Film Feature: HollywoodChicago.com 2014 Oscar Predictions

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WILD CARD

We assigned the team to some other individual categories just to get an idea of what other surprises await the 86th Annual Academy Awards.

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT (Patrick McDonald)
Will Win: “Avant Que De Tout Perdre” (“Just Before Losing Everything”)
Should Win: “Avant Que De Tout Perdre”

The Academy loves “important” films like “Aquel no era yo” (“That Wasn’t Me,” children soldiers in a war zone) but “Avant Que De Tout Perdre” plays like a Hitchcock thriller with much more at stake.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG (Brian Tallerico)
Will Win/Should Win: “Frozen” – “Let it Go”

The best animated musical song in decades also happens to be the first real crossover hit that could win an Oscar in an incredibly long time. It’s been ages since a song was both an iTunes/Billboard smash and a highlight of the movie year. They won’t miss that opportunity. In fact, it’s one of the biggest locks of the night.

CINEMATOGRAPHY (Nick Allen)
Will Win: “Gravity”
Should Win: “Gravity”

“12 Years a Slave” is sorely missed in this list, but “Gravity” has two words for all of its competitors – Light, Box.

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT (David J. Fowlie)
Will Win: “Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall”
Should Win: “Karama Has No Walls”

These shorts expose social and political issues, profile fascinating individuals and tackle challenging prejudices, in a manner that is mostly thought-provoking and sometimes quite haunting.

BEST ANIMATED SHORT (DJF)
Will Win: “Get a Horse!”
Should Win: “Feral”

The animated shorts that have been nominated in this category typically showcase a variety of creativity, offering a wide range of tone and style. There are no restrictions in animation.

BEST ANIMATED FILM (Dave Canfield)
Will Win: “Frozen”
Should Win: “The Wind Rises”

Nothing else has a chance over “Frozen,” not even “The Wind Rises,” because there’s not much justice in the world.

Frozen
Photo credit: Walt Disney Pictures

ODDS FOR THE REST

To complete the rest of the categories, here are the latest Vegas odds for each…

BEST FOREIGN FILM
The Great Beauty 1/4
The Hunt 7/2
The Broken Circle Breakdown 13/2
Omar 33/1
The Missing Picture 50/1

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Act of Killing 1/2
20 Feet from Stardom 3/2
The Square 10/1
Dirty Wars 30/1
Cutie and the Boxer 50/1

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Gravity 1/7
The Rest (Her, The Book Thief, Philomena, Saving Mr. Banks) 13/4

BEST FILM EDITING
Gravity 1/3
Captain Phillips 2/1
12 Years a Slave 15/1
American Hustle 20/1
Dallas Buyers Club 50/1

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Gravity 1/50
The Rest (Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Lone Ranger) 8/1

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
The Great Gatsby 2/7
American Hustle 3/1
The Rest (12 Years a Slave, The Invisible Woman, The Grandmaster) 6/1

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Great Gatsby 4/7
Gravity 7/4
12 Years a Slave 6/1
Her 25/1
American Hustle 40/1

BEST MAKE-UP AND HAIR STYLING
Dallas Buyers Club 1/100
Jackass Presents Bad Grampa 15/1
The Lone Ranger 20/1

BEST SOUND EDITING
Pick ‘em…
All is Lost
Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Lone Survivor

BEST SOUND MIXING
Pick em…
Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Inside Llewyn Davis
Lone Survivor

By PATRICK McDONALD Senior Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com [email protected]