Few things give film critics greater petty pleasure than deriding the taste of Oscar voters. Alas, 2013s crop of films was so strong that it was almost impossible for the Academy to go wrong with their nominees. (Almost impossible. One exceptional film was criminally ignored.) In turn, such parity should see them spread the wealth (read: gold statuettes) at this Sundays ceremony. That said, dont be surprised if American Hustle finds itself shut out in the big six categories.
Speaking of which, I now offer you my take on where the Smart Money is for the major awards. (Note: The Westender is not responsible for any hard-earned dollars lost in Oscar pools by ill-advisedly following this advice.) Meanwhile, the Deserved Winner highlights the nominee who couldve just as easily won and proves that the urge to claim they got it wrong just wont be denied. And finally, In a Perfect World finds me ordering off the menu of nominees and catering to my own predilections in the hope it encourages you to check out some films not feeling the Oscar love.
Smart Money: 12 Years a Slave Given the Academys fondness for important films (see Crash but dont you dare rewatch it), they wont miss this chance to celebrate a legitimately significant work.
Deserved Winner: Her Spike Jonzes romantic fantasy about where our relationship with technology might be headed is equally astute, amusing and inventive.
In a Perfect World: Inside Llewyn Davis This masterful glimpse into the 60s folk scene strikes a variety of tonal chords while irreverently toying with story structure and subverting our expectations at every turn.
Smart Money: Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity The fashionable way to recognize the films remarkable technical achievements and robust box office performance.
Deserved Winner: Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street When a film is this divisive, it means the director hasnt made a single concession. Bold and frequently brilliant filmmaking.
In a Perfect World: Joel and Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis The Coens make their most sincere film yet and the Academy shuns them for it? They deserve better.
Smart Money: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club Maintaining his amazing form while alarmingly shedding weight, the Texan gets the statuette that Magic Mike shouldve earned him.
Deserved Winner: Bruce Dern, Nebraska This deceptively nuanced portrayal of quiet desperation draws on 50 years of acting and close to 80 years of living.
In a Perfect World: Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis Absolutely sublime as the orchestrator of his own destruction whos gifted with a fallen angels haunting voice and troubled soul.
Smart Money: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine Entrancing as an entitled one-percenter suddenly tossed into the deep end with the rest of us, her delusion slowly ceding to derangement.
Deserved Winner: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine If it were most acting, itd have to go to Meryl Streep for August: Osage County. As it stands, no one wrests this away from Cate.
In a Perfect World: Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha The gregarious actress skillfully bumbles through trials painfully familiar to anyone whos pulled themselves from the wreckage of their mid-20s.
Smart Money: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club The debate rages on over the decision to have a straight rock star play a trans woman but Leto seems the surest bet this side of Blanchett.
Deserved Winner: Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street Leonardo DiCaprio wouldnt have delivered the best performance of his career without Hill forcing him to raise his game at every turn.
In a Perfect World: James Franco, Spring Breakers Franco finally cashes a cheque his weirdo rep writes as a monstrosity who seems to have crawled fully formed from the pop culture cesspool.
Smart Money: Lupita Nyongo, 12 Years a Slave Completing the masochistic gauntlet laid out by director Steve McQueen, she benefits from the Academys fondness for recognizing new talent.
Deserved Winner: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle J. Law fatigue keeps her from getting her just reward as Hustles emotionally unstable, scene-stealing force of nature.
In a Perfect World: Gaby Hoffmann, Crystal Fairy Aptly described as a lonely tornado, Hoffmann creates a high-proof free spirit whos disarmingly odd but never contrived.
Make your own picks of Oscar winners and you could win a pass for two at Cinema's Oscar party (closes Thursday at noon) or a festival pass to the Vancouver International Film Festival (closes Sunday at 4pm). Here's a list of Vancouver's Oscar parties this Sunday.
