The Young Folks Predict the 86th Academy Awards

Maxwell Haddad’s Oscar Predictions

Best Picture

Will Win: 12 Years a Slave

Should Win: Her

Many think Gravity is the one to beat for best picture (and it is a very strong possibility), but I believe that 12 Years a Slave will ultimately take the big prize thanks to its strong support and status as an important drama. Whatever happens, and despite my love for Her, both films would make for one of the best Best Picture winners in many years.

Best Director

Will Win: Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)

Should Win: Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)

It is possible that Steve McQueen rides 12 Years a Slave’s support to the top, but there is no denying the incredible achievement that is Gravity and the singular artistic and technological achievement of Alfonso Cuaron.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Will Win: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)

McConaughey is in the midst of the hottest and most critically successful streak of his career and that, coupled with his multitude of precursor wins, should give him the Gold on Sunday. That being said, Leonardo DiCaprio’s work in The Wolf of Wall Street is nearly revelatory and the best of his strong career.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Will Win: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

Should Win: Sandra Bullock (Gravity)

I certainly will not begrudge Cate Blanchett’s win for her strong, nuanced work in Blue Jasmine (she is the clear front-runner) yet there is something about the simplicity and physicality of Sandra Bullock’s work in Gravity that swept me away.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Will Win: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Should Win: Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)

Jared Leto would make a strong winner for his transformative and lovely work in Dallas Buyers Club and he has won practically every other award leading up to the Oscars, but Michael Fassbender’s fearless performance is a searing feat of unbridled pain and anger.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Will Win: Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)

Should Win: Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)

Many are predicting Jennifer Lawrence for the win here, and it is certainly not out of the realm of possibility. Personally I do not see her as being one of the few actors in history to win 2 Oscars in a row, though, and I think Nyongo’s support and campaign are strong and the performance speaks for itself. Even Lawrence seems to be rooting for her to win.

Best Original Screenplay

Will Win: American Hustle

Should Win: Her

Her could certainly take this prize (and I hope it does), but I think American Hustle will be “thrown a bone” in this category and David O. Russell will finally win the Oscar he so desperately desires.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Will Win: 12 Years a Slave

Should Win: 12 Years a Slave

Any of the nominees in this category would make for a strong winner, but John Ridley’s adaptation of this tough memoir is an elegant and expansive narrative that successfully develops and convey’s the title characters long journey and the multitude of characters surrounding him. I think the Academy will agree.

Best Animated Feature

Will Win: Frozen

Should Win: Frozen

Hayao Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises could take this award in respect for his retirement and his great career, but I think the controversy over the film’s morals will stop that from happening. Instead, I think Walt Disney animation will (deservedly) win Best Animated Feature for the first time thanks to the huge critical and commercial success of Frozen.

Best Cinematography

Will Win: Gravity

Should Win: Inside Llewyn Davis

There is no denying the incredible, gorgeous cinematography of Gravity and I will be happy to see Emmanuel Lubzeki take home this award. I simply have a personal preference for the folksy, hypnotic, tangible beauty of Bruno Delbonnel’s work on Inside Llewyn Davis.

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