Here come the 1st Burt Awards - Nominations!

THE 1ST BURT AWARDS

NOMINATIONS

Winners revealed February 16th

BEST PICTURE

12 Years a Slave

American Hustle

Captain Phillips

Dallas Buyers Club

Gravity

Her

Inside Llewyn Davis

Nebraska

Philomena

The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST DIRECTOR

Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)

Joel & Ethan Coen (Inside Llewyn Davis)

Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips)

Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)

Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)

BEST ACTOR

Bruce Dern (Nebraska)

Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)

Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips)

Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

BEST ACTRESS

Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

Sandra Bullock (Gravity)

Judi Dench (Philomena)

Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)

Daniel Bruhl (Rush)

Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)

Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)

Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)

June Squibb (Nebraska)

Oprah Winfrey (Lee Daniels' The Butler)

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

12 Years a Slave

August: Osage County

American Hustle

The Wolf of Wall Street

Inside Llewyn Davis

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

American Hustle (David O. Russel & Eric Warren Singer)

Blue Jasmine (Woody Allen)

Her (Spike Jonze)

Inside Llewyn Davis (Joel & Ethan Coen)

Nebraska (Bob Nelson)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

12 Years a Slave (John Ridley)

August: Osage County (Tracy Letts)

Captain Phillips (Billy Ray)

Philomena (Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope)

The Wolf of Wall Street (Terence Winter)

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

12 Years a Slave (Hans Zimmer)

All Is Lost (Alex Ebert)

Gravity (Steven Price)

Her (Arcade Fire)

Rush (Hans Zimmer)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

12 Years a Slave (Sean Bobbit)

Gravity (Emmanuel Lubezki)

Inside Llewyn Davis (Bruno Delbonnel)

Rush (Anthony Dod Mantle)

Her (Hoyte van Hoytema)

BEST POSTER OF THE YEAR (Posters on the right)

12 Years a Slave

Gravity

Inside Llewyn Davis

Saving Mr. Banks

Trance

BEST SURPRISE (UNDERRATED)

Mads Mikkelsen (The Hunt)

Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station)

Brie Larson (Short Term 12)

Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station; Director)

Danielle Albert (Captain Phillips)

A look at the frontrunners #1

    A LOOK AT THE FRONTRUNNERS   #1      

FRONTRUNNERS    LOCKS    MOMENTUM    BUZZ    WINNERS    SPOILERS    SNUBS

  As for the predictions - let's talk "locks". I wrote it like that because they aren't always what they seem. We need to think how the members of the Academy will think. So here are some for/against arguments for the frontrunners and their contenders.


1. Best Picture - 12 Years a Slave
 For:
    a) It's an epic drama story, it's touching and the art of film behind it is inspiring. It really        makes you feel that a vote for another Picture would be a disgrace to history and film.
    b) Despite the common feeling about American Hustle being the public's favorite, I think 12 Years a Slave is the film expected to win. And they don't want any disappointment after Argo (in which case everything was confusing and absurd, as far as the public response after the film winning is concerned). And I know Hustle wasn't in Toronto, but still it's 12 Years that won the audience award. So they know it deserves something.

Against:
    a) It might be to harsh for some. They might have the drama-fatigue. (The Artist wasn't really a comedy. I'm not saying Hustle is a comedy but it's a lighter material)
   b) Leave Hustle aside, Gravity picked up a little momentum lately. That might be the upset of the night.


2. Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron
For:
a) Is admired for a great effort and a breakthrough in filmmaking. He's acknowledged by all the most important award shows and guilds.

Against:
b) The word "effort" might get in the way. The Academy might realize that the direction was actually not that excellent after all and only the challenge that he faced during shooting, having a green screen all the time, made it look amazing. Also that it wasn't so much of filmmaking, rather post-production magic. I'm not saying that's how I feel, I'm just naming a possibility.


3. Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey
For:
a) His performance was really excellent, and Matt is going through an acting breakthrough, a second shot at acting, without all of that "hot texican coming to a rescue" thing. He plays an HIV positive homophobe who finds an unlikely partner in a transgender Jared Leto. Apart from his great performance there also is the transformation. They loooove to acknowledge people who do that. Isn't that how Nicole Kidman won her Oscar? The whole nose thing? 

