2013 was an exceptional year for cinema. With so many ground-breaking movies and astonishing performances, the race for each award will be tight. Let’s take a look at the possible outcomes.

Best Picture:  American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street

Analysis: The Best Picture category this year is a clear two-horse race between 12 Years a Slave and American Hustle. The latter won Best Picture (Musical or Comedy), at the Golden Globes, while the former won Best Picture (Drama). While American Hustle is an entertaining caper with great performances by Christian Bale and Amy Adams, 12 Years a Slave is a brutal masterpiece on par with Schindler’s List. Gravity and Her are also great films that are nominated, but expect Gravity to dominate the technical categories and for Her to win Best Original Screenplay.

Should Win: 12 Years a Slave

Could Win: American Hustle

Will Win: 12 Years a Slave

Best Director: David O. Russell (American Hustle), Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity), Alexander Payne (Nebraska), Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), and Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Analysis: Martin Scorsese has no chance of winning, due to the polarized reaction of The Wolf of Wall Street. Count Alexander Payne out also, as many critics found Nebraska to be dull. American Hustle is extremely popular among Academy voters, as it received ten nominations, and Russell was nominated last year for Silver Linings Playbook. But Russell’s work does not hold up to McQueen’s and Cuaron’s work in terms of ambition. Cuaron has already won Best Director for the visually dazzlingly Gravity at the Golden Globes, but don’t count McQueen out.

Should Win: Steve McQueen

Could Win: Steve McQueen

Will Win: Alfonso Cuaron

Best Actor: Christian Bale (American Hustle), Bruce Dern (Nebraska), Leonardo Dicaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club).

Analysis: Though Dicaprio gave arguably the best performance of his career in The Wolf of Wall Street, expect Leo to become 0 for 4 in Oscar nominations. Though Bruce Dern gave the performance of a lifetime in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, not winning the Golden Globe for Best Actor (Comedy or Musical) hurt his chances of winning. In 12 Years a Slave, Ejiofer gave a masterful performance as the strong-willed Solomon Northup. But it’s Matthew McConaughey, who lost fifty pounds to play the role of a homophobic ladies man diagnosed with aids, who is generating the most buzz. McConaughey won Best Actor (Drama) for Dallas Buyers Club at the Golden Globes, and his transition from a romantic comedy lead to a serious dramatic actor has been truly stellar. It’s his award to lose.

Should Win: Chiwetel Ejiofor

Could Win: Bruce Dern

Will Win: Matthew McConaughey

Best Actress: Amy Adams (American Hustle), Cate Blanchette (Blue Jasmine), Sandra Bullock (Gravity), Judi Dench (Philomena), Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

Analysis: This is an easy call. Cate Blanchette’s performance as Jasmine, a once privileged housewife who slowly loses her grip on sanity is a brilliant performance that outshines all of the other nominees. Amy Adams also gave the best performance of her career in American Hustle and arguably was better than Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence were in this movie. And since Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep she was great in August: Osage County. But since Blanchette has been winning every single acting award out there it’s nearly impossible that anyone could beat her.

Should Win: Cate Blanchette

Could Win: Amy Adams

Will Win: Cate Blanchette

The 86^th Academy Awards will be held on March 2, 2014 and will be hosted by talk-show host and stand-up comic Ellen DeGeneres.  Look forward to a night of glamor and stars!