OSCARS 2014: THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS...3.2.1

Hi Friends,

The Oscars are nigh...in less than two days from now,new winners  will be rewarded whose work shone like a shining star all through the year-be it through their performances, direction,production design, costume design, story, screenplay etc.So,once again it's going to be one big occasion where Hollywood will celebrate the best among them.I believe all are winners in my eyes whether they are nominated or not because behind every story, performances and technical details/ aspect of the film there's blood,sweat,tears and years of hard work of people striving to make the film a reality.Ask me,I know how difficult it was for me to put together a ten and a half minutes film...so you can well understand the  level  of commitment a feature film entails! So,it's three cheers to all of them!!

Before I make my predictions on who I think would be the winners,I would like to make a mention of those performances which I felt ought to have been there on that list but were snubbed by the jury.Though,I may not have watched all the films but from the reviews I read and the feedback I received from friends and alike,I was most certain that these actors deserved to be there...so here's my five who made it to my list (if that counts anyway)!

1.Robert Redford for Best Actor in All Is Lost

2.Tom Hanks for Best Actor in Captain Phillips

3.Emma Thompson for Best Actress in Saving Mr. Banks

4.Joaquin Phoenix for Best Actor in Her

5.Daniel Brühl for Best Supporting Actor in Rush

(Psst...I've heard and read glowing reviews about Her and I would like to root for Joaquin Phoenix (for a nomination at least,though it's too late but through this post I want it to be known) because the novelty of the film is in the subject where the actor acts against the voice of his operating system and has to convey love,joy and pain which is definitely an achievement according to me!Of course,years ago Tom Hanks took it a step further when he convincingly pulled off a film of a man stranded on an island who forges an unique heart-touching relationship with Wilson(a ball, an inanimate object) in Cast Away.Yet another gem of a film! Thus I was sad when he didn't get a nomination for Captain Phillips in which he plays the title role and is the back-bone of the film ably supported by newcomer,Barkhad Abdi(so happy to see him in the list of nominees).The same goes for Robert Redford in the film,All Is Lost who quite literally and singly carries the entire film on his shoulders and comes up trumps!Emma Thompson who beautifully portrays P.L. Travers,the author of our much loved childhood story book Mary Poppins in Saving Mr. Banks should have definitely made it to the list and so did Daniel Brühl for so effortlessly getting into the skin of the character and wearing those prosthetic while bringing alive the life of Formula One Champion,Niki Lauda.

As for American Hustle bagging so many nominations,I strongly felt that performance-wise it clicked because of an ensemble cast i.e. the sum of the whole was better than the parts.Overall,it was a breezy fun film!

From the list of nominees of films and performances in 2013 and 2014,I see a similar trend emerging in the selection of films.So if last year you had a 3D film,Life of Pi-a human interest story about loss,friendship and survival then this year you had Gravity,a gripping drama unfolding in space.Last year,you had Tarantino's Django Unchained,a violent drama on slavery and this year you have a much subdued yet powerful story of slavery told in Steve McQueen's,12 Years A Slave. 

During recent years,I am quite impressed with film makers choosing to make more films on the subject of slavery and apartheid;everyone must revisit history through some of these well-meaning films such as-Lincoln,12 Years A Slave, Mandela:Long Walk to Freedom,The Help,Django Unchained,Crash etc.In the years to come,I look forward to a film on the life of Martin Luther King...anyone there listening?

It would have been a third coincidence of sorts if Mandela would have been nominated for performances and direction, then I would have immediately drawn a parallel to last year's film,Lincoln because both Mandela and Lincoln have so much in common,after all both the films are on the life and times of two powerful men in history who fought slavery and went on to become successful President's of their respective countries.I guess the jury saw some of those similarities coming and hence Mandela is nowhere nominated for the Oscars except for Best Music,Original Song category. Though it was an ideal time for Mandela:Long Walk to Freedom to be showered with some love by way of nominations considering that the luminary figure,Nelson Mandela passed away just last year...so there could have been no better way to honor the legend and carry the baton of humanity forward!

So now...it's prediction time,are you ready? Here are my guesses for the six categories of the Oscar,namely-Best Picture,Best Director,Best Actor,Best Actress,Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress since,these are the categories that I will be following closely...here's my take!Perhaps the same trend as last year may reflect in the choice of the jury for the Best Picture and Best Director category as well. 

Last year,Ang Lee took home the Best Director trophy for his 3D adventure,Life Of Pi and this year it's the turn of the jury to 'gravit'ate towards yet another 3D epic unfolding in space in Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity.Also,since Cuarón has six Oscar nominations under his belt,so his chances of winning the Best Director seem even brighter!However,just as Life Of Pi lost the Best Picture trophy to Argo,so it looks like 12 Years A Slave might just steal Gravity's thunder for the coveted Best Picture award. 

The only clear winner so far who has won hands down at all major award functions that are a run up to the Oscars is Cate Blanchett as she is tipped to take home the golden statuette for her outstanding performance of a troubled socialite in Blue Jasmine.

However the same cannot be said about the nominees for the other categories. Though Matthew Mcconaughey's gaunt transformation of an HIV-infected homophobic in Dallas Buyers Club is the best bet to win the trophy for the Best Actor but Chiwetel Ejiofor's recent win at the BAFTA's for 12 Years a Slave cannot be ruled out either.

Though Jared Leto and Jennifer Lawrence are the clear favorites for this year's Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress award but the surprise wins of newcomers Barkhad Abdi and Lupita Nyong'o at the BAFTA's and SAG's have emerged as the front-runners set to give tough competition to their contenders in this category.So,what's my take?I personally think that Lupita Nyong'o has a bright chance to win the Oscar for her maiden nomination since the jury has surprised us in the recent past when Sandra Bullock and Octavia Spencer have won awards on their first outing at the Oscars!But you cannot rule out Jennifer Lawrence,she might just do a Tom Hanks!

Now between Jared Leto and Barkhad Abdi...it appears to be a tie in my case...I can't make up my mind!Though Jared Leto is a sure-shot choice to win the award but Barkhad Abdi's sincere performance gets my vote too!They could just give it to both of them and why not?!(Psst...Did you know that at the 41st Academy Award function both Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand won the Best Actress Award in a tie for their films,The Lion in Winter and Funny Girl respectively.So,forty five years later they could do it again!)

Here's summing up this month's post from my end...in less than 48 hours from now...I'll be watching the Oscars,how 'bout you?

Take care and ciao next month,

Love,

Sonyaa