Predicting The Oscars 2014: Is George Clooney Guaranteed An Academy Award?
Six months of anticipation for four hours of award giving: that’s what you signed up for. The Oscars 2014 has its host, and now it has its favorites. Which director will be hurtling through an acceptance speech at breakneck speed, and which actor will be practising their sad-yet-humble loser face?
It’s Oscars season.
It seems like this every year, but in 2013, the competition seems fiercer than ever before. We had takes on slavery in the U.S with Django Unchained and Lincoln in 2012; the staunch political thriller Argo taking major awards, while the academy were prone to a little escapism, handing Ang Lee’s Life of Pi some nods.
George Clooney is all but guaranteed an Oscar come February. He stars and directs in The Monuments Men – a crew of art historians set out to reclaim priceless artworks before Hitler’s Nazi soldiers destroy them. But he’s also leading the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed Gravity alongside Sandra Bullock.
The Alfonso Cuaron-directed film only cost $80m to make, so the studio will be happy whatever happens –box office success is inevitable – but if the early reviews from the Venice Film Festival are anything to go by, Gravity is a front-runner. It’s been a while since an outer-space thriller dominated the Academy’s thoughts, though, and the current focus on civil rights within cinema could see anyone of 12 Years a Slave, The Butler and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom take a big prize.
Another man due some Academy love is Tom Hanks, who has a double chance this year with Saving Mr Banks and Captain Phillips. Both true stories, both showing excellent promise. If we had to stick our neck out, we’d say his best chance is with the latter film – his hostage drama – it’s just that much more exciting.
Other favourites include August Osage County, American Hustle and The Wolf of Wall Street – three films that could have easily headed this predictions article as lead examples, such is the strength of competition this year. August: Osage County will dominate the acting and screenplay categories, so expect an award for either Meryl Streep and/or Julia Roberts.
And after much ado about something, here are our want to wins and will wins for The Oscars 2014.
Best Picture: Will win – The Monuments Men. Want to win – Fruitvale Station
Best Actor: Will win – Idris Elba for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Want to win: we’d be delighted with Elba, but Michael Fassbender needs an Oscar.
Best Actress: Will win – Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine. Want to win: We can’t deny our love for Meryl Streep, although we don’t know if she’ll be Best Supporting material for August: Osage County.
Best Supporting Actor: Will win – Tom Hanks for Saving Mr. Banks. Want to win: Michael Fassbender for 12 Years a Slave.
Best Supporting Actress: Will win – Oprah Winfrey for The Butler. Want to win: Go on Oprah, take over the world.
Best Screenplay: Will win: Woody Allen for Blue Jasmine. Want to Win: Cormac McCarthy for The Counsellor.