The Oscars are quickly approaching and, as always, there is speculation about who will take the cake in each category. However, when it comes down to it, it’s all a guessing game and our only hints are the movies themselves. These are my 2014 Academy Award predictions.

Best Original Song:

This was a hard one, since the songs this year were so well-written. The nominees are:

• “Happy” from Despicable Me 2

• “The Moon Song” from Her

• “Ordinary Love” from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

• “Let it Go” from Frozen

Predicted Winner: “Let it Go” from Frozen

This song will implant itself in your head for some time. It is worded perfectly for the scene, and Idina Menzel does a sparkling job of singing it. Not to mention that the background music perfectly fits the tone and mood of the scene.

Second Prediction: “Happy” from Despicable Me 2

There is no song in recent memory that has such a catchy beat. It will have you bouncing no matter where you are.

Best Animated Feature:

Animation in the world of film has become more defined and sophisticated over the years, with smartly written comedies, to dramas, to fascinating fantasy.  The nominees are:

• The Croods

• Despicable Me 2

• Frozen:

• Ernest & Celestine

• The Wind Rises

Predicted Winner: The Wind Rises (directed by Hayao Miyazaki)

The Wind Rises is a biographical anime film based on the life of engineer Jiro Horikoshi, who designed fighter planes for Japan during World War II. Since the film won’t have a wide release until February 28, the weekend of the Oscars, it’s very likely that you haven’t seen this movie yet and unless you read the Wikipedia page for the movie there isn’t much information on the plot. However, this movie comes from a very strong background. The studio that produced this film, Studio Ghibli, is famous in the animation world, not just in the world of anime, and the director of the film and co-founder of the studio, Hayao Miyazaki, is worshipped. All around the world critics and audiences alike have praised him for his well-written movies. He even snagged the Oscar for this category in 2002 for Spirited Away, taking it away from movies like Ice Age, Lilo & Stitch, and Treasure Planet. Hayao Miyazaki has been compared to greats like Walt Disney. Unfortunately for his strong fan base, The Wind Rises is Hayao Miyazaki’s last film. He announced his retirement earlier this year to the devastation of many fans. I am leaning more towards The Wind Rises because Miyazaki is retiring and the Academy has been known to reward the last films and retiring directors.

Frozen is a delight. It’s like a classic Disney film with catchy tunes and beautiful animation. The movie is a story about a girl named Anna, who teams up with a mountain man named Kristof to stop her sister Elsa, who has magical ice powers, from freezing their home in ice and snow forever. Frozen is very interesting, unlike most Disney films which examine the villain as an evil being, this movie examines the villain in a more personal way, as a creature of emotion rather than strictly an antagonist.

Will the Academy honor the retiring animator or the possible new face of Disney? Who knows, maybe there will be a tie.

Best Director:

All of the nominated directors this year have movies that are nominated for Best Picture so, all of the directors this year are well deserved to be nominated, and have made great films this year.

• David O. Russell (American Hustle)

• Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)

• Alexander Payne (Nebraska)

• Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)

• Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)

Predicted Winner: Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)

It must not be easy to direct a woman and a man flying through the cosmos when in reality they’re in front of a green screen.  I can imagine it now: “Okay, good job Sandra, but next time do it more spacey, ‘ya know. Wave your arms and legs more; I mean, you’re supposed to be in space, not a bouncy castle!”

Second Prediction: David O. Russell (American Hustle)

David O. Russell has proven his directorial prowess before and over the years has fine-tuned his craft in order to become a great director.  Even though Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese is nominated, it is very possible that the Academy will finally give the Oscar to Russell.  Russell has been nominated for Best Director twice for The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook not to mention the fact that he always leads his actors to Oscar nominations and some wins (Well, with the only exception being Mark Wahlberg, who unlike his costars wasn’t nominated for Best Actor in The Fighter).

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:

The women nominated for Best Supporting Actress all gave unique performances. All of the actresses this year played convincing roles and characters. The nominees are:

• Sally Hawkins as Ginger in Blue Jasmine,

• Jennifer Lawrence as Rosalyn Rosenfeld in American Hustle

• Lupita Nyong’o as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave,

• Julia Roberts as Barbara Weston-Fordham in August: Osage County

• June Squibb as Kate Brant in Nebraska.

Predicted Winner: Lupita Nyong’o, Patsey – 12 Years a Slave

Lupita Nyong’o gives a captivating and definately award-winning performance as a young slave in the 1800s. Her performance is so powerful and captivating that you can only feel extremely bad for her, due to her frail and abused disposition. I can definitely tell that we can expect good things from this new up and coming star.

