by Bradley Merk ‘14
2013 was a profound year for movies across the board. Renowned directors such as Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cuaron, and Woody Allen aspired to new cinematic heights while new directors such as David O’Russell and Steve McQueen continued to break new ground in filmmaking. With the 2014 Oscar’s quickly approaching, it can be helpful to understand who is nominated and how great of a year it has truly been for the movies.
Actors and actresses were the main spotlights for movies this year. Many films such as American Hustle, Her, 12 Years a Slave, and The Wolf of Wall Street were more character study than anything else, an impressive feat for a time when movies seem more focused on spectacle.
Women especially had a wonderful year with actresses such as Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, and Sandra Bullock all receiving nominations for best actress. Supporting actress nominations were also full of wonderfully complex female roles such as Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle) and the always reliable Meryl Streep (August: Osage County). My guess is that American Hustle dominates these two categories (although I’m rooting for a surprise win from 12 Years a Slave’s Lupita Nyongo’o) with wins for Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence, just like at the Golden Globes.
Males had a wide variation of roles this year that will be making these categories more unpredictable. Main actors such as Christian Bale (American Hustle), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), and Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club) all have a chance of winning. However, due to the Internet’s despair at his multiple snubs, Leonardo DiCaprio’s role as the money-hungry Wall Streeter Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street may just snatch the award. Supporting actors such as Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club), Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street), and the underdog with a wonderful performance in Captain Phillips, Barkhad Abdi, all have a probability of winning. My guess goes to the crowd favorite Jonah Hill but Jared Leto could be a worthy adversary coming off his win at the Golden Globes.
The original screenplay category must go to Spike Jonze for Her: simply a given. Adapted screenplay may be Terrence Winter for Wolf, but Richard Linklater’s Before Midnight could be a surprise winner due to the immense critical success of the final film in his trilogy.
For the big two, best director and best picture, I find it very possible these wins will go to separate films. Depending on whether or not American Hustle will parade awards throughout the night, David O’Russell could win best director along with many of his actors achieving Oscars. Steve McQueen may also receive well-deserved recognition for his powerful direction in 12 Years a Slave. Best picture seems to be up in the air due to the eclectic group of choices. If I were to choose, personally, I would pick Her. Yet something tells me the Oscars voters are going to have a hard decision, yet again, between American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave.
Be sure to turn in on March 2 at 8:00 p.m. to see the winners and losers of the biggest night in Hollywood.
