2014 Oscar Nominations Have Been Announced

The 2014 Oscar Nominations were announced today.  There have been some serious snubs and some very confusing surprises.  Here we go:

Best Picture

There is room for 10 nominated films.  The Academy has nominated 9, snubbing August: Osage County and more shockingly, the Coen Brother’s masterpiece Inside Llewyn Davis.  The surprise out of this list is the Spike Jonze film Her which is merely mediocre at best.  My money’s on 12 Years a Slave with American Hustle as a second option.  Inside Llewyn Davis should actually win it, nevermind deserve a nomination.

American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

Actor in a Leading Role

This is all as expected.  Originally I would have said it’s between Chiwetel Ejiofor and Bruce Dern – Bruce Dern being the most deserving by a long mile.  But in reality, it is now anyone’s game.  Matthew McConaughey won the Golden Globe for best dramatic actor and Leonardo one for comedy.  Anything goes.  Bruce Dern is still the most deserving in actuality.

Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

Actress in a Leading Role

This is probably Cate Blanchett’s, although possibly Amy Adams.  It should be Emma Thompson’s if only these awards shows were played fairly – but they’re not so it seems that Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep have usurped her in the nomination department.  Probably the biggest snub of the nominations.

Amy Adams, American Hustle
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

Actor in A Supporting Role

This has to belong to Jared Leto – although everybody does love a good Fassbender performance.

Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Actress in a Supporting Role

This category likely belongs to J. Law.  Lupita could surpise win.

Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska

Directing

This year’s best director should not align with best picture.  Alfonso Cuarón’s directing feat of Gravity was the most skilled of these nominations.  The Golden Globe Awards acknowledged this.

American Hustle, David O. Russell
Gravity, Alfonso Cuarón
Nebraska, Alexander Payne
12 Years a Slave, Steve McQueen
The Wolf of Wall Street, Martin Scorsese

Foreign Language Film

The Great Beauty won the Golden Globe, but Danish film The Hunt is so very very excellent.

The Broken Circle Breakdown
The Great Beauty
The Hunt
The Missing Picture
Omar

Animated Feature Film

This category is very weak this year. Perhaps Frozen is most deserving, although The Wind Rises is Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki’s last film.  An Oscar win may be an excellent way for the industry to see him off into retirement.

The Croods
Despicable Me 2
Ernest & Celestine
Frozen
The Wind Rises

Music Original Score

I am so very thrilled that Owen Pallett is recognized for his work on Her.  His work in general is a thing of beauty.  He is an excellent composer and musician.  If you’ve not heard of him, I reckon you’ve still actually heard his work, whether it be with Arcade Fire, Hidden Cameras, Pet Shop Boys, his solo work, or his work as Final Fantasy.  Spotify him people!!  Better yet, go see him live – you will be moved to tears.

The Book Thief, John Williams
Gravity, Steven Price
Her, William Butler and Owen Pallett
Philomena, Alexandre Desplat
Saving Mr. Banks, Thomas Newman

Music Original Song

Whereas Her is mediocre in the filmic department, its soundtrack is excellent.

“Alone Yet Not Alone” from ALONE YET NOT ALONE, Music by Bruce Broughton; Lyric by Dennis Spiegel
“Happy” from DESPICABLE ME 2, Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams
“Let It Go” from FROZEN, Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
“The Moon Song” from HER, Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze
“Ordinary Love” from MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen; Lyric by Paul Hewson

Writing Adapted Screenplay

Probably a win for 12 Years a Slave, although Steve Coogan did great work with Philomena.

Before Midnight
Captain Phillips
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

Writing Original Screenplay

I think Her won this at the Globes, but American Hustle is a better bet here.

American Hustle
Blue Jasmine
Dallas Buyers Club
Her
Nebraska

Sound Editing

For all the sound nerds out there – Gravity all the way!  The Hobbit is fantastic, but Gravity is something special.

All Is Lost
Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Lone Survivor

Sound Mixing

See above.

Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Inside Llewyn Davis
Lone Survivor

Visual Effects

Again, Gravity is the frontrunner.  The Hobbit is a very close second.

Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Iron Man 3
The Lone Ranger
Star Trek Into Darkness

Cinematography

The Grandmaster
Gravity
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
Prisoners

Costume Design

American Hustle
The Grandmaster
The Great Gatsby
The Invisible Woman
12 Years a Slave

Documentary Feature

The Act of Killing
Cutie and the Boxer
Dirty Wars
The Square
20 Feet from Stardom

Documentary Short Subject

CaveDigger
Facing Fear
Karama Has No Walls
The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life
Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall

Film Editing

American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
12 Years a Slave

Makeup and Hairstyling

Dallas Buyers Club
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
The Lone Ranger

Production Design

American Hustle
Gravity
The Great Gatsby
Her
12 Years a Slave

Short Film Animated

Feral
Get a Horse!
Mr. Hublot
Possessions
Room on the Broom

Short Film Live Action

Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me)
Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything)
Helium
Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)
The Voorman Problem