Oscar Preview

 

The 86th annual Academy Awards will be this Sunday March 2nd. There are several interesting races this year and many of them seem to be wide open as to who will win. Every year there are snubs (Tom Hanks) and surprises (Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa), but when it's all said and done The Oscars truly are Hollywood's biggest night.

I've decided to make a few picks this year, but I wouldn't go betting the mortgage on these picks. I'm notoriously bad at this stuff.

If you'd like to do your own picks, you can leave them in the comments section below, or you can compete against other Oscar fans here.

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

Clint's Pick: AMERICAN HUSTLE      Probable Winner: AMERICAN HUSTLE


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

Clint's Pick: Alfonso Cuaron        Probable Winner: Martin Scorsese


BEST ACTOR NOMINEES
Christian Bale (American Hustle)
Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
Leonardo DiCaprio (Wolf of Wall Street)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Clint's Pick: Matthew McConaughey      Probable Winner: Matthew McConaughy


BEST ACTRESS NOMINEES
Amy Adams (American Hustle)
Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
Judi Dench (Philomena)
Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

Clint's Pick: Amy Adams      Probable Winner: Judi Dench


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR NOMINEESBarkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)
Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
Jonah Hill (Wolf of Wall Street)
Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Clint's Pick: Jared Leto      Probable Winner: Jared Leto


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS NOMINEES
Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
June Squibb (Nebraska)
Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)

Clint's Pick: Lupita Nyong'o       Probable Winner: Jennifer Lawrence


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY NOMINEES
John Ridley (12 Years a Slave)

Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke & Richard Linklater (Before Midnight
)
Terence Winter (The Wolf of Wall Street
)
Billy Ray (Captain Phillips)

Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope (Philomena)

Clint's Pick: CAPTAIN PHILLIPS       Probable Winner: THE WOLF OF WALL STREET


BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY NOMINEES
David O. Russell and Eric Singer (American Hustle)
Bob Nelson (Nebraska)
Spike Jonze (Her)
Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack (Dallas Buyers Club)
Woody Allen (Blue Jasmine)

Clint's Pick: AMERICAN HUSTLE     Probable Winner: AMERICAN HUSTLE


BEST ANIMATED FEATURE NOMINEES
The Wind Rises
Frozen
Despicable Me 2
The Croods
Ernest & Celestine

Clint's Pick: FROZEN     Probable Winner: ERNEST & CELESTINE


BEST SONG NOMINEES
"Happy" (Despicable Me 2)
"Let It Go" (Frozen)
"The Moon Song" (Her)
"Ordinary Love" (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)

Clint's Pick: LET IT GO      Probable Winner: ORDINARY LOVE


BEST ORIGINAL SCORE NOMINEES
John Williams (The Book Thief)
Steven Price (Gravity)
Alexandre Desplat (Philomena)
Thomas Newman (Saving Mr. Banks)
William Butler and Owen Pallett (Her)

Clint's Pick: SAVING MR. BANKS     Probable Winner: GRAVITY



There are a few other categories that I'd like to see specific winners. GET A HORSE is nominated for Short Film, Animated. It is one of the most innovative and creative cartoons I have ever seen. FACING FEAR is one I hope to see win for Documentary Short Subject. It's an incredible story of reconciliation.  Finally, it would be a riot if JACKASS PRESENTS: BAD GRANDPA were to win for Makeup and Hairstyling. I think Hollywood would collectively faint in their plush seats.

Enjoy The Oscars this weekend!