Friday, January 31, 2014

Writers Guild of America (WGA) Predictions

I think that American Hustle is going to pull of the win here, but Her is close behind, as is Nebraska. Before Midnight should win, and I hope the Writers get how great the script is, but watch out for Wolf, which just racked up a surprising number of Oscar nominations.

Best Original Screenplay - Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell "American Hustle"
Best Adapted Screenplay - Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, and Ethan Hawke "Before Midnight"
Best Documentary Screenplay - Sarah Polley "Stories We Tell"
Best Drama Series - Breaking Bad
Best Comedy Series - 30 Rock
Best New Series - House of Cards
Best Episodic Drama - Robert and Michelle King "The Good Wife - Hitting the Fan"
Best Episodic Comedy - Jack Burditt and Robert Carlock "30 Rock - Hogcock!"
Best Long Form Adapted - Kelly Masterson "Killing Kennedy"
Best Animation - Joel H. Cohen "The Simpsons - A Test Before Trying"
Best Variety Series - The Colbert Report
Best Daytime Drama - The Young and Restless
Best Children's Episodic and Specials - Christine Ferrera "Sesame Street - Simon Says"
Best Documentary Current Events - Marcela Gaviria and Martin Smith "Egypt in Crisis"
Best Documentary Other than Current Events - Dayton Duncan "The Dust Bowl - Part 1"

Australian Academy (AATCA) Award Winners

I missed these yesterday (and I'm pretty sure I missed the nominations as well), but once again there is an Australian contingency, and every vote counts. The Great Gatsby sweeps here, which of course is strange to us in America, but it makes since down under. I am most interested in the international awards, where Gravity, Cuaron, Singer and Russell, Ejiofor, Lawrence, Fassbender and Blanchett all took home the prize. Each of these contenders in either a front runner position, or a possible upset position, so this reward helps their cause. The full list of winners is below:

Best Film: "The Great Gatsby"

Best Direction: Baz Luhrmann, "The Great Gatsby"

Best Original Screenplay: Kim Mordaunt, "The Rocket"

Best Adapted Screenplay: Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce, "The Great Gatsby"

Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Great Gatsby"

Best Actress: Rose Byrne, "The Turning"

Best Supporting Actor: Joel Edgerton, "The Great Gatsby"

Best Supporting Actress: Elizabeth Debicki, "The Great Gatsby"

Best Cinematography: Simon Duggan, "The Great Gatsby"

Best Editing: Matt Villa, Jason Ballantine and Jonathan Redmond, "The Great Gatsby"

Best Sound: Wayne Pashley, Jenny Ward, Fabian Sanjurjo, Steve Maslow, Phil Heywood and Guntis Sics, "The Great Gatsby"

Best Original Score: Craig Armstrong, "The Great Gatsby"

Best Production Design: Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy, Ian Gracie and Beverley Dunn, "The Great Gatsby"

Best Costume Design: Catherine Martin, Silvana Azzi Heras and Kerry Thompson, "The Great Gatsby"

Best Visual Effects: Chris Godfrey, Prue Fletcher, Tony Cole and Andy Brown, "The Great Gatsby"

Raymond Longford Award: Jacki Weaver

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Best Film: "Gravity"

Best Direction: Alfonso Cuarón, "Gravity"

Best Screenplay: Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell, "American Hustle"

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years A Slave"

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine"

Best Supporting Actor: Michael Fassbender, "12 Years a Slave"

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle"

2014 Cesar Award Nominations

The French have sounded off, and Blue is the Warmest Color has done extremely well here, as expected. I am always interested in the foreign race, as Argo appeared here last year, showing incredible strength. Django got to France this year, but the inclusions of The Great Beauty, Blue Jasmine, The Broken Circle Breakdown, and especially Gravity show some broad support. There has to be a decent French contingency within the Academy, just considering the numbers over the years, and in some of the tight races this year, every vote helps.

Best Picture
9 Mois Ferme
Me, Myself and Mum
Stranger By The Lake
Jimmy P
The Past
Venus In Fur
Blue Is The Warmest Color

Best Director
Albert Dupontel, 9 Mois Ferme
Guillaume Gallienne, Me, Myself and Mum
Alain Guiraudie, Stranger By The Lake
Arnaud Desplechin, Jimmy P
Asghar Farhadi, The Past
Roman Polanski Venus In Fur
Abdellatif Kechiche, Blue Is The Warmest Color

Best Actress
Fanny Ardant, Les Beaux Jours
Bérénice Bejo, The Past
Catherine Deneuve, Elle S’En Va
Sara Forestier, Suzanne
Sandrine Kiberlain, 9 Mois Ferme
Emmanuelle Seigner, Venus In Fur
Léa Seydoux, Blue Is The Warmest Color

Best Actor
Mathieu Amalric, Venus In Fur
Michel Bouquet, Renoir
Albert Dupontel, 9 Mois Ferme
Grégory Gadebois, Mon Ame Par Toi Guérie
Guillaume Gallienne, Me, Myself and Mum
Fabrice Luchini, Alceste A Bicyclette
Mads Mikkelsen, Michael Kohlhaas

Best Supporting Actress
Marisa Borini, Un Château En Italie
Françoise Fabian, Me, Myself and Mum
Julie Gayet, Quai D’Orsay
Adèle Haenel, Suzanne
Géraldine Pailhas, Jeune Et Jolie

Best Supporting Actor
Niels Arestrup, Quai D’Orsay
Patrick Chesnais, Les Beaux Jours
Patrick D’Assumçao, Stranger By The Lake
François Damiens, Suzanne
Olivier Gourmet, Grand Central

Best Female Newcomer
Lou De Laâge, Jappeloup
Pauline Etienne, La Réliguieuse
Adèle Exarchopoulos, Blue Is The Warmest Color
Golshifteh Farahani, Syngué Sabour – Pierre De Patience
Marine Vacth, Jeune Et Jolie

Best Male Newcomer
Paul Bartel, Les Petits Princes
Pierre Deladonchamps, Stranger By The Lake
Paul Hamy, Suzanne
Vincent Macaigne, La Fille du 14 Juillet
Nemo Schiffman, Elle S’En Va

Best Original Screenplay
Albert Dupontel, 9 Mois Ferme
Philippe Le Guay, Alceste A Bicyclette
Alain Guiraudie, Stranger By The Lake
Asghar Farhadi, The Past
Katell Quillévéré & Mariette Désert, Suzanne

Best Adapted Screenplay
Guilaume Gallienne, Me, Myself and Mum
Arnaud Desplechin, Julie Peyr & Kent Jones, Jimmy P
Antonin Baudry, Christophe Blain & Bertrand Tavernier, Quai D’Orsay
David Ives & Roman Polanski, Venus In Fur
Abdellatif Kechiche & Ghalya Lacrois, Blue Is The Warmest Color

Best Foreign Film
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Blancanieves
Blue Jasmine
Dead Man Talking
Django Unchained
The Great Beauty
Gravity

Best Documentary
Comment J’ai Détesté Les Maths, Olivier Peyon
Le Dernier Des Injustes, Claude Lanzmann
Il Etait Une Fôret, Luc Jacquet
La Maison De La Radio, Nicolas Philibert
Sur Le Chemin De L’Ecole, Pascal Plisson

Best Animated Feature
Aya De Yopougon, Marguerite Abouet & Clément Oubrerie
Loulou L’Incroyable Secret, Eric Omond
Ma Maman Est En Amérique, Elle A Rencontré Buffalo Bill, Marc Boréal & Thibaut Chatel

Best Debut Feature
La Bataille De Solférino, Justine Triet
La Cage Dorée, Ruben Alves
En Solitaire, Christophe Offenstein
La Fille Du 14 Juillet, Antonin Peretjatko
Me, Myself and Mum, Guillaume Gallienne

Best Cinematography
Thomas Hardmeier, The Young And Prodigious Mr Spivet
Claire Mathon, Stranger By The Lake
Jeanne Lapoire, Michael Kohlhaas
Mark Ping Bing Lee, Renoir
Sofian El Fani, Blue Is The Warmest Color

Best Art Direction
Stéphane Rozenbaum, Mood Indigo
Aline Bonetto, The Young And Prodigious Mr Spivet
Sylvie Olivé, Me, Myself and Mum
Yan Arlaud, Michael Kohlhaas
Benoît Barouh, Renoir

Best Costume Design
Florence Fontaine, Mood Indigo
Madeline Fontaine, The Young And Prodigious Mr Spivet
Olivier Bériot, Me, Myself and Mum
Anina Diener, Michael Kohlhaas
Pascaline Chavanne, Renoir

Best Original Score
Jorge Arriagada, Alceste A Bicyclette
Loïk Dury & Christophe ‘Disco’ Minck, Casse Tête Chinois
Etienne Charry, Mood Indigo
Martin Wheeler, Michael Kohlhaas
Alexandre Desplat, Venus In Fur

Best Editing
Christophe Pinel, 9 Mois Ferme
Valérie Deseine, Me, Myself and Mum
Jean-Christophe Hym, Stranger By The Lake
Juliette Welfling, The Past
Camille Toubkis, Albertine Lastera & Jean-Marie Lengellé, Blue Is The Warmest Color

