By Heather Monahan
Copy Editor
The time of year is officially here where many are in a frenzy to watch all Oscar-nominated films before the awards show airs. Though the show itself is still a little over a month away, the 86th Academy Awards (Oscars), nominees were announced late last week.
“Gravity” and “American Hustle” swept the categories this year, both earning 10 nominations. Both are up for Best Picture alongside “12 Years a Slave,” “Captain Phillips,” “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Her,” “Nebraska,” “Philomena” and “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
“Gravity” stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. The stars take on the role of two astronauts fighting to survive the endless depths of space after their space shuttle is destroyed. They’re faced with seemingly endless challenges as they wander through space to find a way home to Earth.
“American Hustle” marks the return of an Oscar trifecta. Director David O. Russell and actors Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence will be making their second run for Best Picture after last year’s “Silver Linings Playbook” lost to “Argo.” “American Hustle” is set in the 70s, and follows two con artists, played by Christian Bale and Amy Adams. Bradley Cooper plays an FBI agent who catches the two criminals in the middle of a scam but offers to let them flee if they help him bust several politicians.
“12 Years a Slave” is another contender to watch for, as it recently won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture and was nominated for nine Oscars this year. The movie is based on the memoir of Solomon Northrup, a free black man who was captured and sold into slavery. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the lead role of Solomon, but Lupita Nyong’o has garnered praise for her role as Patsey, a female slave on one of the plantations to which Northrup is sold.
Another Best Picture nominee based on a true story is “Captain Phillips,” starring Tom Hanks. Hanks plays Richard Phillips, captain of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama, which, despite the captain’s best efforts and precautions, is seized by pirates in the Indian Ocean. The hijacking and rescue mission took place in 2009.
“Dallas Buyer’s Club,” starring Matthew McConaughey, is based on the true story and life of Ron Woodroof. Woodroof is a homophobic cowboy who is diagnosed with HIV. Woodroof is ready to go to whatever extreme necessary to overcome his terminal illness, and eventually smuggles a drug over the Mexican Border that improves his condition. He, along with a transgender woman with AIDS, starts selling the drug to members of a buyer’s club.
One of the more unique films on the list for Best Picture is “Her,” starring Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore, a man who falls in love with Samantha, the operating system he purchased. The movie follows the struggles Theodore and Samantha face with their romantic feelings for each other and the other human beings in Theodore’s life, as well as their reactions to his relationship.
One of the lighter and more comedic movies on the list, “Nebraska,” stars Bruce Dern as Woody, an older man who receives a scam in the mail claiming that he’s won a sweepstake. He’s persistent enough to convince his son David, played by Will Forte, to drive him to Nebraska to collect the money he’s “won,” despite David realizing it’s nothing more than a hoax.
“Philomena” follows the title character, an older woman (Judi Dench) who comes clean about having a son she put up for adoption in Ireland. Philomena’s daughter meets a recently unemployed journalist (Steve Coogan) who’s looking to write the story of Philomena’s long-lost son. As the two go about trying to locate her son, they make discoveries that are both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
“The Wolf of Wall Street” is the final contender in this year’s Best Picture battle. Set in the 90s, “The Wolf of Wall Street” stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort, a Wall Street stockbroker who earns fame after being named the “Wolf” of Wall Street. The movie follows the lush life of Jordan and his employees, as well as the immoral activities they take part in to keep the company up and running.
Five of the above movies are also up for Best Director. Martin Scorsese, (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) will look to win his second Academy Award for Best Director. Alfonso Cuarón (“Gravity”), Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”), Alexander Payne (“Nebraska”) and David O. Russell (“American Hustle”) will all be gunning for their first win.
Fan-favorite Leonardo DiCaprio (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) is up for Best Actor alongside Christian Bale (“American Hustle”), Bruce Dern (“Nebraska”), Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”) and Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”). Best Actress is a toss up between Amy Adams (“American Hustle”), Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”), Sandra Bullock (“Gravity”), Judi Dench (“Philomena”) and Meryl Streep (“August: Osage County”).
Many familiar names and beloved actors riddle the Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress categories. The nominees are Barkhad Abdi (“Captain Phillips”), Bradley Cooper (“American Hustle”), Michael Fassbender (“12 Years a Slave”), Jonah Hill (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) and Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”). The battle for Best Supporting Actress features Sally Hawkins (“Blue Jasmine”), Jennifer Lawrence (“American Hustle”), Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave”), Julia Roberts (“August: Osage County”) and June Squibb (“Nebraska”).
After a year of many great animated feature releases, the final five contenders for Best Animated Feature have also been named. “The Croods,” “Ernest and Celestine,” “The Wind Rises,” “Despicable Me 2” and “Frozen” are all up for the title.
On March 2, Ellen DeGeneres will take the stage as host for the second time. Luckily, this gives you plenty of time to catch up on 2013’s best movies. To see the list of complete nominations, go to oscar.go.com/nominees.