Against:
a) He faces a threat in Chiwetel Ejiofor. He might jump in front of McConaughey. Why? Well of course because No1: His performance was more deserving that McConaughey's (Oscar speaking). No2 (which might be a major point for Ejiofor): The Academy loves survivors. The unlikely to win, the ones who suffer but live. In 2002 when Adrien Brody, the unlikely nominee, won the award for his portrayal of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Jew who survived the hell of a ghetto during WW II. Him waving to Jack Nicholson and Nicolas Cage when hugging his Oscar friend. That story might come again.


4. Best Actress - Cate Blanchett
For:
a) She is a great actress and she portrayed Jasmine French in "Blue Jasmine" with extraordinary excellence. She is the likely winner, and she is the only contender in the whole race to have had the lock title since mid-summer. She is talked about so much, and she is awarded so much for her performance that I guess she is the first thing that a voter will consider while examining his ballot.

Against:
a) For me - the least deserving in the bunch - Amy Adams is the (im)possible spoiler right now. Impossible because there is almost no way it's not going to Blanchett. The possible because she has some momentum and I guess I have a hunch that she could get her hands on her 1st Oscar with 5 nominations. Also there are also some attention deserving performances like Judi Dench (Philomena) and Meryl Streep (August: Osage County). I don't see it going to Bullock because I believe the Academy will agree that she wasn't Oscar deserving in the film. Also Streep is unlikely because, Hollywood is suffering from a little Streep-fatigue. Yet I still think that her performance was breathtaking and deserves more attention and certainly respect than it's getting. Judi Dench remains a possible surprise as she has won only 1 Oscar, was nominated for 7, and is a great actress. (She got her 1st nom when she was 61). Also she was amazing in Philomena and maybe she deserves to be the surprise of the night. Lot of possible outcomes that most of us don't see coming.


5. Best Supporting Actor - Jared Leto
For:
a) He was amazing and the role was definitely interesting. He played a transgender woman. He is a very underrated actor.
b) It's something that we didn't see in a long time. A serious male contender playing such a complicated character which his female Rayon.

Against:
a) Michael Fassbender has done an amazing job in 12 Years a Slave playing one of the most cruel men in cinema in the past year. He was snubbed for "Shame", and could be just the one to pull of that surprise note in the evening.


6. Best Supporting Actress - Lupita Nyong'o
For:
a) It was her feature film debut, and how breathtakingly she brought it on! She played a slave, young woman, Patsey. She was an object of Fassbender's character's sexual and at the same complicated desire. She played a lonely girl, a suffering slave. Very gracefully.
b) The Academy lately likes to give the Oscars to African-American (Nyong'o is Kenyan) women in supporting roles (Hudson, Mo'Nique, Spencer).
c) They aren't likely to award Lawrence twice in a row. The try to avoid that.

Against:
a) She doesn't feel like a sure win, but at the same time I don't know what would have to happen to take her win away. Lawrence, the Hollywood sweetheart? Doubt it. Roberts for her, filled with anger and fear of becoming her mother, Barbra in August: Osage County? Or maybe a nod to June Squibb who is likely to have a last shot at that gold handsome guy? (She does Broadway). Hawkins is unlikely to stand a chance, she has little momentum. To argue against Nyong'o I'd shoot Roberts. We haven't seen her like this ever before. She angry, she screams and scares. She gave an outstanding performance and maybe deserves to get a little attention.

That's it for what I think about our so-far frontrunners. We will see in what situation they are in in a week or so.

Burt Mizaki

    

The guilds have landed!

       
        Don't forget to look up the 'Oscar Race' page which can be found in the sidebar to the right.

        The weekend is over, the guilds have landed and the predicting is back! It shaped up things in some categories - in others it gave us more confusion than explanation. That's right, the SAG and the PGA awards have been given out!
       Firstly the SAGs, aka the "Actors", have been predictably distributed. The supporting acting awards went to Jared Leto and Lupita Nyong'o for their performances in "Dallas Buyers Club" and "12 Years a Slave", respectively. The lead acting went to Blanchett for "Blue Jasmine" and Matthew McConaughey ("Dallas Buyers Club") which put him as a frontrunner in the lead actors' category. The best ensemble awards was given to "American Hustle". 
      Moving on the PGA. A lot of TV awards (series - "Breaking Bad") but what interests us is the theatrical awards (also animated - "Frozen"). The main, best picture, awards was split with a tie. The winners were 12 Years a Slave and Gravity. As Chiwetel Ejiofor said: "A tie is something you wear on a neck". Very accurate Chiwetel. Very. And I'm being serious, a tie is just not OK for us. It does not resolve the still unclear frontrunner thing. Sure at this point it is a "12 Years a Slave" Oscar to lose. But it is still a month and a half away. I still think that if anyone is to get an upset here, it's American Hustle. The outburst at the Academy would be huge (and I'm being objective now). Even more than last year's Argo. Anyway here are the predictions:

