Friday, January 24, 2014

My 2014 Oscar Predictions


I have to apologize for my sporadic blogs these days, I have been uncharacteristically busy these last couple of months, that I actually had to work through the Holidays (during a family trip abroad). But we all have to make a living somehow, right? Anyway, I actually had a few hours of free time this Saturday morning, and I thought that it would be a great time to catch up on my Blogging.
 
What better subject to start 2014 than the Oscars right? I know more than a few people out there who hate this iconic Hollywood tradition with a passion.  But even the Academy's most stauch critics cannot deny that it is a global phenomena and that it is still the most anticipated award event for Cinema in the whole world.
 
As a filmmaker, I still celebrate the Oscars and look forward to the ceremony as an annual global tradition to celebrate the filmmaking skills at the most biggest and most financially successful "dream factory" in the world (at least in this era)-- Hollywood.  Like a forbbiden fruit, Hollywood still beckons  to filmmakers from all over the world, as the ultimate arena where they can test their skills against the world's best.  Hey, the Oscars is actually the oldest "Reality" program on TV.
 
So let the battle... I mean contest begin!
 
Here are my personal picks for 2014: 
 
BEST PICTURE
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers club
Gravity - winner
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street
 
DIRECTING
David O. Russell
Alfonso Cuarón - winner
Alexander Payne
Steve McQueen
Martin Scorsese