Buddy Bets on Tonight's Oscars

At this point, it doesn't look like snow will be an issue until tomorrow so I suspect our Oscars soiree could be swinging this evening replete with Oscar ballots, finger food and champagne.

Ellen is a most promising host, Bette Midler will perform, The Wizard of Oz will be toasted, and the race for the Awards is an interesting and tight one. I have high expectations.

Tonight will mark Meryl Streep's eighteenth nomination for Best Actress (for August: Osage County), breaking the record for any actor or actress previously held by... Meryl Streep! Streep is considered a long-shot this year, however.

Judi Dench is ahead in my readers' blog poll today (look to the left). She is my personal fave, too.  Let's see how she fares tonight for Philomena.

Here's the current odds-on predictions for major categories vs. my predictions:

Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave. I slavishly agree.
Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity.  Check.
Actor: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club. I'm betting: Bruce Dern, Nebraska.
Actress: Cate Blanchette, Blue Jasmine. I'm betting: Judi Dench, Philomena.
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club. I'll go with that.
Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave. I'm betting: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle.
Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze, Her. I'm betting: Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine.
Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave. I'm betting: Bob Nelson, Nebraska.
Best Cinematography: Gravity. I'm betting: Nebraska.
Best Documentary Feature: The Act of Killing. I'm betting: 20 Feet from Stardom.
Best Editing: Gravity. I'll go with Philomena.

In any event, a very strong list of contenders. We'll see how things turn out when I see you at the Oscars! Review to come after the ceremony.

BEST PICTURE: “12 Years a Slave”
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: Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Spike Jonze, “Her”
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: John Ridley, “12 Years a Slave”
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: “Frozen”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: “Gravity”
BEST DOCUMENTARY: “The Act of Killing”
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: “The Great Beauty”
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Steven Price, “Gravity”
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: “Let It Go,” “Frozen”
BEST EDITING: “Gravity”
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: “Gravity”
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: “The Great Gatsby”
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: “American Hustle”

- See more at: http://www.metro.us/boston/entertainment/movies-entertainment/2014/02/26/our-oscars-package-what-to-expect-trivia-and-our-predictions/#sthash.gGqSJp43.dpuf

BEST PICTURE: “12 Years a Slave”
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: Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Spike Jonze, “Her”
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: John Ridley, “12 Years a Slave”
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: “Frozen”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: “Gravity”
BEST DOCUMENTARY: “The Act of Killing”
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: “The Great Beauty”
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Steven Price, “Gravity”
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: “Let It Go,” “Frozen”
BEST EDITING: “Gravity”
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: “Gravity”
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: “The Great Gatsby”
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: “American Hustle”

- See more at: http://www.metro.us/boston/entertainment/movies-entertainment/2014/02/26/our-oscars-package-what-to-expect-trivia-and-our-predictions/#sthash.gGqSJp43.dpuf

BEST PICTURE: “12 Years a Slave”
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: Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Spike Jonze, “Her”
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: John Ridley, “12 Years a Slave”
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: “Frozen”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: “Gravity”
BEST DOCUMENTARY: “The Act of Killing”
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: “The Great Beauty”
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Steven Price, “Gravity”
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: “Let It Go,” “Frozen”
BEST EDITING: “Gravity”
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: “Gravity”
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: “The Great Gatsby”
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: “American Hustle”

- See more at: http://www.metro.us/boston/entertainment/movies-entertainment/2014/02/26/our-oscars-package-what-to-expect-trivia-and-our-predictions/#sthash.gGqSJp43.dpuf