2014 Oscar Predictions (UPDATE: Winners are highlighted in blue)

I've seen almost of the nominated movies (only Philomena remains as of this post) and actors in their nominated roles, so I am going to make my predictions! (UPDATE: I predicted them all correctly and 6 out of the 8 winners matched who I thought should win as well. Maybe it's time for a career change...)

I am going to predict who I think WILL win and also state who I think should win...

Best Picture

12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street (My Review)
Captain Phillips (My Review)
Her (My Review)
American Hustle (My Review)
Gravity (My Review)
Dallas Buyers Club (My Review)
Nebraska
Philomena

PREDICTION: 12 Years a Slave
MY CHOICE: 12 Years a Slave

I really liked Gravity & originally was going to make this my personal choice...then I saw 12 Years a Slave. This is a powerful, well-made movie that I do believe should win.

Best Director

Steve McQueen - 12 Years a Slave
David O. Russell - American Hustle
Alfonso Cuaron - Gravity
Alexander Payne - Nebraska
Martin Scorsese - The Wolf of Wall Street

PREDICTION: Alfonso Cuaron
MY CHOICE: Alfonso Cuaron

Gravity is a visual epic and it's due to Cuaron's direction that it is so, thus he deserves this one.

Best Actor

Bruce Dern - Nebraska
Chiwetel Ejiofor - 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyers Club
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Wolf of Wall Street
Christian Bale - American Hustle

PREDICTION: Matthew McConaughey
MY CHOICE: Matthew McConaughey

McConaughey BECOMES Ron Woodroof...hands down the best performance I saw of any of the nominees.

Best Actress

Amy Adams - American Hustle
Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine
Judi Dench - Philomena
Sandra Bullock - Gravity
Meryl Streep - August: Osage County

PREDICTION: Cate Blanchett
MY CHOICE: Amy Adams

I think Blanchett will win because she does a good job playing her character in Blue Jasmine, but the movie itself didn't blow me away. I think Adams did a fantastic job in American Hustle and I'd love to see her win, but I don't believe she will.

Best Supporting Actor

Barkhad Abdi - Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper - American Hustle
Jonah Hill - The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto - Dallas Buyers Club
Michael Fassbender - 12 Years a Slave

PREDICTION: Jared Leto
MY CHOICE: Jared Leto

Like McConaughey as Woodroof, I loved Leto as Rayon and he gives such a great performance. I think this is as much of a lock as Best Actor is.

Best Supporting Actress

Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years a Slave
June Squibb - Nebraska
Julia Roberts - August: Osage County
Sally Hawkins - Blue Jasmine

PREDICTION: Lupita Nyong'o
MY CHOICE: Jennifer Lawrence

Given the subject matter, I think Nyong'o will win, but I really hope that Lawrence wins as she turns in another great performance playing a crazy housewife in American Hustle.

Best Original Screenplay

American Hustle - David O. Russell & Eric Warren Singer
Blue Jasmine - Woody Allen
Her - Spike Jonze
Nebraska - Bob Nelson
Dallas Buyers Club - Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack

PREDICTION: Her
MY CHOICE: Her

Her is such a unique story and probably the most original amongst the nominees...plus I really liked the movie!

Best Adapted Screenplay

12 Years a Slave - John Ridley
Before Midnight - Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke & Richard Linklater
The Wolf of Wall Street - Terence Winter
Captain Phillips - Billy Ray
Philomena - Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope

PREDICTION: 12 Years a Slave
MY CHOICE: 12 Years a Slave

This is almost by default given the quality of this movie...