Oscar Nominations - Predictions

Bright and early tomorrow morning, the Oscar nominations for this year will be announced. This is my stab at predicting what will be nominated by the Academy. Keep in mind I haven't seen all of the films yet. This is just based on years of Oscar watching and knowing what the Academy's tastes are and who they like. I'm sure, as always, there will be a surprise or two. But, this is what I expect to happen.

Best Picture  - There will be anywhere between 5-10 nominees in this category. So, here are my predictions ranked 1-10; 1 being what I think is most likely to be nominated. I personally think there will be 8 nominations--so my top 8 are what I'm thinking will be nominated.

1. 12 Years a Slave
2. Gravity
3. American Hustle
4. Captain Phillips
5. The Wolf of Wall Street
6. Her
7. Saving Mr. Banks
8. Nebraska
9. Philomena
10. Dallas Buyers Club

- Potential Surprises - Inside Llewyn Davis

Best Director

1. Alfonso Curon, Gravity
2. Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
3. David O. Russell, American Hustle
4. Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
5. Spike Jonze, Her

- Potential Surprises - Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street; Alexander Payne, Nebraska

Best Actor

1. Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
2. Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
3. Bruce Dern, Nebraska
4. Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
5. Robert Redford, All is Lost

- Potential Surprises - Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Actress

1. Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
2. Sandra Bullock, Gravity
3. Judi Dench, Philomena
4. Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks
5. Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

- Potential Surprises - Amy Adams, American Hustle 

Best Supporting Actor

1. Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
2. Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
3. Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
4. Daniel Bruhl, Rush
5. James Gandolfini, Enough Said

- Potential Surprises - Bradley Cooper, American Hustle; Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street; Tom Hanks, Saving Mr. Banks (Note: Actors may only be nominated for one performance.)

Best Supporting Actress

1. Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
2. Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
3. Oprah Winfrey, The Butler
4. June Squibb, Nebraska
5. Julia Roberts, August: Osage County  

 Best Original Screenplay

1. American Hustle
2. Blue Jasmine
3. Nebraka
4. Her
5. Inside Llewyn Davis

- Potential Surprises - Dallas Buyers Club  
Best Adapted Screenplay 

12 Years a Slave
Before Midnight
The Wolf of Wall Street
Captain Phillips
August: Osage County

- Potential Surprises - Philomena