Best Sound
Marc-Antoine Beldent, Loïc Prian & Olivier Dô Hùu, Me, Myself and Mum
Philippe Grivel & Nathalie Vidal, Stranger By The Lake
Jean-Pierre Duret, Jean Mallet & Mélissa Petitjean, Michael Kohlhaas
Lucien Balibar, Nadine Muse & Cyril Holtz, Venus In Fur
Jérôme Chenevoy, Fabien Pochet & Jean-Paul Hurier, Blue Is The Warmest Color

Best Short Film
Avant Que De Tout Perdre, Xavier Legrand
Bambi, Sébastien Lifshitz
La Fugue, Jean-Bernard Marlin
Les Lézards, Vincent Mariette
Marseille La Nuit, Marie Monge

Thursday, January 30, 2014

The 49th Annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award Nominees

Entertainer of the year
Luke Bryan
Miranda Lambert
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Taylor Swift

Male vocalist of the year
Jason Aldean
Lee Brice
Luke Bryan
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban

Female vocalist of the year
Sheryl Crow
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Vocal duo of the year
Big & Rich
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Thompson Square

Vocal group of the year
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Album of the year
Based On A True Story… – Blake Shelton
Crash My Party – Luke Bryan
Here's To The Good Times – Florida Georgia Line
Same Trailer Different Park – Kacey Musgraves
Two Lanes Of Freedom – Tim McGraw

Single record of the year
Cruise – Florida Georgia Line
Highway Don't Care – Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
I Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice
Mama's Broken Heart – Miranda Lambert
Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker Featuring Lady Antebellum

Song of the year
Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain) – Gary Allan
Songwriters: Gary Allan, Hillary Lindsey, Matthew Warren

I Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice
Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary

Mama's Broken Heart – Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves

Mine Would Be You – Blake Shelton
Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker Featuring Lady Antebellum

Video of the year
Better Dig Two – The Band Perry
Blowin' Smoke – Kacey Musgraves
Highway Don't Care – Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
I Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice
Mama's Broken Heart – Miranda Lambert
Two Black Cadillacs – Carrie Underwood

Vocal event of the year
Boys 'Round Here – Blake Shelton Featuring Pistol Annies & Friends
Cruise (Remix) – Florida Georgia Line Featuring Nelly
Highway Don't Care – Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker Featuring Lady Antebellum
We Were Us – Keith Urban And Miranda Lambert

Songwriter of the year
Rhett Akins
Rodney Clawson
Ashley Gorley
Luke Laird
Shane McAnally

Bass player of the year
Mike Brignardello
Kevin "Swine" Grantt
Mark Hill
Michael Rhodes
Glenn Worf

Drummer of the year
Chad Cromwell
Fred Eltringham
Shannon Forrest
Greg Morrow
Lonnie Wilson

Guitar player of the year
Jeff King
Troy Lancaster
Brent Mason
Rob McNelley
Jerry McPherson

Piano/keyboards player of the year
Tony Harrell
John Jarvis
Charlie Judge
Tim Lauer
Gordon Mote

Specialty instrument(s) player of the year
Glen Duncan
Larry Franklin
Jim Hoke
Danny Rader
Bryan Sutton

Steel guitar player of the year
Dan Dugmore
Paul Franklin
Steve Hinson
Russ Pahl
Scotty Sanders

Audio engineer of the year
Derek Bason
Ben Fowler
Mills Logan
Steve Marcantonio
Justin Niebank

Producer of the year
Mark Bright
Dann Huff
Michael Knox
Frank Liddell
Paul Worley

The International 3-D and Advanced Imaging Society Award Winners

Gravity and Frozen clean up, as they both continue to do well on the circuit: 

Live Action 3D Feature
"Gravity," Warner Bros.

3D Scene/Moment Of The Year
"Gravity," Warner Bros.

Stereography – Live Action
"Gravity," Warner Bros.

Theatrical Motion Picture – Outstanding Use Of 2D to 3D Conversion
"Gravity,"  Warner Bros.

Animated 3D Feature
"Frozen," Walt Disney Animation Studios

Stereography – Animation
"Frozen," Walt Disney Animation Studios

Short 3D Motion Picture/Narrative
"Get a Horse," Walt Disney Animation Studios

3D Documentary
"Metallica Through the Never," Picturehouse Entertainment

3D Advertising
"Olympic Identity," BBC - UK

3DTV Historical Documentary
"Inside The Mind of Leonardo," Sky UK

3DTV Nature Documentary
"The Mountain’s Spirit –Shennongjia Snub-Nosed Monkey"
Shanghai Media Group- China

3DTV Cultural Documentary
"Guo Mai," CCTV- China

3DTV – Entertainment Series
"Little Cracker – Ghost Story"
Sprout Pictures- UK

3DTV – Sports
F1 Barcelona Testing, Sky UK

International Feature – Animated
"Space Pirate Captain Harlock," Qtech, Inc.- Japan

International Feature – Live Action
"Present For You," Plus Heads, Inc. - Japan

International 3D Live Event
"Mayday Nowhere," B’in Music - Taiwan

International Short – Animated"Mr. Hublot," Zeilt Productions - Luxembourg

International Short – Live Action
"Lapse of Time," Kafard Films- France

International Entertainment – Music
"Des Roar," 3D International Media Partners, Inc. - Canada

Jury Prize – Russia
"Stalingrad," Columbia Pictures
Sir Charles Wheatstone Award
Pixar Animation Studios

4k Documentary
"Space: Unraveling the Cosmos"
3net

4k Entertainment
"Breaking Bad"
AMC

Century Award
Steve Schklair
3ality Technica

Harold Lloyd Award  
Jeffrey Katzenberg
DreamWorks Animation

American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Award Predictions

So Saturday, both the ASC and the WGA (predictions tomorrow evening) announce their winners, both of which are big awards in determining their respective categories, as well as pushing or pulling film towards Best Picture. Here are my ASC predictions for the top four categories.

Best Cinematography in a Film - Emmanuel Lubezki "Gravity"
Best Cinematography in a One-Hour Series - Jonathan Freeman "Game of Thrones - Valar Dohaeris"
Best Cinematography in a Half-Hour Series - Matthew J. Lloyd "Alpha House - Pilot"
Best Cinematography in a TV Movie/Miniseries - David Luther "The White Queen"

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Alone Yet Not Alone Disqualified from Best Original Song

For those of you who haven't followed the drama, there were two contentious points to this obscure nomination. First, and apparently, not the big problem, were questions of the films qualifications for Oscar consideration at all. Apparently it had only played in one theater in Reno, NV, and some questioned whether it had enough screenings in the first place. But that was not what ended up screwing the song out of an Oscar nomination. When it was discovered that one of the nominees was none other than Bruce Boughton, a former Academy governor and head of the music branch, there were some in the press, and apparently rightfully so, who questioned this nomination. After an extensive investigation by the Academy, it is reported that Boughton violated campaign rules, by directly emailing members of the branch to promote the film (a no-no as you all remember from The Hurt Locker situation a few years ago), and because of this they have rescinded the nomination, and do not plan on replacing it. Some will complain that that is unfair to that sixth place song, but at this point, it is just too much of an ordeal to add another song this late in the game when phase two campaigning has kicked into high gear (I know Oscar ballots are not out, but that is really a technicality). So we are left with a four-person Oscar race, that really feels like it could go three ways. In a statement, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs stated, "No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one’s position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one’s own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage.” Unlike before where the producer's credit for The Hurt Locker stood, and he won an Oscar, I think the Academy did the right thing, and sent the right message by rescinding the nomination, basically saying: we will not tolerate this type of unfair campaigning, and if you ignore it, we will not just slap you on the wrist, but we will make sure that you don't do it again. 

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Emmys Move to August/Monday Night

So the last time NBC hosted the Emmy Awards, they moved them back to August to avoid Monday Night Football. This year, they are once again moving it up to August 25th, the Creative Arts Awards on August. 16th. In case you were wondering, that means that the Emmys this year will be on a Monday night, now so that they don't interfere with Sunday Night Football. I try to maintain a certain amount of integrity, but this is just ridiculous. Monday nights used to host Oscars and Emmys, and I'm sure they were fine, but some people work Monday nights (Ok so I am being very biased here), and have to then work the rest of the week, and it seems like the worst idea ever. Of course I expect nothing less from NBC who has recently made questionable choices to say the least. Now that my rant is over, I do wonder if this will move up the nominations, or whether it will then shorten the voting period, which could change the results drastically. We'll just have to wait and see how everything shakes down, but for now, this is sure to spark much discussion, and will probably negatively impact the ratings.

RIP Pete Seeger and Tom Sherak

It is sad when someone you have admired dies. It is extremely difficult when two die. Pete Seeger was a legend, an activist, and brilliant song writer who believed that the power of music could not only entertain, but could impact social change. He used his lyrics to help working men and women, and to fight for civil rights for all Americans. Tom Sherak was a successful film executive who led the Academy successfully for years, and using his influence, raised over $45 Million for multiple sclerosis research. Both of these men contributed to American culture, and used their status and talent to help those in need. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of these two men, and I hope they rest in peace. 

