Daily Sitka Sentinel

Dan's Oscar Picks

The Academy has put together quite a list this year. There are so many strong performances and fantastic films that choosing winners becomes difficult. There hasn’t been a race like this in a few years. Place those bets...

BEST PICTURE
As much as I’d like “Gravity” to win, and it deserves to, this one seems pretty locked. The Academy has a long history of leaning toward a film like “12 Years” over one like “Gravity.”
    “12 Years a Slave”
BEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso deserves this more than any other director this year. “Gravity” is daring and beautiful. Since it’s not likely to win best picture, it’s likely to be recognized for best director – the way Ang Lee earned it last year when “Argo” took best picture.
    Alfonso Cuaron - “Gravity”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
I’m torn between 11-time nominated Roger Deakins’ work on “Prisoners” and Lubezki’s on “Gravity.” Both are impressive, but “Gravity” will likely take home a handful of golden boys and this could easily be among them.
    Emmanuel Lubezki - “Gravity.”
BEST ACTOR
It’s not a perfect movie, no, but “Dallas Buyers Club” has some remarkable performances. McConaughey demonstrates, yet again, that he is a terrific actor, far more capable than just “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” With his performance in “Mud” and in HBO’s “True Detective,” well, it’s basically the year of McConaughey. If not Mc, I’d like “The Burbs” alum Bruce Dern to take this one home for “Nebraska.”.
    Matthew McConaughey - “Dallas Buyers Club”
BEST ACTRESS
She probably has already cleared a space on her trophy shelf. Blanchett should take this home, no question.
    Cate Blanchett - “Blue Jasmine”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
This one is a little more difficult to predict. Leto seems to be a favorite, but I wasn’t in awe of his performance. Fassbender is a solid bet too. But I’m going to bet on the dark horse nominee and say Jonah Hill. And I know it sounds crazy to say ‘Oscar winner Jonah Hill’ but crazier things have happened, haven’t they?
    Jonah Hill - “The Wolf of Wall Street”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Another difficult choice, I’d really like to see June Squibb win. She was funny and dynamic in “Nebraska,” a film that deserves more attention. But I could also see this leaning toward “12 Years.”
    June Squibb - “Nebraska”
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
“The Wind Rises” is the final film by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, and that alone could land him a congratulatory award. But in the other hand we have “Frozen,” which ruled the box office and critics... “Frozen” should take it, but Hayao could get it out of respect.
    “Frozen”