Best Picture:
1. 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen)
2. American Hustle (David O. Russel)
3. Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron)
4. Nebraska (Alexander Payne)
5. Dallas Buyers Club (Jean-Marc Vallee)
6. Her (Spike Jonze)
7. Philomena (Stephen Frears)
8. Captain Phillips (Paul Greengrass)
9. The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)

Best Director:
1. Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)
2. Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)
3. David O. Russel (American Hustle)
4. Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)
5. Alexander Payne (Nebraska)

Best Actor:
1. Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
2. Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
3. Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
4. Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
5. Christian Bale (American Hustle)

Best Actress:
1. Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
2. Amy Adams (American Hustle)
3. Judi Dench (Philomena)
4. Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)
5. Sandra Bullock (Gravity)

Best Supporting Actor:
1. Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
2. Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
3. Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)
4. Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)
5. Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)

Best Supporting Actress:
1. Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
2. Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle
3. June Squibb (Nebraska)
4. Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)
5. Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)

That's it for now, I'll add new ones after the directors announce the DGA awards. It's gotta be Cuaron right?

Key word: Snub

    Wow. Some surprises huh? No Hanks? No Thompson? No Hans Zimmer in Music? No Oprah? A lot of snubs, but also a couple pleasant surprises. (And unpleasant).
    Now, I know, I might be subjective but I really would have expected more noms for 12 Years a Slave! 9? Nothing for music which is already an outrage but nothing for cinematography stunned me.
    As for the present America's sweetheart and company - Lawrence and all that Hustle. 10 nominations. I don't know... Was Bale so good? I mean to snub Tom Hanks? I don't think so. He was great but just no that great. Amy Adams instead of Thompson? Both were good, but in my opinion Thompson was on the "great" level of performance. And Adams? "good but..". Then Lawrence. Well that was to be expected. She has the momentum. But really she overdid it (I think so) and exaggerated the acting. As for the rest, I'm satisfied. The supporting actor. Say what you want about the three mentioned before, but Cooper is not one of the top 5 deserving. That said about American Hustle I rest my case on that one.
    Director. No Greengrass. All well, I won't complain although I have to just a bit. He really gave the speed and heart into the movie. But Scorsese is in which cheered me up.
    Best Actress. Just for a minute. No Emma, Yes Amy. Fine I can get over that. I am happy to see Meryl Streep in the end got in. I know in the internet she was on of the "snub-hope", but I am really glad. Say what you want "Her again, blah blah, too much". But her performance was breathtaking. One of the top 3 (next to Blanchett and Dench). But that's my opinion and I have to let go of it in the predictions.

Let's quickly do the Nom-Day homework, and I'll see you on Sunday with the post SAG predictions. Congratulations to all the nominees! (In the end, the Academy must have a damn good reason for doing it this way, not another). We knew there would be snubs. This year is just too crowded with excellent performances. Here we go!
- I bold the ones that are going to win, and mark in red my votes if I were to vote.


Best Picture:
1. 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen)
2. American Hustle (David O. Russel)
3. Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron)
4. Nebraska (Alexander Payne)
5. Captain Phillips (Paul Greengrass)
6. Dallas Buyers Club (Jean-Marc Vallee)
7. The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)
8. Her (Spike Jonze)
9. Philomena (Stephen Frears)

Best Director:
1. Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)
2. Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)
3. David O. Russel (American Hustle)
4. Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)
5. Alexander Payne (Nebraska)

Best Actor:
1. Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
2. Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
3. Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
4. Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
5. Christian Bale (American Hustle)

Best Actress:
1. Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
2. Amy Adams (American Hustle)
3. Judi Dench (Philomena)
4. Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)
5. Sandra Bullock (Gravity)