Monday, January 27, 2014

The Grammy Awards: The Good, The Bad, and the Downright Ugly

So here is a quick rundown of the Grammy Awards last night, and then I can get back to the important work of Oscar blogging:

The Good

  • Unlike some years, there were no egregious winners that really ruined the rest of the night. The top four categories went to deserving artists: Lorde, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and surprisingly Daft Punk. I know I had predicted them for Album of the Year, but I am still pleasantly surprised that the Grammys have broken another barrier by rewarding a genre in the top categories that they had usually ignored. 
  • Another winner on the telecast included a well-deserved win for Kacey Musgraves in Country Album over Taylor Swift (who is barely country anymore). 
  • Before the telecast there were some nice wins including: Kathy Griffin winning on her sixth try for Comedy Album, Stephen Colbert, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Alicia Keys, Vampire Weekend, Steve Martin, and basically just the entire pre-telecast ceremony. It moved at a nice pace, there were nice interlude performances, but mostly it was about actually rewarding the artists, producers, and songwriters of this year's music. 
  • The abundance of performances was exhausting (I'll get to that later), but some of them were enjoyable including John Legend, P!nk and Nate Ruess, Carole King and Sara Bareilles, Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar, and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. 
The Bad
  • The Length of the ceremony
  • No Kendrick Lamar anywhere
  • Some of the performances did not work for me. Macklemore was great, but Madonna randomly popping out felt forced. I am so sick of Robin Thicke that not even Chicago could not fix it. The Daft Punk, Pharrell, and Stevie Wonder performance finally found its rhythm at the end, but it took a while to get there, and poor Kacey Musgraves got slotted after the epic Lamar and Imagine Dragons duo. She was fine (expect for the weird lighting scheme), but she felt drowned out. It's not here fault, it just turned into a awkward moment.
  • LL Cool J is a great rapper, and seems like a cool guy. But the whole hosting gig for the Grammys seems forced, and seems like it only added to the show's gargantuan length. 
  • I love Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr as much as the next person, but if they are going to do a whole 2-hour special on The Beatles, then why did they have to add thirty minutes to the show for two Beatles performances, and then Rock Song, which was specifically put there to get McCartney up on the stage again. It all felt forced, and it also takes away from the special in February. 
The Ugly
  • This year, for the first time in a long time, none of the winners, losers, or performances made the ugly list, and it was actually one of the better Grammy ceremonies in recent memory. Which is just kind of sad. The Oscars and Emmys can be long and present so many awards it is hard to keep up. But I would rather an awards show, present too many awards honoring the year's best, than present a total of 10 awards in four hours (especially after being able to present 72 in the four hours prior to it). They strung together performances, sometimes going long stretches without a break. More importantly, they hyped up every performance as a classic Grammy moment or classic Grammy mashup/duet. Not everything is a classic, and maybe if you just let them perform without making such a big deal they would actually be more pleasurable. The other thing that really bothered me was that they cut off winners short, yet let performances go on and on. I love live music, but that is an insult to the artists who won a prestigious award. 
  • Basically the Grammys are a long slog to get through, and there are three big ways to fix it: 1)Actually present some Grammy awards 2) Less performances 3)Stop cutting winners off, it is just insulting when you plan for an almost four hour ceremony, but don't have time to actually celebrate Grammy winners.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

The 56th Annual Grammy Award Winners

I will be updating the winners live!:

Album of the Year - Daft Punk "Random Access Memories"
Record of the Year - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell and Nile Rodgers "Get Lucky"
Song of the Year - Joel Little and Ella Yelich O'Conner "Royals"
Best New Artist - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Best Pop Vocal Album - Bruno Mars "Unorthodox Jukebox"
Best Pop Solo Performance - Lorde "Royals"
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell and Nile Rodgers "Get Lucky"
Best Country Album - Kacey Musgraves "Same Trailer Different Park"
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration - Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake "Holy Grail"
Best Rock Song - Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear "Cut Me Some Slack"
Best Rock Performance - Imagine Dragons "Radioactive"
Best Metal Performance - Black Sabbath "God is Dead?"
Best Rock Album - Led Zeppelin "Celebration Day"
Best Alternative Music Album - Vampire Weekend "Modern Vampires of the City"
Best R&B Performance - Snarky Puppy feat. Lalah Hathaway "Something"
Best R&B Song - Justin Timberlake "Pusher Love Girl"
Best Traditional R&B Performance - Gary Clark Jr. "Please Come Home"
Best Urban Contemporary Album - Rihanna "Unapologetic"
Best R&B Album - Alicia Keys "Girl on Fire"
Best Rap Album - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "The Heist"
Best Rap Song -  Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Thrift Shop"
Best Rap Performance - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz "Thrift Shop"
Best Country Solo Performance - Darius Rucker "Wagon Wheel"
Best Country Song - Kasey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, & Josh Osbourne "Merry Go Round"
Best Country Duo/Group Performance - The Civil Wars "From This Valley"
Best Dance/Electronica Album - Daft Punk "Random Access Memories"
Best Dance Recording - Zedd feat. Foxes  "Clarity"
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album - Michael Buble "To Be Loved"
Best Pop Instrumental Album - Herb Albert "Steppin' Out"
Best Spoken World Album - Stephen Colbert "America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatest We Weren't"
Best Comedy Album - Kathy Griffin "Calm Down Gurrrl"
Best Original Score Soundtrack - Thomas Newman "Skyfall"
Best Song Written for Visual Media - Adele and Paul Epworth "Skyfall"
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media - Sound City: Real to Reel
Best Musical Theater Album - Kinky Boots
Best Americana Album - Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell "Old Yellow Moon"
Best American Roots Song - Edie Brickell and Steve Martin "Love Has Come For You"
Best Music Video - Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z "Suit and Tie"
Producer of the Year - Pharrell Williams

2014 Grammy Predictions: Final List

Album of the Year - Daft Punk "Random Access Memories"
Record of the Year - Lorde "Royals"
Song of the Year - Ben Haggerty, Ryan Lewis, and Mary Lambert "Same Love"
Best New Artist - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Best Pop Solo Performance - Lorde "Royals"
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell "Get Lucky"
Best Pop Vocal Album - Justin Timberlake "The 20/20 Experience"
Best Dance Recording - Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch "Sweet Nothing"
Best Dance/Electronica Album - Daft Punk "Random Access Memories"
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album - Michael Buble "To Be Loved"
Best Rock Performance - Imagine Dragons "Radioactive"
Best Metal Performance - Black Sabbath "God is Dead?"
Best Rock Song - Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic, & Pat Smear "Cut Me Some Slack"
Best Rock Album - David Bowie "The Next Day"
Best Alternative Music Album - Vampire Weekend "Modern Vampires of the City"
Best R&B Performance - Miguel feat. Kendrick Lamar "How Many Drinks?"
Best Traditional R&B Performance - Gary Clark Jr. "Please Come Home"
Best R&B Song - James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Moseley, and Justin Timberlake "Pusha T. Girl"
Best Urban Contemporary Album - Rihanna "Unapologetic"
Best R&B Album - Alicia Keys "Girl on Fire"
Best Rap Performance - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Thrift Shop"
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration - Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake "Holy Grail"
Best Rap Song - Ben Haggerty and Ryan Lewis "Thrift Shop"
Best Rap Album - Kanye West "Yeezus"
Best Country Solo Performance - Miranda Lambert "Mama's Broken Heart"
Best Country Duo/Group Performance - Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban "Highway Don't Care"
Best Country Song - Kacey Musgraves "Merry Go Round"
Best Country Album - Taylor Swift "Red"
Best Americana Album - Mavis Staples "One True Vine"
Best Spoken Word Album - Pete Seeger "The Storm King"
Best Comedy Album - Kathy Griffin "Calm Down Gurrrl"
Best Musical Theater Album - Kinky Boots
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media - The Great Gatsby
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media - Mychael Danna "Life of Pi"
Best Song Written for Visual Media - Adele and Paul Epworth "Skyfall"
Producer of the Year (Non Classical) - Pharrell Williams
Best Music Video - Suit and Tie

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award Winners

Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron "Gravity"
Best Directing in a Drama Series - Vince Gilligan "Breaking Bad - Felina"
Best Directing in a Documentary - Jehane Noujaim "The Square"
Best Directing in a TV Movie/Mini - Steven Soderbergh "Behind the Candelabra"
Best Directing in a Comedy Series - Beth McCarthy-Miller "30 Rock - Hogcock/Last Lunch"
Best Directing in a Variety Series - Don Roy King "SNL - Justin Timberlake"
Best Directing in a Variety Special - Glenn Weiss "The 67th Annual Tony Awards"
Best Directing in a Reality Series - Neil P. DeGroot "72 Hours: The Lost Coast"
Best Directing in a Children's Program - Amy Schatz "An Apology to Elephants"

2014 Sundance Film Festival: Award Winners

I will be updating the winners live as they come in. You can watch the stream, like I am online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smUw8wQQ95M.

Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic - Whiplash
Grand Jury Prize - Documentary - Rich Hill 
Directing Award - Dramatic - Fishing Without Nets 
Directing Award - Documentary - The Case Against 8 
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Dramatic- The Skeleton Twins
Editing Award - Documentary - Watchers of the Sky 
Cinematography Award - Dramatic - Low Down 
Cinematography Award - Documentary - E-Team
Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent - Dear White People 
Special Jury Prize for Musical Score - Dramatic - Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
Special Jury Prize - Documentary Use of Animation - Watchers of  the Sky
Special Jury Prize - Documentary - The Overnighters

The Best of NEXT Award - Imperial Dreams
World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award - Difret 
World Cinema Documentary Audience Award - The Green Prince
Documentary Audience Award - Alive Inside
Dramatic Audience Award - Whiplash
World Cinema Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic - To Kill a Man 
World Cinema Directing Award - Dramatic - 52 Tuesdays
World Cinema Screewriting Award - Dramatic - Blind
World Cinema Cinematography Award - Dramatic - Lilting
World Cinema Grand Jury Prize for Ensemble Performance -Dramatic - God Help the Girl
World Cinema Grand Jury Prize - Documentary: Return to Homs
World Cinema Directing Award - Documentary - 20,000 Days on Earth 
World Cinema Documentary Editing Award - 20,000 Days on Earth 
World Cinema Cinematography Award - Documentary - Happiness 
World  Cinema Special Jury Prize - Documentary: We Come as Friends
The Short Film Audience Award: "Chapel Perilous,"
Alfred P. Sloane Prize - I, Origins.

2014 Sundance Film Festival: Emerging Talent, Great Films, and 2015 Oscars

Tonight, the DGA announces their winners, and the Oscar race continues to push forward. But in the midst of all of this madness, the 2014 Sundance Film Festival is already introducing a new crop of contenders, showcasing veteran and new talent, and as always, emerging with what look like some excellent films. According to various reports and tons of reviews, these apparently are the films to look out for emerging out of Sundance this year:

1) Boyhood - Probably the biggest film at Sundance this year, Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke follow up their Before tribute with an incredibly fascinating premise. Over the course of 12 years, Linklater filmed Hawke, Arquette, and a young actor named Ellar Coltrane, who literally had every year of his life since age like eight or nine, documented in a story about the changing family, the growth of a young man, and the dynamics of growing up in American. Those who have seen it love it, and it is sure to be a critical favorite in 2014.

2) The Skeleton Twins - This is the one I am most excited about. It has already be compared to darker, more Academy friendly comedies like The Kids are All Right, or a film from Alexander Payne or Jason Reitman. It stars Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, both of whom are apparently playing against their normal types. It is nice to see the SNL duo doing great projects after moving on from the late night show, and as fans of both, I think this film, which is getting great reviews so far, is the comedy to watch for this year.

3) Whiplash - Miles Teller just got an Awards Psychic Award nomination for this stunning role in The Spectacular Now. Now he joins the vastly underrated J.K. Simmons (who should have been nominated for Juno), in Whiplash, the story of a young drummer trying to make it as a jazz drummer, being trained by the fierce and intense trainer played by Simmons. Apparently it is an epic battle between the shy and lacking confidence young man Andrew, and the drill sergeant instructor Terence Fletcher. I will definitely put this one on my must see list, and although it is apparently a strange movie, the two performances alone are worth a view. Hopefully it also means that two extremely talented, and award-less actors, will gain some Oscar traction, if the film lives up to its hype.

4) Love is Strange - John Lithgow and Alfred Molina play an aging couple who have drifted and had difficulties in their long relationship. I am not big on romantic movies, as most either tend to be depressingly tragic or ridiculously cheesy. Apparently, what we have here is a well-acted, beautifully constructed love story that is sure to touch the hearts without drenching them. I am willing to tackle any genre if it is done well, and this one looks like one to look out for.

5) Life Itself - I have been revisiting Roger Ebert's The Great Movies series, recently finishing part 1 again, only to start part II immediately. He was incredibly smart and a wonderful writer, because he didn't try to talk over the heads of his readers. He could have, but instead, he always simply talked about why he liked the movie or hated the movie he had watched. Not as a review or a journalist, but as an average guy who just happened to be an incredible film buff. He was one of the best, and I am thrilled he has apparently gotten proper treatment in this new documentary, which is already being hailed as a 2015 Oscar contender, and one of the most moving films of the early year. Count this one on my must-see list.

6) Nymphomaniac (Part 1) - Count me as one that never understood all of the hype around Melancholia. I personally thought it was a long dragging, depressing, and simply boring adventure that was never taught enough, artistic enough, or engaging enough to deserve all of the love that it got. But other efforts like Breaking the Waves by Von Trier have been much more to my liking, and so I am always up for taking in one of his films. Nymphomaniac is being split into two parts here (although in Europe it is playing in a much longer form, although apparently not as long as Von Trier wanted). Of course the critics have jumped on the bandwagon, and surprisingly the remark I am hearing the most is not visionary, epic, stylish (all of which are being thrown around), but instead is funny. I have never thought of Von Trier as funny (sadistic probably being the best term), but if he can bring humor to such a touchy subject, then he maybe still has the ability to surprise as a director.

7) They Came Together - Bringing back the Wet Hot American Summer crew, including Amy Poehler (who is on my list of people I would watch read the newspaper), and Paul Rudd, They Came Together is going to be winning any Oscars come this time next year, but it is sure to be hell of a lot of fun.

2014 Grammy Predictions: Album of the Year

Will Win - Daft Punk "Random Access Memories"

Should Win - Kendrick Lamar "good kid, m.A.A.d city"

Could Win - Taylor Swift "Red" or Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "The Heist"

Commentary - I was so thrilled to see Kendrick Lamar make the cut, one of my favorite albums of the year, but I don't think that he has a shot here. Neither does Sara Bareilles, although she wasn't supposed to be nominated and she pulled it off. But the lack of the Pop Vocal Album nod shows lack of real widespread report. The other three though are in a tough battle. I just really don't think Taylor Swift will win, maybe it's because I really don't want her to. But she really can, although I think that so many people were upset when she won the first time, do the Grammys, who have worked so hard to become cool, go for someone that would inspire such outrage? The answer is definitely yes if they like it enough. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis apparently got pushed back into the Rap field after the committee pushed it out. This probably means that Rap Album will go to Kanye, or maybe Kendrick, since that community seems to not want to embrace it as much (it also makes me wonder about the other categories). But I think it has a real chance here. It is a cross over hit that pushes the boundaries of hip-hip. It would be the first real rap album (Lauryn Hill was a rap/R&B mix), to do so here, but I think that they could be the ones to do it. But I am going out on a limb here and saying that another barrier will be broken when the first dance/electronica album wins. Daft Punk had one of the biggest albums of the year. It could easily benefit from vote splitting (essentially two rap albums cancel each other out, as do the two essentially pop albums). And it is exactly what Grammy voters like. Think Herbie Hancock redoing Joni Mitchell songs, think Adele making old school soulful vibe popular again. Daft Punk took an old sound and made it radio friendly again, had it playing and clubs, and made it update and cool while retaining the integrity of what came before it. It just feels like the Album of the Year winner. 

Friday, January 24, 2014

2014 Grammy Predictions: Song and Record of the Year

Record of the Year
Will Win/Should Win - Lorde "Royals"
Could Win - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell "Get Lucky" or Bruno Mars "Locked Out of Heaven"
Commentary - In a normal year, I would be pushing the rock contender Imagine Dragons. But buzz for Radioactive is just dead, although they could get Grammy recognition in the Rock categories. Blurred Lines may have been the hit of the summer, but the Recording Academy voters have never gone for something so brazen or summery in this category, despite plenty of similar nominations. So I think it is really a three way race. Bruno Mars got in here as well as Song of the Year, and the song has had tremendous airplay. Get Lucky is the most infectious of the bunch, and is a brilliant combination of electronica, and classic Soul/Pop. But I think the strange, haunting, yet wonderful Royals will net Lorde her a huge Grammy win, one of what is sure to be many over her career.

Song of the Year
Will Win/Should Win - Ben Haggerty, Mary Lambert & Ryan Lewis "Same Love"
Could Win - Joel Little & Ella Yelich O'Connor "Royals" or Jeff Bhasker, Pink & Nate Ruess "Just Give Me a Reason"
Commentary - Really not including Katy Perry or Bruno Mars in my Could Win section is madness because they both had huge infectious hits with great lyrics, and could easily win. But I think this is really a three-way race. Royals is the frontrunner for ROTY, and the lyrics manage to have radio-friendly aspects, while also condemning the same thing. It is a brilliant use of words. I also am partial to Just Give Me a Reason which feels like a short film with its intricately detailed lyrics. But I feel that the Recording Academy might look to not only great lyrics, but the importance and the social impact of lyrics by picking Same Love. It would be the first rap song to do so, so I am probably stupid to not go with Royals for both (we'll see how my final list shapes up on Sunday). But someone has to break the barrier, and this feels like the one htat can do it.

Grace of Monaco to Open 2014 Cannes Film Festival

I will do a rundown of the Oscar contenders emerging out of Sundance. But another major contender which got pushed to 2014 due to some controversy has just had the last laugh. After a dispute with Weinstein over edits to Grace of Monaco, director Olivier Dahan and his team just landed the opening slot at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14th. It will release in France that same day, although it will be interesting to see how or when it actually lands in the United States. Early word has been interesting to say the least, but has been overshadowed by its release drama. As of May 14th, we will finally see how the film turned out, and whether it will be an Oscar contender in 2015.

Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award Predictions

Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron "Gravity"
Best Directing of a Documentary - Sarah Polley "Stories We Tell"
Best Directing in a Drama Series - David Fincher "House of Cards - Chapter 1"
Best Directing in a Comedy Series - Beth McCarthy-Miller "30 Rock - Hogcock/Last Lunch"
Best Directing in a TV Movie/Miniseries - Steven Soderbergh "Behind the Candelabra"
Best Directing in a Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Don Roy King "SNL - Justin Timberlake"
Best Directing in a Variety Special - Glenn Weiss "The 67th Annual Tony Awards"
Best Directing in a Reality Program - Bertram Van Munster "The Amazing Race - Beards in the Wind"
Best Directing in a Children's Program - Amy Schatz "An Apology to Elephants"
Best Directing in a Commercial - Noah Murro

Thursday, January 23, 2014

2014 Grammy Predictions: Best New Artist

Will Win/Should Win - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Could Win - Kacey Musgraves, Kendrick Lamar, or Ed Sheeran

Commentary - There are four contenders here with either a Grammy history (Sheeran), or loads of nominations this year (Musgraves, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis). With Lorde surprising left off here, I think that paves the way for one of these other four. Country artists have traditionally done well here, so Musgraves is a real possibility, and Ed Sheeran is the type of safe choice that the Grammys have historically gone for. Kendrick Lamar is a fantastic young rapper, but I think in terms of an all around artist that the incredibly popular Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will take the prize instead. I do hesitate a bit, because the last rap act to win (the only other rap act to win was Arrested Development) was Lauryn Hill, whose Miseducation was the best album of the 90's and also mixed in beautifully sung R&B. So M & R would have to break Grammy tradition here to win. I think they can do it, but I won't be surprised if one of the more traditional choices takes the gold.

Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA) Award Winners

I missed these yesterday, but here are the winners.

Film of the Year
"12 Years a Slave"

Film Performance of the Year - Actor
Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club"

Film Performance of the Year - Actress
Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine"

LGBT Film of the Year
"Blue is the Warmest Color"

Foreign Language Film of the Year
"Blue is the Warmest Color"

Documentary of the Year 
(theatrical release, TV airing or DVD release)
"Bridegroom"

Campy Flick of the Year
"I’m So Excited!"

Unsung Film of the Year
(TIE) "Kill Your Darlings" and "Short Term 12"

Visually Striking Film of the Year 
(honoring a production of stunning beauty, "from art direction to cinematography)
"Gravity"

TV Drama of the Year
(TIE) "Behind the Candelabra" and "Orange is the New Black"

TV Comedy of the Year
"Girls"

TV Performance of the Year - Actor
"Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra"

TV Performance of the Year - Actress
Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Coven"

TV Musical Performance of the Year
Shirley Bassey, "Goldfinger" - "82nd Academy Awards"

LGBT TV Show of the Year
"Orange is the New Black"

Campy TV Show of the Year
"American Horror Story: Coven"

Unsung TV Show of the Year
"Getting On"

The "We’re Wilde About You" Rising Star Award
Laverne Cox

Wilde Wit of the Year
(honoring a performer, writer or commentator whose observations both challenge and amuse)
Rachel Maddow

Wilde Artist of the Year
(honoring a truly groundbreaking force in the fields of film, theater and/or television)
James Franco

Timeless Award 
(to an actor or performer whose exemplary career is marked by character, wisdom and wit)
Lily Tomlin

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

2014 Grammy Predictions: Pop and Dance/Electronica

Best Pop Vocal Album
Will Win/Should Win - Justin Timberlake "The 20/20 Experience"
Could Win - Lorde "Pure Heroine" or Bruno Mars "Unorthodox Jukebox"
Commentary - The only Pop album to make the Album of the Year cut was Sara Bareilles' The Blessed Unrest. So she would probably be the obvious front runner in her genre category, right? Well, she didn't manage a nomination here, another strange anomaly in Grammy voting (I really have to look at those voting procedures). So it probably comes down to Lorde vs. Justin Timberlake. Royals got in at SOTY and ROTY, but I think Timberlake will take at least one consolation prize after getting snubbed in general categories. Plus as an album, The 20/20 Experience is a more complete one than Lorde, whose album is good, but not all of the records have quite the pop of Royals.

Best Pop Solo Vocal Performance
Will Win - Lorde "Royals"
Could Win - Justin Timberlake "Mirrors" or Katy Perry "Roar" or Sara Bareilles "Brave"
Should Win - Lorde or Katy Perry.
Commentary - This is  a tough race. Justin Timberlake's Mirrors was snubbed in both general categories, but he is popular enough to do well here. Katy Perry got a Song of the Year nomination, and is still on the radio all the time. And Sara Bareilles Brave has gotten a lot of exposure lately in commercials, and other venues. Plus she got an Album of the Year nomination. But this is a performance award, and Lorde's ROTY and SOTY nominations should be enough to push her over the top.

Best Pop Duo/Group Vocal Performance
Will Win - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell "Get Lucky
Could Win - Honestly, all of them.
Should Win - P!ink and Nate Ruess "Just Give Me a Reason"
Commentary - Once again, a lot of options for voters to choose from. My personal pick would be P!nk and Nate Ruess, who managed a SOTY nomination, but there are too many big performances here, I think it will be drowned out. Stay is catchy, but that is the one I don't think will happen. Suit and Tie is a real threat here, but I think they will honor the duo of Jay-Z and JT in the Rap category. So it comes down the two. Blurred Lines was the hit of the summer, but I think that Daft Punk is too popular this year to be ignored. I expect the infectious Get Lucky to get lucky here.

Best Traditional Pop Album
Will Win - Michael Buble "To Be Loved"
Could Win - Tony Bennett "Viva Duets"
Should Win - Cee-Lo "Cee-Lo's Magic Moments"
Commentary - I really don't care here, but I do think that Buble is the one to beat.

Best Dance/Electronica Album
Will Win/Should Win - Daft Punk "Random Access Memories"
Could Win - Calvin Harris "18 Months"
Commentary - Daft Punk made electronica actually something of value this year, other than dancing drunk in a club. They made something old new, and made something without substance feel important. They are taking this one in a walk.

Best Dance Recording
Will Win/Should Win - Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch "Sweet Nothing"
Could Win - Zedd feat. Foxes "Clarity"
Commentary - Calvin Harris has done a lot of collaborations across the music industry, and combine that with Florence of Florence + The Machine, and I think you have Grammy gold.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

2014 Grammy Predictions: Rock/Metal/Alternative

Best Rock Album
Will Win/Should Win - David Bowie "The Next Day"
Could Win - Led Zeppelin "Celebration Day" or Queens of the Stone Age "Like Clockwork"
Commentary - A tight race between three legendary rock icons will prove to be an interesting one at the Grammys this year. Led Zeppelin and Queens of the Stone Age had great efforts nominated, but the buzz surrounding Bowie's return was big, and his is the best of the bunch. I think he will take this one.

Best Rock Performance
Will Win - Imagine Dragons "Radioactive"
Could Win - Led Zeppelin "Kashmir" or David Bowie "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)"
Commentary - You should not count against Zeppelin or Bowie, as Springsteen routinely beats out general field nominees in these categories just because he is Springsteen. But I think that the Record of the Year nomination is not to be ignored. So I am going with Imagine Dragons, who are also the hot newer band on the rock scene right now.

Best Rock Song
Will Win - Paul McCartney and Nirvana "Cut Me Some Slack"
Could Win - Any of the other four.
Should Win - The incredible combination of McCartney and Nirvana looks like it will be hard to pass up. From that point, it doesn't look like there is a clear second place, which helps its cause even more.

Best Alternative Music Album
Will Win/Should Win - Vampire Weekend "Modern Vampires of the City"
Could Win - Nine Inch Nails "Hesitation Marks"
Commentary - Nine Inch Nails have been around a long time, but their new effort was fresh and well done. That being said, Modern Vampires of the City has sold well, and has incredible reviews. I think that Vampire Weekend will be hard to pass up here.

Best Metal Performance
Will Win - Black Sabbath "God is Dead?"
Could Win - Anthrax "TNT"
Should Win - Heh?
Commentary - Not really a metal fan because it is basically just loud noises, but Sabbath's record was popular and the consensus seems to be that Sabbath is the choice, so I will go with that. Plus is its nominated for Best Rock Song, so there is broad support for it.

Monday, January 20, 2014

2014 Grammy Predictions: R&B and Urban Contemporary

Best R&B Album
Will Win/Should Win - Alicia Keys "Girl on Fire"
Could Win - John Legend "Love in the Future" or Faith Evans "R&B Divas"
Commentary - I have no idea what to do with these R&B Awards, which seem to be having issues the last several years (Just look at what is called Urban Contemporary). They need to just go back to either R&B and Contemporary R&B or R&B and Traditional R&B. I was not that complicated, and I can't figure out why they keep tinkering. Anyway, this looks like a two-way race between two artists who were once Grammy favorites. Both have returned with solid albums, but I think that overwhelming popularity of Girl of Fire will prevail here.

Best Urban Contemporary Album
Will Win - Rihanna "Unapologetic"
Should Win - Fantasia "Side Effects of You"
Could Win - Fantasia or Tamar Braxton "Love and War"
Commentary - The Braxton name carries some weight, and Fantasia is a previous winner with a great R&B effort (should have just been in regular R&B, but I will stop I promise). But I suspect that Rihanna, who jumps categories all the time, will pull out a win here.

