This year’s Academy Awards run began with the nominations announcement on January 16th, with Gravity and 12 Years a Slave bagging 10 Oscar nods each. American Hustle and The Wolf of Wall Street were also major contenders for top honours, whilst much was expected of Dallas Buyers Club and its resurgent star Matthew McConaughey (whose startling turn around in form since 2011 has been dubbed “The McConaissance”).
The 2014 Oscars were the 86th event and took place on 2nd March – last night! The ceremony was hosted, for the second time, by comedian Ellen DeGeneres. As expected, Gravity, 12 Years, and Dallas Buyers Club dominated the show, but there were plenty of other notable moments.
Best Picture
Winner: It really was between this and space-fest Gravity, but 12 Years a Slave clearly offered a more dramatic experience. Whilst Gravity was a spectacular trip, some dodgy dialogue (Sandra Bullock waxing lyrical about a “hairy man”) may have cost it. So, the confusingly named Steve McQueen takes his film to the top spot. Deservedly so – it’s a haunting and superb drama destined for classic status.
Nominations: American Hustle, Captain Philips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street.
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Winner: Once famed for wandering around with his top off, McConaughey has made a stunning career turnaround. From 2011 he began to take on diverse roles (Lincoln Lawyer, Magic Mike, Killer Joe, Mud) and has now bagged an Oscar for his incredible performance in Dallas Buyers Club. Deservedly so – watch out for him in Christoper Nolan’s Interstellar later this year, as well as new TV series True Detective.
Nominations: Christian Bale (American Hustle), Bruce Dern (Nebraska), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club).
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Winner: Playing Jeanette “Jasmine” Francis in Woody Allen’s characteristically observant drama. She stars as a wealthy socialite in New York who is, gradually, sliding towards poverty. As always, Cate Blanchett is excellent and manages the strains and stresses of her decline effortlessly.
Nominations: Amy Adams (American Hustle), Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), Sandra Bullock (Gravity), Judi Dench (Philomena), Meryl Street (August: Osage County).
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Winner: Along with co-star Matthew McConaughey, Leto (already slim enough) lost a vast amount of weight for his role as Rayon (a transgender woman). It’s a sensitive and intelligent depiction as his character teams up with the boisterous Ron Woodroof (McConaughey). Hopefully he’ll now put some weight back on.
Nominations: Barkhad Abdi (Captain Philips), Bradley Cooper (American Hustle), Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave), Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street), Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club).
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Winner: Another thoroughly deserved win, Lupita Nyong’o’s 12 Years a Slave performance as the young slave Patsey is exceptional. It’s been dubbed by many critics (such as the BBC’s Mark Kermode) as a breakthrough performance, and it will no doubt put the 31 year old on the Hollywood map.
Nominations: Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine), Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), Julia Roberts (August: Osage County), June Squibb (Nebraska).
Best Director
Winner: Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity naturally took the Oscar. Although filmed in Britain (and not outer space), the complex and pioneering work is hugely impressive. The opening 20 minutes sees all manner of inventive, sweeping, looping, and spinning shots as George Clooney and Sandra Bullock lose it in space. Watching it is the only way to experience its cinematic appeal.
Nominations: America Hustle (David O. Russell), Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron), Nebraska (Alexander Payne), 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen), The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese).
Best Original Score, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing
Winner: As Gravity utterly dominated this selection of the 2014 Oscars, it seemed wise to merge them all together. As a cinematic experience, Gravity was by far the most spectacular of 2013. Whilst the script may not have been exceptional, the score is ethereal and perfect for the film. Technically it’s flawlessly accomplished: the cinematography is sensational, the editing smooth and precise, and it’s all complimented by the wonderful score.
Best Visual Effects
Winner: Gravity’s aesthetics were unmatchable in 2013. Whilst Star trek and The Hobbit offered impressive space/fantasy worlds, Gravity’s otherworldly efforts were never going to be beaten. The script suffered somewhat as a result, but dialogue isn’t what Gravity’s about.
Nominations: Gravity, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, Iron Man 3, The Lone Ranger, Star Trek Into Darkness.
Best Documentary
Winner: This is Morgan Neville’s film on the lives of background singers – talented people in their own right, but, obviously, a few steps behind full recognition. Many in the UK won’t have seen it, but it’s a worthy winner. It will prove controversial, though, as many expected the brilliant The Act of Killing to win. Blackfish was left off the nominations entirely, to the bemusement of many.
Nominations: The Act of Killing, Cutie and the Boxer, Dirty Wars, The Square, 20 Feet From Stardom.
Best Foreign Language Film
Winner: Directed by Paolo Sorrentino, and starring Toni Servillo on excellent form, the The Great Beauty will be an obsure title for many. In the film, Servillo’s character, Jep Gambardella, is a retired writer who decides to wander the streets of Rome reflecting on his life. Now it’s won an Oscar, many more will see it.
Nominations: The Broken Circle Breakdown (Belgium), The Great Beauty (Italy), The Hunt (Denmark), The Missing Picture (Cambodia), Omar (Palestine).
Best Animated Featured
Winner: One of Disney’s finest efforts in a long while, this charming and funny winter adventure evidently won over the Academy. However, many will be disappointed Studio Ghibli’s exceptional The Wind Rises missed out. It is the legendary Hayao Miyazaki’s last film, but at least he has his 2002 Oscar to enjoy.
Nominations: The Croods, Despicable Me 2, Ernest & Celestine, Frozen, The Wind Rises.
Best Original Song
Winner: Let it Go from Frozen won, and the whole soundtrack to the film has been busy flying up charts across the world. As you’d expect from Disney, it’s a catchy affair and will likely plague your thoughts for long to come.
Nominations: Happy – Despicable Me 2, Let It Go – Frozen, The Moon Song – Her, Ordinary Love – Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, Alone, Yet Not Alone – Alone Yet Not Alone.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Winner: Steve McQueen’s film was adapted from the Solomon Northrup’s eponymous memoir from 1853. It’s a historically epic film, and will no doubt drive Northrup’s writing into the limelight. As an adaptation it’s certainly a fine job, with the devastating account holding nothing back. In 1968 two historians (Sue Eakin and Joseph Logsdon) retraced Northrup’s story through history and concluded it to be an authentic, accurate account.
Nominations: Before Midnight, Captain Philips, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street.
Best Original Screenplay
Winner: Her is based around Joaquin Phoenix’s character (Theodore Twombly) falling in love with a sentient computer (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). Overtly questioning our modern fixation with technology, it doesn’t essentially break new ground. Blade Runner, Frank and the Robot, 2001 a Space Odyssey, and numerous others have challenged such a notion.
Nominations: American Hustle, Blue Jasmine, Dallas Buyers Club, Her, Nebraska.