Best Supporting Actor:
1. Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
2. Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
3. Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)
4. Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
5. Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)

Best Supporting Actress:
1. Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
2. Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
3. Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
4. June Squibb (Nebraska)
5. Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)

Best Original Screenplay:
1. Her (Spike Jonze)
2. American Hustle (Eric Warren Singer & David O. Russel)
3. Nebraska (Bob Nelson)
4. Blue Jasmine (Woody Allen)
5. Dallas Buyers Club (Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack) 

Best Adapted Screenplay:
1. 12 Years a Slave (John Ridley)
2. Philomena (Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope)
3. Before Midnight (Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke)
4. The Wolf of Wall Street (Terence Winter)
5. Captain Phillips (Billy Ray)


More categories to come this weekend!

Here are the nominees for...

    I just posted the 'talk & comment' post on Monday, so today I'll just cut to the chase. Tomorrow we find out who the nominees are. That will narrow things down. 
   I know I said no talking but Saturday - SAG awards. I did my research and the last 9 winners at the SAG best actor categories went on to win the Oscar. Also in other categories the guys are pretty predictive as there is a huge overlap in the members of the SAG and the Oscars acting categories nomination voting groups.
   You might find some surprises, and I agree there is a slim chance for some of them. But I just have a hunch about some of them, and I learned the hard way not to ignore that.
   Here are the nominees in the categories I felt like predicting. Also a couple comments on each.

Best Picture:
- 12 Years a Slave
- American Hustle
- Gravity
- Nebraska
- Her
- The Wolf of Wall Street
- Dallas Buyers Club
- Captain Phillips

I feel there might be 8 nominees this year. If there are 9 then Saving Mr. Banks. If 10 (not going to happen) then Inside Llewyn Davis. 
If I were to say the winner's name it would be 12 Years a Slave. Just seems strong at the moment.

Winner: 12 Years a Slave
Possibly: American Hustle


Best Director:
- Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)
- Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)
- David O. Russel (American Hustle)
- Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips)
- Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)

I don't see a surprise in my crystal ball, but it's not like it's ever working so.. But still these were arguably the best directed movies this year. Some excitingly, some creatively, and some - I have no idea, i guess momentum. As much as I would like to see Steve McQueen grab a win for his extraordinary direction, it might go to Cuaron and that's who I'm betting on. As for possible spoilers my first guess is Spike Jonze for "Her". Then maybe Alexander Payne for "Nebraska", and if the Academy feels like surprises then Ryan Coogler for "Fruitvale Station" (We know they love beginning artists).

Winner: Alfonso Cuaron
Possibly Steve McQueen

Best Actor:
- Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
- Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
- Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
- Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station)
- Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips

Now I know.. DiCaprio and Redford. I loved both performances but snubs are part of the Academy. And Jordan is the hunch. It's not likely but that's what they said about Benh Zheitlin last year. If anyone is the odd one it's Jordan. In his place I would have gone with DiCaprio, and then Redford. But I'll stay with my hunch.
As for winning I think it's Ejofor's to loose. And if loose then to McConaughey.
Whoever wins the SAG will be my No1 prediction as best actor. 

Winner: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Possibly: Matthew McConaughey


Best Actress:
- Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
- Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
- Judi Dench (Philomena)
- Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks)
- Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

This is the five that only two weeks ago everybody agreed on. Then the Globes came and it changed. But I must remind you all that the Globes were announced after the balloting for Oscar ended. No momentum after the win for Adams had an impact on whatever happens tomorrow. So of course if anyone's out then Adams jumps in. But i stay with our little "over 40 club".

Winner: Cate Blanchett
Possibly: Judi Dench (loosing attention though)


Best Supporting Actor
- Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
- Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
- Daniel Bruhl (Rush)
- Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
- Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)

I am not sure about the last slot. It might be taken by Gandolfini or Bradley Cooper instead. But I'm going for a little surprise and choose Hill. As for the winner I think this is the surest thing except for Best Actress.Jared Leto takes it home. Although we know the drill, might be a winner snub. Might it be Fassbender? Also what I think might happen is that Jonah Hill gets nominated, but the DiCaprio also gets in. Sort of a feeling. Anyways that's that for now.

