Oscar Predictions: 'Gravity' Has Pull, But '12 Years' Takes Top Prize

I just don't get the swooning over Gravity for this year's Oscars. Special effects, fine, but not Best Picture. I don't even think it should get Best Director, but I am predicting it will take that category. The story is straight out of a 1950s sci-fi B-flick that I would see on MST3K. (You'll notice it has no screenplay nomination.) I can't imagine it winning over 12 Years a Slave for the top prize. In another weird twist I can't phantom, I'm encountering a lot of people who are afraid to see 12 Years because of all the whipping and torture of the slaves though they think it should win Best Picture. So Gravity will probably clean up in the tech categories, but hopefully Slave will triumph at the top.

Here are my predictions for this Sunday's awards. I am looking forward to the show because at least Seth McFarland will not be hosting.

Picture: 12 Years a Slave

Actor: Matthew MacConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

(Leonardo DiCaprio is the other possible winner since the ads for Wolf of Wall Street are screening 24/7, but MacConaughey's physical transformation should trump Leo's macho swagger.)


Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Supporting Actress: Lupita Nypng'o, 12 Years a Slave

Director: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity

Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze, Her

Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave

Editing, Cinematography, Visual Effects, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Score: Gravity

Production Design, Costume Design: The Great Gatsby (The Robert Redford version won for costumes, too.)

Makeup and Hairstyling: Dallas Buyers Club (only because the Academy will not want to give an Oscar to The Lone Ranger or Bad Grandpa which are the only other nominees.)

Animated Feature: Frozen

Animated Short Film: Get a Horse!

Documentary Feature: Twenty Feet from Stardom

Documentary Short: Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall

Live Action Short: That Wasn't Me

Foreign Language Film: The Great Beauty

Original Song: "Let It Go" from Frozen