And the Winner Is … Oscar Ballot Predictions

In casting Oscar ballot bets, many of us are seeking that added edge.  For better or worse, here are my Oscar ballot predictions for the 86th Academy Awards.

And the winner is* … 

Picture – “12 Years a Slave”

Director – Alfonso Cuarón – “Gravity”

Actor in a Leading Role – Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Actress in a Leading Role – Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”

Actor in a Supporting Role – Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Actress in a Supporting Role – Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”

Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”

Original Screenplay – “Nebraska,” Bob Nelson “Her,” Spike Jonze

Adapted Screenplay – “Before Midnight,” Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke

Foreign Language Film – “The Great Beauty,” Italy

Animated Feature – “Frozen,” Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee and Peter Del Vecho

Documentary Feature – “The Square,” Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer

– “The Act of Killing,” Joshua Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Sørensen

– “20 Feet from Stardom,” Nominees to be determined

Cinematography – “Gravity,” Emmanuel Lubezki

Production Design – “Her,” K.K. Barrett (Production Design); Gene Serdena (set Decoration)

Costume Design – “The Great Gatsby,” Catherine Martin

Makeup and Hairstyling – “Dallas Buyers Club,” Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathew

Film Editing – “Dallas Buyers Club,” John MacMcMurphy and Martin Pensa

– “Gravity,” Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger

Visual Effects – “Gravity,” Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould

Sound Editing – “Captain Phillips,” Oliver Tarney

Sound Mixing – “Gravity,” Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christpher Benstead and Chris Munro

Original Score – “Gravity,” Steven Price

Original Song – Happy, Pharrell Williams, “Despicable Me 2”

— Ordinary Love, U2, “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”

Short Film, Animated – “Possessions,” Shuhel Morita

– “Get a Horse!,” Lauren MacMullan and Dorothy McKim

Short Film, Live Action – “The Voorman Problem”

Documentary Short Subject – “The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life,” Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed

**

*Since after all, there is only one “Hello, Gorgeous” (per category) in the cut-throat Oscar affair, I have indeed, conspicuously forsaken the politically correct phrasing adopted in more recent times.

Blue=My ballot choices.

Red=Based on all that I have read, heard, seen, and studied, this is the nominee that I believe will receive the trophy (where this differs from my selection).

Green=I cannot express a strong opinion in this category.  Awaiting your expert advice!, sage readers of Cultural Weekly.

**

If you have not already done so, by all means, go out and see that gem of film, “Philomena,” and the achingly funny “Nebraska.”  Two of my favorites this season.

To add your own predictions:  “Copy-Edit-Paste” in comments below, time-stamped anytime before the start of the actual broadcast.  Should you be the Cultural Weekly high scorer, there might be a little surprise headed your way.  Good luck!

The Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center and televised live on the ABC Television Network starting at 5:30 pm PT/8:30 pm ET.

Top Image: Chris Hemsworth and Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announce this year’s nominees.

What are you looking for?