Winner: Jared Leto
Possibly: Michael Fassbender


Best Supporting Actress
- Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
- Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
- Oprah Winfrey (Lee Daniels' The Butler)
- June Squibb (Nebraska)
- Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)

I think that this is the category that doesn't plan to surprise although I wouldn't be surprised if Margot Robbie sneaked in for her Hollywood debut. She is an Aussie and nails the Brooklyn accent in the movie. Pretty impressive. But my 5 is what i mentioned. I don't see Octavia Spencer here.
As for the final outcome I see Lupita Nyong'o. This category loooves heartbreaking debuts. And we all know that the Academy doesn't really like awarding anybody 2 years in a row. After all J-Law's performance wasn't all that great. Last time when the had to give a consecutive win was Tom Hanks in 1995 for Forest Gump. But let's be honest, he was an obvious choice and as for here... I'm staying with Lupita.

Winner: Lupita Nyong'o
Possibly: Jennifer Lawrence

That's it, see you tomorrow after the nominations are announced.

Yeah B*tch!

     So did you watch the Golden Globes? Did you like them? Didn't we all like laughing at George Clooney with him not being there? Didn't we like Leo's face when Tina Fey called upon the guests to give him a warm welcome, like a supermodel's vagina? Lot of stuff yesterday. It all puts the Oscar race into perspective, although the nominations voting is closed, the actual voting is yet to begin.
     Dallas Buyers Club is speeding up after sweeping both acting awards for Matt and Jared. Nothing for Globes usual Meryl Streep. A lot of pleasant and unpleasant surprises. Finally in the TV section, Breaking Bad got some love. The first two Globes for that show. And the last two, as it is the final season that is awarded. I was pleasantly surprised to see Robin Wright be recognized for her magnificent job in House of Cards. I honestly thought that Kerry Washington was going for it.
    In film - the 12 Years a Slave table was filled with a little bit of a looser feeling towards the end, at least until it won Best Picture Drama. We expect some more of that winning thing at the Oscars. Cate Blanchett - what a surprise, absolutely no one saw it coming! ;) Best Actor went to Matthew McConaughey, as I said, and Comedy to Leo DiCaprio. Jennifer Lawrence gains some more momentum, but let's wait for the SAG which I have a feeling might recognize Lupita Nyong'o. And as for my personal point of view, I didn't like J-Law's performance that much. I thought it was too much, and I just couldn't wait for the end of each of her scenes. But enough silliness here, let's take a look at my final (I am pretty sure) predictions before the nominations on Thursday. On Saturday I will post the SAG predictions.
Here we go:

A. Best Picture
1. 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen)
2. American Hustle (David O. Russel)
3. Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron)
4. Captain Phillips (Paul Greengrass)
5. The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)
6. Nebraska (Alexander Payne)
7. Her (Spike Jonze)
8. Inside Llewyn Davis (Joel & Ethan Coen)
9. Saving Mr. Banks (John Lee Hancock)
10. Dallas Buyers Club (Jean Marc Valle)

B. Best Director
1. Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)
2. Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)
3. David O. Russel (American Hustle)
4. Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)
5. Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips)

C. Best Actor
1. Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
2. Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
3. Robert Redford (All Is Lost)
4. Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips)
5. Bruce Dern (Nebraska)

D. Best Actress
1. Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
2. Judi Dench (Philomena)
3. Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks)
4. Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
5. Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

E. Best Supporting Actor
1. Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
2. Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
3. Daniel Bruhl (Rush)
4. Tom Hanks (Saving Mr. Banks)
5. Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)

F. Best Supporting Actress
1. Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
2. Oprah Winfrey (Lee Daniels' The Butler)
3. Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
4. Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
5. June Squibb (Nebraska)

G. Best Original Screenplay
1. Her (Spike Jonze)
2. American Hustle (Eric Warren Singer & David O. Russel)
3. Inside Llewyn Davis (Joel & Ethan Coen)
4. Bob Nelson (Nebraska)
5. Woody Allen (Blue Jasmine)

H. Best Adapted Screenplay
1. 12 Years a Slave (John Ridley)
2. Captain Phillips (Billy Ray)
3. The Wolf of Wall Street (Terrence Winter)
4. Philomena (Jeff Pope & Steve Coogan)
5. August: Osage County (Tracy Letts)


And that's it for now. I will probably put up the whole list again before the nominations are announced.

