading role
-Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine
-Sandra Bullock for Gravity
-Judi Dench for Philomena
-Meryl Streep for August: Osage County
-Amy Adams for American Hustle
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Photo: AFP[/caption]
My opinion: Sandra Bullock
The Oscar might go to: Cate Blanchett
Again, my first thought on seeing the list was,
“No Greta Gerwig for Frances Ha?”But coming back to the list, I have to admit that I have never been a fan of Bullock’s acting – that is, until now. Apart from the spectacular visual effects, she literally carried Gravity on her slim shoulders. As for Blanchett, I really thought her performance was a tad too eccentric for its own good. For more about my ‘unpopular’ opinion, read my review for Blue Jasmine.
Best actress in a supporting role
-Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine
-Jennifer Lawrence for American Hustle
-Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave
-Julia Roberts for August: Osage County
-June Squibb for Nebraska
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Photo: AFP[/caption]
My opinion: Lupita Nyong’o
The Oscar might go to: Lupita Nyong'o
The Oscars and I in complete agreement?
What an audacity!
Although Sally Hawkins did a wonderful job, Lupita’s performance as a pre-civil war slave was simply outstanding. And I hope that she has a long career ahead of herself.
Best animated feature film
-The Croods
-Despicable Me 2
-Frozen
-The Wind Rises
-Ernest & Celestine
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Photo: Reuters/File[/caption]
My opinion: er?
The Oscar might go to: Frozen
Due to a disarrayed release of the film worldwide, a large group of moviegoers have yet to see Miyazaki’s last film The Wind Rises and I happen to be among the unfortunate ones.
However, I do think that Frozen has returned Disney back to its ‘princess’ roots and most probably will charm the Academy.
Best cinematography
-The Grandmaster
-Gravity
-Inside Llewyn Davis
-Nebraska
-Prisoners
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Photo: File[/caption]
My opinion: The Grandmaster
The Oscar might go to: Gravity
Cinematography was at its peak this year and all these films were a treat to the eyes. I do not think I would be disappointed if any of them took home the gold but in the end, I would vote for the visual storytelling of Wong Kar-wai’s The Grandmaster.
Best director
-Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
-Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
-Alexander Payne for Nebraska
-David O Russell for American Hustle
-Martin Scorsese for The Wolf of Wall Street
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My opinion: Martin Scorsese
The Oscar might go to: Alfonso Cuaron
Scorsese is like vintage wine – he just gets better with age. Some of DiCaprio’s monologues in The Wolf of Wall Street were superbly directed with looming crane shots over the crowd of stock brokers and a heart tromping conversation with Mathew McCounghey.
Sure, Cuaron’s direction in Gravity is impressive to say the least but Marty, you deserve this one!
Best documentary (feature)
-The Act of Killing
-20 Feet from Stardom
-Cutie and the Boxer
-Dirty Wars
-The Square
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My opinion: The Act of Killing
The Oscar might go to: The Act of Killing
There are only a handful of recent films which I can watch and say,
“I have never seen anything like this before!”And The Act of Killing is one of them. I really hope that the Academy also recognises this masterpiece of filmmaking that has significantly changed the way documentaries are viewed now. A truly amazing piece of work it is.
Best film editing
-American Hustle
-Captain Phillips
-Dallas Buyers Club
-Gravity
-12 Years a Slave
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My opinion: 12 Years a Slave
The Oscar might go to: Gravity
Although a tough call between American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave, I think I will vote for the latter with its non-generic editing and long takes which proves that sometimes less is definitely more. Its editing gave it the breathing space that such an intense subject needed.
But alas, Gravity is likely to be the favourite to win this one.
Best visual effects
-Gravity
-The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
-Iron Man 3
-The Lone Ranger
-Star Trek Into Darkness
My opinion: Gravity
The Oscar might go to: Gravity
Gravity has some of the best visual effects display ever put to film, hands down!
Best foreign language film
-The Broken Circle Breakdown from Belgium
-The Great Beauty from Italy
-The Hunt from Denmark
-The Missing Picture from Cambodia
-Omar from Palestine
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My opinion: The Hunt
The Oscar might go to: The Great Beauty
A Fellini-esque display of looming camera work and storytelling, The Great Beauty will certainly tickle the Academy’s fancy. But unfortunately, this story has been told time and time again and The Great Beauty is not quite as unique as one would think. On the other hand, The Hunt took a delirious, yet carefully calculated path of dealing with false accusations and rumours that can end up destroying lives.
In my opinion, fortune should favour the bold here.
Best writing (original screenplay)
-Eric Warren Singer and David O Russell for American Hustle
-Woody Allen for Blue Jasmine
-Spike Jonze for Her
-Bob Nelson for Nebraska
-Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack for Dallas Buyers Club
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Photo: File[/caption]
My opinion: Spike Jonze for Her
The Oscar might go to: Eric Warren Singer and David O Russell for American Hustle
One of the few problems that I had with American Hustle was the lack of a coherent script. But when it came to originality, Her just knocked this one out of the park. With its sharply written dialogues, I could not have predicted where the film was going even for a single moment but I loved every moment of it.
Too bad the Oscars will most likely overlook this aspect.
Best writing (adapted screenplay)
-Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke for Before Midnight
-Billy Ray for Captain Phillips
-Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope for Philomena
-John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
-Terence Winter for The Wolf of Wall Street
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Photo: Reuters[/caption]
My opinion: 12 Years a Slave
The Oscar might go to: 12 Years a Slave
Not many writers could pull off such a complex adaptation while still remaining so faithful to the true story of Solomon Northup. John Ridley did so and he deserves to take home the gold.
The final verdict
Looking back, there are in total four categories where I might be in complete agreement with the Academy of motion pictures. It is apparent that Gravity might be the favourite to win the most Oscars and it is such a pity that many brilliant low-key films like Frances Ha or Before Midnight will probably get almost no recognition.
But in any case, one should always remember that awards do not make the film great.
It is the test of time that does.