Best R&B Performance
Will Win/Should Win - Miguel and Kendrick Lamar "How Many Drinks?"
Could Win - Anthony Hamilton "Best of Me" or Tamar Braxton "Love and War"
Commentary - I think that Kendrick Lamar could be shut out of the Rap awards due to a strong combination of veterans (Kanye and Jay-Z), and the new popular duo of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. But I do think he will take home a Grammy, as both he and Miguel are popular with the Recording Academy, both getting into the general field over the last two years. Their star power alone will win this, but the song is also the best of the bunch.

Best Traditional R&B Performance
Will Win - Gary Clark Jr. "Please Come Home"
Could Win/Should Win - Fantasia "Get It Right"
Commentary - There seems to be a consensus across the web that Clark is going to win here, and after listening to Please Come Home, I can understand why. But Fantasia is the only real R&B star in the bunch, Get It Right is catchy, and the album has more nods across the board showing more support. She is definitely the dark horse, and could end up being my pick come final list time.

Best R&B Song
Will Win - Justin Timberlake "Pusher Love Girl"
Could Win - Anthony Hamilton "Best of Me" or Fantasia "Without You"
Commentary - I am going with Timberlake here because he is well, Timberlake. But he is not really R&B, so voters here might to reward someone within the actual genre. If that is the case then Hamilton and Fantasia are the ones to look out for.

The Oscar Narrative: The Tie Heard 'Round the World

Excuse my language, but what the hell just happened? That is the question that I have been pondering all day, since I read on Twitter the shocking news that when Ben Affleck presented Best Picture at the Producers Guild of America, it was a tie between Gravity and 12 Years a Slave. I'm pretty sure that all of you out there who closely follow the Oscar race have had the same thought: how the hell did this happen? I am, by no means, upset or disappointed, although the previous question  may make it seem that way. I am just simply bewildered. I am also incredibly excited. For the first time in years, we really have an Oscar race on our hands. In fact, you have to go back to 2000 (I was a ripe ten years old), to see a race this close, so for me, this particularly exciting because it is the first I have covered as a blogger.

So we once again go back to the question: how did this happen? Ties are an occurrence at awards shows. Sometimes you have the same amount of voters supporting two different nominees. We saw it last year with Best Sound Editing, which ended in a tie between Zero Dark Thirty and Skyfall.  But a tie in a preferential voting system is extremely rare. You have to go through all those rounds, and manage to get similar voting tallies in those 2-4 slots, plus enough passion votes, all combined to an equal amount as another film. So a tie at the PGA, the first in its history, has been treated as a jaw-dropper by Oscarologists, as it should be.

After the shock and awe of the moment finally wears off (it may be awhile), we now have to examine the pieces of this incredibly complicated puzzle leading up to the Best Picture Oscar. Since the film festivals, it has been Gravity versus 12 Years a Slave. The PGA confirmed that this probably is the matchup to look out for. And the final vote tally will be incredibly close. The next big step is the DGA. Some people (mostly fans of 12 Years a Slave), are trying to view Best Director and Best Picture as two different tracts this Oscar season. All the splits so far between the two categories has helped their cause. While a split is definitely possible, especially if voters want to give both films reward, we really cannot think of these two categories as separate. They are connected, and will continue to be connected, particularly the DGA. Remember, the Directors Guild vote is a good predictor of Best Director, but more importantly, it is an even better predictor of Best Picture. So next week's DGA is incredibly important, even more important considering that right now three films have split the the last two major guild prizes.

Which leads me to an important sidebar. As soon as it was announced, gleeful, anonymous readers posted comments across the web that American Hustle was finished. First of all, there is still a month for ballots to go out, and American Hustle was popular with the critics, the industry, and is making a lot of money. People are already writing off its SAG win as an anomaly, or something like The Help or Inglourious Basterds. I get that the film snobs don't like it. It threatens their self-importance when an entertaining film does well. But all of that hate that you are pouring on it only helps it. You have given the team at Sony the narrative of the underdog. And the Oscars love an underdog. It did take a hit at PGA, being such a populist film, but I'm sure it was a close second place after the tie, and do not discount the populist DGA going for Russell (it's not my predictions, but in this race, anything can happen). And do not discount the SAG Ensemble award .The actors are the biggest branch, and by winning on Saturday, it is already one step ahead of last year's Silver Linings. This is very much still a three-way race, whether people want to admit it or not, and even the DGA, or BAFTA to a lesser extent, may not help us sort out the mess, until the envelope is opened.

So I have been on the Gravity train since day one. I am still banking on the DGA win for Cuaron, plus now a PGA win to give it Best Picture. If McQueen wins, 12 Years is taking the prize. If Russell wins, I have no idea, although it looks good for Hustle to swoop in. The other thing Gravity has going for it is the next six weeks, the craft guilds will be holding their ceremonies, and Gravity will be getting tons of free press and positive headlines as it mostly likely takes the MPSE, CAS, ASC, VES, and most likely the Eddie, another key guild to watch for. With that kind of broad support, I think it really does have what it takes to go the distance. But as always, we'll just have to wait and see..

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Producers Guild of America (PGA) Award Winners

We knew this race was close, and apparently it was so close that they needed a tie! This really stunning and a first. After losing out a SAG, Gravity and 12 Years came back to win the PGA. This is definitely a tight race which now is a solid three-way tie. So it comes down to the DGA next week.

Best Picture - (TIE) Gravity and 12 Years a Slave
Best Animated Feature - Frozen
Best Documentary Feature - We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Best Drama Series - Breaking Bad
Best Comedy Series - Modern Family
Best Long Form Television - Behind the Candelabra
Best Live Entertainment/Talk Television - The Colbert Report
Best Competition Television Series - The Voice
Best Nonfiction Television - Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Best Sports Program - ESPN's SportsCenter
Best Digital Series - Wired: What's Inside
Best Children's Program - Sesame Street

2014 Grammy Predictions: Rap Categories

Best Rap Album
Will Win - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "The Heist"
Should Win - Kendrick Lamar "good kid, m.A.A.d city"
Could Win - Kanye West "Yeezus"
Commentary - Kanye West has, rightfully so, has had a stranglehold on the Rap categories over the last decade. And so I am really, really careful here. Yeezus is unlike anything else he has done, and yet it got rave reviews, got on a lot of top ten lists for 2013. It could be a consolation prize for missing out in the top categories. But I think this could finally be the year that West loses, to two hot acts that did really well by getting into Album of the Year. My personal choice would be Lamar's album, but I think that across the board Macklemore and Ryan Lewis performed really well, and will probably take this prize home.

Best Rap Performance
Will Win/Should Win - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Thrift Shop"
Could Win - Drake "Started from the Bottom" or Kendrick Lamar "Swimming Pools (Drank)"
Commentary - I think Rap Album is really up in the air, but I will be surprised if the hugely successful and incredibly catchy Thrift Shop doesn't take this one pretty easily.

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Will Win - Jay Z and Justin Timberlake "Holy Grail"
Should Win/Could Win - Kendrick Lamar feat. Mary J. Blige "Now or Never"
Commentary - Since Same Love was surprisingly snubbed here (I seriously need to look into how the Grammy votes are tabulated, because I think it could help explain some of these strange anomalies). I think that the dynamic duo of Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake will be hard to pass up, and this category has less competition than the Pop category, where they might miss out.

Best Rap Song
Will Win/Should Win - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Thrift Shop"
Could Win - Jay-Z & Justin Timberlake "Holy Grail" or Kanye West "New Slaves"
Commentary - Once again, the old guard of Jay-Z or Kanye West could pull sentimental votes, but the lyrically catchy, and impeccably layered Thrift Shop should win, and probably will.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

The Oscar Narrative: PGA Predictions

Best Picture - American Hustle
Best Animated Feature - Frozen
Best Documentary Feature - We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Best Drama Series - Breaking Bad
Best Comedy Series - The Big Bang Theory
Best TV Movie/Miniseries - Behind the Candelabra
Best Variety Series - The Colbert Report
Best Reality Series - Shark Tank
Best Reality Competition Series - The Voice 

The 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award Winners

Film
Best Ensemble - American Hustle
Best Actress - Cate Blanchett "Blue Jasmine"
Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey "Dallas Buyers Club"
Best Supporting Actor - Jared Leto "Dallas Buyers Club"
Best Supporting Actress - Lupita Nyong'o "12 Years a Slave"

Television
Best Ensemble in a Drama Series - Breaking Bad
Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Modern Family
Best Actor in a Drama Series - Bryan Cranston "Breaking Bad"
Best Actress in a Drama Series - Maggie Smith "Downton Abbey"
Best Actor in a Comedy Series - Ty Burrell "Modern Family"
Best Actress in a Comedy Series - Julia Louis-Dreyfus "Veep"
Best Actor in a TV Movie/Miniseries - Michael Douglas "Behind the Candelabra"
Best Actress in a TV Movie/Miniseries - Helen Mirren "Phil Spector"

Friday, January 17, 2014

The Oscar Narrative: SAG Predictions

Best Ensemble
Will Win/Should Win - American Hustle
Could Win - 12 Years a Slave
Commentary - Here's how I call this race. If Hustle wins, then the race remains a tight one. If 12 Years pulls off a victory here, then it is probably heading for Oscar victory, the only thing stopping it is the DGA. I will say it over and over again, until it gets extremely old. But Cuaron will probably win the DGA, which usually matches up with Best Picture. Then its between Gravity and 12 Years. We will know in about 24 hours how this race will turn out.