Yeah B*tch!

Last look at the Globes!

      Today's prediction will have nothing to do with the Oscars themselves but the outcome of tonights event - might. I am posting what I think is going to win tonight, what I think should win, and a possible dark horse (could win). Along with that, an explanation. 
     The Globes evening is always interesting, celebrities stuff themselves with food, get drunk, and be offended by the hosts, this year returning Tina & Amy. The only thing that is more awaited than the awards, is the host's opening monologue. The returning hosts proved to be funny, but in a healthy way (no Ricky G. exaggeration), as they said "with no intention of being edgy". Let's see how it goes this year! Last year no movie had a "big night", with the awards being distributed (kind of) equally. 
    Tonight I predict to be something similar with 12 Years a Slave, American Hustle to sweep the most of it. These are my FINAL predictions for the Golden Globes:

1. Best Picture, Drama
- 12 Years a Slave
- Captain Phillips 
- Gravity 
- Philomena 
- Rush

Will Win: 12 Years a Slave
Could Win: Gravity
Should Win: 12 Years a Slave

2. Best Picture, Musical or Comedy
- American Hustle
- Her
- Inside Llewyn Davis
- Nebraska
- The Wolf of Wall Street

Will Win: American Hustle
Could Win: The Wolf of Wall Street
Should Win: Her

3. Best Director:
- Alfonso Cuaron
- Paul Greengrass
- Steve McQueen
- Alexander Payne
- David O. Russel

Will Win: Alfonso Cuaron
Could Win: Steve McQueen
Should Win: Steve McQueen

4. Best Actor, Drama
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Idris Elba
- Tom Hanks
- Matthew McConaughey
- Robert Redford

Will Win: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Could Win: Matthew McConaughey
Should Win: Chiwetel Ejiofor

5. Best Actress, Drama
- Cate Blanchett
- Sandra Bullock
- Judi Dench
- Emma Thompson
- Kate Winslet

Will Win: Cate Blanchett
Could Win: Judi Dench
Should Win: Cate Blanchett or Judi Dench

6. Best Actor, Musical or Comedy
- Christian Bale
- Bruce Dern
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Oscar Isaac
- Joaquin Phoenix

Will Win: Leonardo DiCaprio
Could Win: Bruce Dern
Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio

7. Best Actress, Comedy or Musical
- Amy Adams
- Julie Delpy
- Greta Gerwig
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus
- Meryl Streep

Will Win: Meryl Streep
Could Win: Amy Adams
Should Win: Meryl Streep

8. Best Supporting Actor
- Barkhad Abdi
- Bradley Cooper
- Daniel Bruhl
- Michael Fassbender
- Jared Leto

Will Win: Jared Leto
Could Win: Michael Fassbender
Should Win: Jared Leto

9. Best Supporting Actress
- Sally Hawkins
- Jennifer Lawrence
- Lupita Nyong'o
- Julia Roberts
- June Squibb

Will Win: Lupita Nyong'o
Could Win: Julia Roberts
Should Win: Julia Roberts

10. Best Screenplay
- 12 Years a Slave
- American Hustle
- Her
- Nebraska
- Philomena

Will Win: American Hustle
Could Win: 12 Years a Slave
Should Win: Her

Best Music
- 12 Years a Slave
- All Is Lost
- Gravity
- Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
- The Book Thief

Will Win: 12 Years a Slave
Could Win: Gravity
Should Win: 12 Years a Slave

Best Animated Feature
Will Win: Frozen

Best Foreign language film:
Will Win: The Great Beauty
Could Win: The Hunt

Original Song:
Will Win: Let it Go (Frozen)
Could Win: Ordinary Love (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)

2014

     Happy New Year!
     This was an interesting (and amazing) year especially for acting in film. Never have we had (at least in this century) such a problem with predicting the men's lead acting category, and I feel that the lead actress field is yet to give us surprises.
     I am not posting my top ten films of the year, having not seen a couple of the important ones. But I can say that I saw "12 Years a Slave" recently and it is breathtaking. Each scene fills with the sorrow and exhaustion that the main character must feel which makes and incredible connection between us.
      That said both director Steve McQueen as well as the picture itself will stay on the top of their categories.
     So the only actual thing I'm going to do today is update the Race Leaderboard.