Second Prediction: Jennifer Lawrence – Rosalyn Rosenfeld – American Hustle

Jennifer Lawrence’s performance as a crazy housewife who’s married to a cheating hustler is amazing and hysterical. Also, the “Live and Let Die” lip sync in the film was absolutely hilarious.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

The actors nominated for Best Supporting Actor all put their best foot forward. The nominees are:

• Barkhad Abdi as Abduwali Muse in Captain Phillips

• Bradley Cooper as Agent Richard Dimassio in American Hustle

• Michael Fassbender as Edwin Epps in 12 Years a Slave

• Jonah Hill as Donnie Azoff in The Wolf of Wall Street

• Jared Leto as Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club

Predicted Winner: Barkhad Abdi – Abduwali Muse – Captain Phillips

Barkhad Abdi plays a pirate that holds Tom Hanks’ ship hostage in an attempt to get millions of dollars in ransom. His performance as an evil and corrupt pirate captain was convincingly horrifying. If acting doesn’t work out for him, I can very clearly see him as an actual pirate, but that’s not likely because Captain Phillips was his first-ever film. For his movie debut he gets nominated for an Oscar – now that’s talent. Let’s just hope he doesn’t get downgraded to Adam Sandler movies.

Second Choice: Bradley Cooper – Agent Richard DiMaso – American Hustle

Bradley Cooper plays the eager undercover FBI Agent who arrests Christian Bale and Amy Adams and seeks their help in catching conmen and corrupt politicians. Bradley Cooper is the perfect fit for the role and plays it extremely well, and by the time you see him in hair curlers, you can’t help but love his performance and character.

Best Actress in a Leading Role:

Was anybody really surprised when the nominations for Best Actress were announced? From Sandra Bullock flying around space to Cate Blanchett talking to herself in the park, to Meryl Streep being nominated because she does every year, left and right there were no big surprises here. The nominees are:

• Amy Adams as Sydney Prosser in American Hustle

• Cate Blanchett as Jasmine Francis in Blue Jasmine

• Sandra Bullock as Dr. Ryan Stone in Gravity

• Judi Dench as Philomena Lee in Philomena

• Meryl Streep as Violet Weston in August: Osage County

Predicted Winner: Cate Blanchett – Jasmine Francis – Blue Jasmine

Although the Oscar snub herself, Meryl Streep, was nominated this year, the recipient this year should be Cate Blanchett. Blanchett plays a nervous wreck of a woman who moves in with her sister in San Francisco when her husband is arrested. Cate Blanchett played the role superbly and had me feeling sympathetic for her the entire movie, even though she was a snob and made some questionable decisions. Ninety-eight minutes start to finish, I felt bad for this crazy, crazy lady.

Secondary Choice: Meryl Streep – Violet Weston – August: Osage County

Are you surprised? You shouldn’t be. The sad thing is I haven’t even seen August: Osage County, and I don’t need to because this lady steals the Oscar every year! Meryl Streep needs to sit down, take a nap, and reflect on all her snubbings from other actresses who deserve it way more than her!

Best Actor in a Leading Role:

Once again, no surprises here. One look at the movies and you could tell who was going to get nominated. Although Idris Elba didn’t make the list for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela, all of the actors this year deserve their nominations. The nominees are:

• Christian Bale as Irving Rosenfeld in American Hustle

• Bruce Dern as Woody Grant in Nebraska

• Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street

• Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave

• Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club

Predicted Winner: Chiwetel Ejiofor – Solomon Northup – 12 Years a Slave

Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Solomon Northup, a free African American man who lives with a loving family. He is a violinist and when he meets two men who offer him a traveling job for his talent he is captured and sold into slavery. Chiwetel Ejiofor gives the powerful and captivating performance that this movie deserves, and for it I think he will probably win.

Second Choice: Christian Bale – Irving Rosenfeld – American Hustle

Christian Bale is done with his Batman phase and proved it by this great performance. Christian Bale plays a con-man, who is given an ultimatum when he is arrested: he must work with an undercover FBI Agent to catch corrupt politicians and other conmen or he will serve out his prison sentence. So, he and Amy Adams work together with Bradley Cooper to catch the criminals. Christian Bale plays a smart and conniving character. He’s a bad guy, no doubt, but I couldn’t help but root for him.

Best Film:

All the movies this year were great, which is a relief. Some were better than others, but all around it was a good year in film. The nominees for Best Picture are:

• 12 Years a Slave

• American Hustle

• Captain Phillips

• Dallas Buyers Club

• Gravity

• Her

• Nebraska Philomena

• The Wolf of Wall Street

Predicted Winner: 12 Years a Slave (directed by Steven McQueen)

NEVER has there be a movie that took my breath away without using CGI. Never. If you think this is just another movie recounting the harsh conditions of slavery, you are sadly mistaken. It is terribly sad, and very difficult to watch. This is a very gruesome, not-safe-for-work movie. It is a spectacular showcase with its brutality, strong performances, and heart-wrenching storyline all wrapped into one big bundle. You may think you knew what slavery was about, but to see it happen in front of you is incredibly powerful. It’s one of those movies that everyone has to see.

Second Choice: Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón)

This movie is absolutely breathtaking. The special effects were amazing. I felt like I was floating through space with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. When people say that they felt like they couldn’t breathe in Gravity, they were not lying. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, and my mouth was on the floor the entire time. My only complaint is that the ending is somewhat cheesy.  Without that corny ending, it would have been perfect.  Imagine an hour long ride at Disney World.  Now take away the precious gift of air. Tada, you have Gravity.