Best Actor
Will Win/Should Win - Matthew McConaughey "Dallas Buyers Club"
Could Win - Chiwetel Ejiofor "12 Years a Slave" or Bruce Dern "Nebraska"
Commentary - Can I just say, I love Jessica Chastain, who last night christened one of this season's narratives, with the "Alright, Alright, Alright!". I think that Matthew McConaughey is going to lock step to the Oscar, starting right here with SAG. Now a wrench was thrown without the BAFTA nod, but AMPAS loved Dallas Buyers Club, earning six total nominations, and I think he will continue his journey tomorrow night. The one to really watch out for is Dern. He is beloved in this industry, he has been campaigning like a champ, and the actors may want to reward the hard-working veteran.

Best Actress
Will Win - Cate Blanchett "Blue Jasmine"
Could Win/Should Win - Sandra Bullock "Gravity"
Commentary - Amy Adams is not a factor here, but I guarantee you she will be at BAFTA, and the Oscars. For now though, Cate Blanchett will continue to enjoy her winning streak, as I don't see Bullock pulling off an upset.

Best Supporting Actor
Will Win - Jared Leto "Dallas Buyers Club"
Should Win - James Gandolfini "Enough Said"
Could Win - Michael Fassbender "12 Years a Slave"
Commentary - I would love to see Gandolfini get one last, deserved, honor for a great role. But alas, it looks like Jared Leto is going to ride the Dallas Buyers Club love all the way to the Oscar stage. And SAG will give him one more time to show off his acceptance speech.

Best Supporting Actress
Will Win/Should Win - Lupita Nyong'o "12 Years a Slave"
Could Win - Jennifer Lawrence "American Hustle"
Commentary - I just don't see Lawrence winning two years in a row, and I don't see 12 Years going away empty handed. Watch out them for Lupita. The other one is Oprah. She may have been snubbed at Oscar, but I wouldn't put it past the SAG members to give her a consolation prize.

TELEVISION AWARDS

Best Drama Cast 
Will Win/Should Win - Breaking Bad
Could Win - Downton Abbey
Commentary - Downton surprised a lot of people last year, and couple do it again, but like the Globes, I don't think SAG can let Breaking Bad go without one last hurrah.

Best Comedy Cast
Will Win/Should Win - The Big Bang Theory
Could Win - Veep, Modern Family, or 30 Rock
Commentary - I have no idea what is going to happen here. Modern Family is always a safe bet, Veep had a great Season 2, and 30 Rock could get one last hug. But I am going to go with Big Bang, which only continues to get bigger and more exposure, and it is sure to win one of these things someday. Why not tomorrow?

Best Actor in a Drama Series
Will Win/Should Win - Bryan Cranston "Breaking Bad"
Could Win - Kevin Spacey "House of Cards" or Jeff Daniels "The Newsroom"
Commentary - Spacey is a star, and Daniels breathes fire on The Newsroom, but Cranston is clearly the front-runner for the prize.

Best Actress in a Drama Series
Will Win/Should Win - Kerry Washington "Scandal"
Could Win - Anna Gunn "Breaking Bad"
Commentary - I keep predicting Kerry Washington to win one of these things, and I hope eventually that she actually does. But watch out for Gunn in a Breaking Bad sweep.

Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Will Win - Alec Baldwin "30 Rock"
Could Win/Should Win - Jim Parsons "The Big Bang Theory"
Commentary - I don't think even homophobic comments can keep Baldwin from winning one last time. He has never lost, literally never. It is hard to bet against that kind of record.

Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Will Win/Should Win - Julia Louis-Dreyfus "Veep"
Could Win - Tina Fey "30 Rock"
Commentary - Fey pulled it out last year, so she is a real threat, but I think that now two-time Emmy winner (for this role, four overall), Louis-Dreyfus will take the prize.

Best Actor in a TV Movie/Mini
Will Win/Should - Michael Douglas "Behind the Candelabra"
Could Win -  Matt Damon "Behind the Candelabra"
Commentary - Douglas makes it 3/3 on the circuit.

Best Actress in a TV Movie/Mini
Will Win/Should Win - Elisabeth Moss "Top of the Lake"
Could Win - Helena Bonham Carter "Burton and Taylor" or Helen Mirren "Phil Spector"
Commentary - She couldn't beat the power of Laura Linney at the Emmys, but neither Lange nor Linney are here to stop Moss from following up here Globes win with a SAG statue. 

2014 Grammy Predictions - Musical Theater, Spoken Word, and Comedy Album

Best Musical Theater Album
Will Win/Should Win - Kinky Boots
Could Win - Matilda
Commentary - Kinky Boots pulled off quite an upset when it beat Matlida for the Best Musical Tony. With Cyndi Lauper's name attached to the album, and now a Tony win under their belt, I think that Grammy voters will follow in suite.

Best Spoken Word Album
Will Win - Pete Seeger "The Storm King"
Should Win/Could Win - Billy Crystal "Still Foolin' Em"
Commentary - I have a soft spot for Crystal, and his new book, which was a fun listen. But the very involved, and wonderfully constructed The Storm King from legendary folk singer Pete Seeger seems like a safer bet.

Best Comedy Album
Will Win/Should Win - Kathy Griffin "Calm Down Gurrrl"
Could Win - Craig Ferguson "I'm Here to Help" or Bob Saget "That's What I'm Talking About"
Commentary - I am not honestly sure where voters will go with this category this year, and there doesn't seem to be a clear front-runner. I do know this, Kathy Griffin will not give up on this category until she has won a Grammy. This might be the year for them to finally give her that award on her mantle, especially after so many consecutive nods with no wins.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

The Oscar Narrative: Snubs, Surprises, and The Guilds

So I have thought about these nominees all day, and here are my reactions, and finally, I will look at the next phase of this crazy race, including the guilds, and my first winner predictions.

Snubs
1) Probably the biggest snub right off the back was Tom Hanks. We all knew that Best Actor would be brutal , but I never thought that Tom Hanks would be the casualty. Of course, the second big surprise was how Captain Phillips really under-performed, including missing for Greengrass and cinematography.
2) If Hanks was my number one, a close number two was the snub of Emma Thompson. Once again, with six top-notch actresses vying for five spots, someone was going to lose out. But Thompson, like Hanks, had hit all of the major markers that usually lead to Oscar nominations, but I guess Amy Adams was too strong with the American Hustle love, and I knew I was stupid to bet against Meryl, never again.
3) Saving Mr. Banks got only one nomination for Thomas Newman, which lets face it, with that branch, it is more about Newman than it is about the film. All of that talk about how much Academy members loved Saving Mr. Banks was just that, talk. It's relatively weak showing in the guilds should have been our sign, but most pundits, including myself, chose to ignore it.
4) I knew that buzz for Lee Daniel's The Butler and Rush had died, but when both walked away empty handed, particularly the snubs of Oprah and Daniel Bruhl, I was pretty surprised, and also a little disappointed.
5) I understand why Cars 2 didn't get nominated, but when Monsters University was snubbed, I was really surprised, especially when Despicable Me 2 was nominated, even though the original had been snubbed. I hope this is a sign to Pixar to get their shit together.
6) Hans Zimmer for both Rush and 12 Years a Slave
7) Inside Llewyn Davis for a lot, but especially Best Original Screenplay. I guess the WGA snub should have told us more than we wanted to know. This is particularly significant because the Coens had been on a bit of a streak.
8) Pacific Rim was dumb fun, but its Visuals were spectacular, and I'm surprised it missed here.
9) Stories We Tell was the only documentary which made it into my top twenty this year. I really think that the Academy messed up by not nominating it. It was such a wonderful piece of work. Although it probably paves the way for 20 Feet to Stardom, which is pretty awesome as well.
10) I'm sure I'll think of many more, but for now those are the ones that stuck out in my mind.

Surprises
1) If Captain Phillips and Saving Mr. Banks under-performed, it was Dallas Buyers Club that really over-performed, proving that it was really beloved within the Academy. It beat the Coens for an Original Screenplay nod, and got in in the coveted Film Editing Nomination over some big contenders including Thelma for Wolf.
2) Speaking of Wolf, it seems as if it finally hit its stride. It may have missed that editing nod (probably preventing it from winning), but nods for Dicaprio (and someone else, see below), Scorsese, and the screenplay, prove that Wolf was able to overcome its late start to really hit it off with the Academy.
3) Jonah Hill, no SAG, BAFTA, or Globe, who cares? He worked his but off for the film, and is pretty stellar in the role, and earns his 2nd Oscar nomination (who would have ever predicted he would be a two-time Oscar nominee?).
4) I had predicted Christian Bale to get in, but in the brutal Best Actor race, I was still surprised I actually got it right, and Leo, a nice surprise, who benefited from a late Wolf surge.
5) I had put Philomena into my 10th slot, so I knew it was a possibility, but I was still surprised to see that it was able to beat out some tough films for a Best Picture nomination, and be the only Weinstein nominee, over once predicted August: Osage County and Lee Daniel's The Butler.
6) Sally Hawkins was my sixth slot, so a nomination was not surprising. But beating out Oprah to do so was impressive. It was also nice to see her after she was snubbed for Happy-Go-Lucky. Blue Jasmine, I think would have been the tenth nominee, but its three nominations, including another one for Woody, show a good amount of support.
7) Not really that surprising, but yes, Bad Grandpa is an Oscar-nominated film. Let that one set in for a while (actually deserved in terms of quality Makeup, same with Lone Ranger, even though both films were bad).
8) I figured that Weinstein would get August: Osage County in, but I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled that Before Midnight got in.
9) Once again, as I rue over these nominees more will pop up, but for now, let's move on to the next phase.

