My Oscar Predictions

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a die hard fan of Hollywood awards season.  And so this Sunday's 86th Annual Academy Awards ceremony is basically my Super Bowl.  I've finally seen all the films (with the exception of the foreign film category, sorry I don't have the attention span) and performances.  This year I think every movie will go home with a little bit of recognition.  I'm not expecting any one film to dominate.

It sounds trite, but it really was a great year for cinema.  Some of the best movies I've ever seen are up for Oscar awards.  I like them all so much.  So I'm noting three things below in each category: 1) What I WANT to win; 2) What SHOULD win; 3) What WILL win.

Actress in a Supporting Role

• Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
• Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle (who I want to win)
• Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave (will win)
• Julia Roberts, August: Osage County (who should win)
• June Squibb, Nebraska

Actor in a Supporting Role

• Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
• Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
• Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave (who should win)
• Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street (who I want to win)
• Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club (will win)

Animated Feature Film

• The Croods
• Despicable Me 2 (what should win, what I want to win)
• Ernest & Celestine
• Frozen (will win)
• The Wind Rises

Original Song

• 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams, Despicable Me 2 (will win, and I'm good with it)
• 'Let It Go' by Idina Menzel, Frozen
• 'The Moon Song' by Spike Jonez, Her
• 'Ordinary Love' by U2, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Writing Original Screenplay

• American Hustle (what I want to win, what should win)
• Blue Jasmine
• Dallas Buyers Club
• Her (will win)
• Nebraska

Writing Adapted Screenplay

• Before Midnight
• Captain Phillips
• Philomena
• 12 Years a Slave
• The Wolf of Wall Street (will win, and I agree)

Actress in a Lead Role

• Amy Adams, American Hustle (who I want to win)
• Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine (will win)
• Sandra Bullock, Gravity (who should win)
• Judi Dench, Philomena
• Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

Actor in a Lead Role

• Christian Bale, American Hustle (who I should win)
• Bruce Dern, Nebraska
• Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street (who I want to win)
• Chewetel Edjiofor, 12 Years a Slave
• Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club (will win)

Directing

• David O. Russell, American Hustle
• Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity (will win, who I want to win)
• Nebraska, Alexander Payne
• Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave (who should win)
• Martin Scorcese, The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Picture

• American Hustle
• Captain Phillips
• Dallas Buyers Club
• Gravity (will win, what I want to win)
• Her
• Philomena
• 12 Years a Slave (what should win)
• The Wolf of Wall Street