2014 Academy Award Picks

So here's how this works: I'll give you a list of the nominees for each of the major categories, then I'll name who I think is the favorite to win, as well as who I would give the award to. Short and sweet.

And while you're at it, check out My Top 10 Movies of 2013!!!

Now onto the business at hand...

Best Picture

12 Years a Slave

American Hustle

Captain Phillips

Dallas Buyers Club

Gravity

Her

Nebraska

Philomena

The Wolf of Wall Street

The Favorite to Win: 12 Years a Slave
    (trailer here)

My Pick to Win: Gravity (trailer here)

Best Director

Alexander Payne (Nebraska)

Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)
David O. Russell
    (American Hustle)

Martin Scorsese
    (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Steve McQueen
    (12 Years a Slave)

The Favorite to Win: Alfonso Cuarón (interview here)

My Pick to Win: Alfonso Cuarón

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Bruce Dern (Nebraska)

Chiwetel Ejiofor
    (12 Years a Slave)

Christian Bale
    (American Hustle)

Leonardo DiCaprio
    (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Matthew McConaughey
    (Dallas Buyers Club)

The Favorite to Win: Matthew McConaughey (featurette here)

My Pick to Win: Matthew McConaughey

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Amy Adams (American Hustle)

Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

Judi Dench (Philomena)

Meryl Streep
    (August: Osage County)

Sandra Bullock (Gravity)

The Favorite to Win: Cate
    Blanchett (clip here)

My Pick to Win: Cate Blanchett

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Barkhad Abdi
    (Captain Phillips)

Bradley Cooper
    (American Hustle)

Jared Leto
    (Dallas Buyers Club)

Jonah Hill
    (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)

The Favorite to Win: Jared Leto (featurette here)

My Pick to Win: Barkhad Abdi (featurette here)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Jennifer Lawrence
    (American Hustle)

Julia Roberts
    (August: Osage County)

June Squibb (Nebraska)

Lupita Nyong'o
    (12 Years a Slave)

Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)

The Favorite to Win: Lupita
    Nyong'o (clip here)

My Pick to Win: Lupita Nyong'o

Best Animated Feature Film

The Croods

Despicable Me 2

Ernest & Celestine

Frozen

The Wind Rises

The Favorite to Win: Frozen
    (trailer here, clip here)

My Pick to Win: Frozen

Best Writing - Original Screenplay

Bob Nelson (Nebraska)

Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack
    (Dallas Buyers Club)

Eric Warren Singer & David O.
    Russell (American Hustle)

Spike Jonze (Her)

Woody Allen (Blue Jasmine)

The Favorite to Win: Eric Warren Singer & David O. Russell (trailer here)

My Pick to Win: Spike Jonze (trailer here)

Best Writing - Adapted Screenplay

Billy Ray (Captain Phillips)

John Ridley (12 Years a Slave)

Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy,
    Ethan Hawke
      (Before Midnight)

Steve Coogan &
    Jeff Pope (Philomena)

Terence Winter (The Wolf of Wall Street)

The Favorite to Win: John Ridley

My Pick to Win: John Ridley

Well, that's about it. There are, of course, many more Oscar categories, but I hardly feel qualified to commentate on the technical categories such as "Sound Mixing" and so on.

Enjoy the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2nd at 7pm on ABC!!!