Part II
Now the real race begins, and the landscape has shifted. Let me first say this to counter some of the articles coming out today. 12 Years a Slave can still easily win this award, getting all of the major nods that are important to the Best Picture formula. But that doesn't mean that it is unstoppable. It missed in Cinematography, which was a big snub, and indicative that it is not an across-the-board favorite. It also missed out on score, and the sound awards. These are not as significant as say directing, writing, acting, or editing, but they do signal that there may be something else brewing. That means that Gravity and American Hustle really can pull off the win. Both has missed (Screenplay, Makeup), but both still did extremely well, American Hustle getting all four acting nods, like Silver Linings did last year. But Hustle is much stronger than SLP, and Gravity still has one big factor going for it: The DGA. I still think that the DGA will reward Cuaron, and if that actually happens, it puts Gravity in a real place to win. The SAG Awards this Saturday are the first big test. If 12 Years can beat American Hustle, with all of its stars, it shows real strength. So here are my first winner predictions below, there will be more analysis, more discussion, and more and more and more over the next couple of days.

Best Picture - American Hustle
Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron "Gravity"
Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey "Dallas Buyers Club"
Best Actress - Cate Blanchett "Blue Jasmine"
Best Supporting Actor - Jared Leto "Dallas Buyers Club"
Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Lawrence "American Hustle"
Best Adapted Screenplay - John Ridley "12 Years a Slave"
Best Original Screenplay - Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell "American Hustle"
Best Animated Feature - Frozen
Best Documentary Feature - 20 Feet From Stardom
Best Foreign Language Film - The Great Beauty
Best Cinematography - Gravity
Best Costume Design - The Great Gatsby
Best Film Editing - Gravity
Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Dallas Buyers Club
Best Production Design - The Great Gatsby
Best Original Score - Steven Price "Gravity"
Best Original Song - Let it Go from Frozen
Best Sound Mixing - Gravity
Best Sound Editing - Gravity
Best Visual Effects - Gravity

19th Annual Critics Choice Movie Award Winners

I will be updating the winners live, while I also compose my thoughts of this year's nominees in a separate post, so stay tuned on both accounts.

Best Picture - 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress - Cate Blanchett "Blue Jasmine"
Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey "Dallas Buyers Club"
Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron "Gravity"
Best Supporting Actress - Lupita Nyong'o "12 Years a Slave"
Best Supporting Actor - Jared Leto "Dallas Buyers Club"
Best Adapted Screenplay - John Ridley "12 Years a Slave"
Best Original Screenplay - Spike Jonze "Her"
Best Documentary - 20 Feet From Stardom
Best Animated Feature - Frozen
Best Younger Actor/Actress - Adele Excharpoulous "Blue is the Warmest Color"
Best Ensemble - American Hustle
Best Foreign Language Film - Blue is the Warmest Color
Best Comedy - American Hustle
Best Actor in a Comedy - Leonardo DiCaprio "The Wolf of Wall Street"
Best Actress in a Comedy - Amy Adams "American Hustle"
Best Action Movie - Lone Survivor
Best Actor in an Action Movie - Mark Wahlberg "Lone Survivor"
Best Actress in an Action Movie - Sandra Bullock "Gravity"
Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Movie - Gravity
Best Original Score - Steve Price "Gravity"
Best Original Song  - Let it Go from Frozen
Best Art Direction - The Great Gatsby
Best Costume Design - The Great Gatsby
Best Makeup and Hairstyling  - American Hustle
Best Cinematography - Gravity
Best Editing - Gravity
Best Visual Effects - Gravity

The 86th Annual Academy Award Nominees

Best Picture
“American Hustle”
“Captain Phillips”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“Gravity”
“Her”
“Nebraska”
“Philomena”
“12 Years a Slave”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”

Best Director
“American Hustle” David O. Russell
“Gravity” Alfonso Cuarón
“Nebraska” Alexander Payne
“12 Years a Slave” Steve McQueen
“The Wolf of Wall Street” Martin Scorsese

Actor in a Leading Role
Christian Bale in “American Hustle”
Bruce Dern in “Nebraska”
Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Chiwetel Ejiofor in “12 Years a Slave”
Matthew McConaughey in “Dallas Buyers Club”

Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi in “Captain Phillips”
Bradley Cooper in “American Hustle”
Michael Fassbender in “12 Years a Slave”
Jonah Hill in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Jared Leto in “Dallas Buyers Club”

Actress in a Leading Role
Amy Adams in “American Hustle”
Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine”
Sandra Bullock in “Gravity”
Judi Dench in “Philomena”
Meryl Streep in “August: Osage County”

Actress in a Supporting Role
Sally Hawkins in “Blue Jasmine”
Jennifer Lawrence in “American Hustle”
Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”
Julia Roberts in “August: Osage County”
June Squibb in “Nebraska”

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
“Before Midnight” Written by Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke
“Captain Phillips” Screenplay by Billy Ray
“Philomena” Screenplay by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope
“12 Years a Slave” Screenplay by John Ridley
“The Wolf of Wall Street” Screenplay by Terence Winter

Writing (Original Screenplay)
“American Hustle” Written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
“Blue Jasmine” Written by Woody Allen
“Dallas Buyers Club” Written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack
“Her” Written by Spike Jonze
“Nebraska” Written by Bob Nelson

Animated Feature Film
“The Croods” Chris Sanders, Kirk DeMicco and Kristine Belson
“Despicable Me 2” Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin and Chris Meledandri
“Ernest & Celestine” Benjamin Renner and Didier Brunner
“Frozen” Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee and Peter Del Vecho
“The Wind Rises” Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki

Cinematography
“The Grandmaster” Philippe Le Sourd
“Gravity” Emmanuel Lubezki
“Inside Llewyn Davis” Bruno Delbonnel
“Nebraska” Phedon Papamichael
“Prisoners” Roger A. Deakins

Costume Design
“American Hustle” Michael Wilkinson
“The Grandmaster” William Chang Suk Ping
“The Great Gatsby” Catherine Martin
“The Invisible Woman” Michael O’Connor
“12 Years a Slave” Patricia Norris

Documentary Feature
“The Act of Killing”Joshua Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Sørensen
“Cutie and the Boxer” Zachary Heinzerling and Lydia Dean Pilcher
“Dirty Wars” Richard Rowley and Jeremy Scahill
“The Square” Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer
“20 Feet from Stardom” Nominees to be determined

Documentary Short Subject
“CaveDigger” Jeffrey Karoff
“Facing Fear” Jason Cohen
“Karama Has No Walls” Sara Ishaq
“The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life” Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed
“Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall” Edgar Barens

Film Editing
“American Hustle” Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten
“Captain Phillips” Christopher Rouse
“Dallas Buyers Club” John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa
“Gravity” Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger
“12 Years a Slave” Joe Walker

Foreign Language Film
“The Broken Circle Breakdown” Belgium
“The Great Beauty” Italy
“The Hunt” Denmark
“The Missing Picture” Cambodia
“Omar” Palestine

Makeup and Hairstyling
“Dallas Buyers Club” Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews
“Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” Stephen Prouty
“The Lone Ranger” Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny

Music (Original Score)
“The Book Thief” John Williams
“Gravity” Steven Price
“Her” William Butler and Owen Pallett
“Philomena” Alexandre Desplat
“Saving Mr. Banks” Thomas Newman

Music (Original Song)
“Alone Yet Not Alone” from “Alone Yet Not Alone”
Music by Bruce Broughton; Lyric by Dennis Spiegel
“Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”
Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams
“Let It Go” from “Frozen”
Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
“The Moon Song” from “Her”
Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze
“Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen; Lyric by Paul Hewson

Production Design
“American Hustle” Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Heather Loeffler
“Gravity” Production Design: Andy Nicholson; Set Decoration: Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard
“The Great Gatsby”  Production Design: Catherine Martin; Set Decoration: Beverley Dunn
“Her”  Production Design: K.K. Barrett; Set Decoration: Gene Serdena
“12 Years a Slave”  Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Alice Baker

Short Film (Animated)
“Feral” Daniel Sousa and Dan Golden
“Get a Horse!” Lauren MacMullan and Dorothy McKim
“Mr. Hublot” Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares
“Possessions” Shuhei Morita
“Room on the Broom” Max Lang and Jan Lachauer

Short Film (Live Action)
“Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me)” Esteban Crespo
“Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just before Losing Everything)” Xavier Legrand and Alexandre Gavras
“Helium” Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson
“Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)” Selma Vilhunen and Kirsikka Saari
“The Voorman Problem” Mark Gill and Baldwin Li

Sound Editing
“All Is Lost” Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns
“Captain Phillips” Oliver Tarney
“Gravity” Glenn Freemantle
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” Brent Burge
“Lone Survivor” Wylie Stateman

Sound Mixing
“Captain Phillips” Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith and Chris Munro
“Gravity” Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick and Tony Johnson
“Inside Llewyn Davis” Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland
“Lone Survivor” Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow

Visual Effects
“Gravity” Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds
“Iron Man 3” Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash and Dan Sudick
“The Lone Ranger” Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams and John Frazier
“Star Trek Into Darkness” Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann and Burt Dalton