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Sunday, January 26, 2014

AWARDS SEASON 2014
In The 12th Round, A Split Decision On Oscar Night
A scene from Steve McQueen's "12 Years A Slave"; Sandra Bullock in Alfonso Cuarón's "Gravity". Fox Searchlight; Warners
       
by Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com        Follow popcornreel on Twitter FOLLOW                                           
Sunday, January 26, 2014
The irresistible force and the immovable object.  This is now the official Tale Of The Tape for the 86th Annual Academy Awards in the Best Picture Oscar prize fight.  In the red corner: "12 Years A Slave".  In the blue: "Gravity".  It is fitting that these two films, both released last October in the U.S., are the main contenders for Hollywood's night of nights on Sunday, March 2. 

"12 Years A Slave" and "Gravity" were the two most critically acclaimed films of 2013, in that order.  And while almost universal critical consensus is rarely consonant with how the 6,000-plus members of The Academy vote, this year there seems to be great accord between voters and critics.  This month's Oscar nominations saw "Gravity" gain ten nods, while "12 Years A Slave" received nine. 

"American Hustle", which had gathered steam at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards, suddenly slunk just below "12 Years A Slave" and "Gravity" when the Producers Guild Of America stunned many awards season observers and prognosticators last week with its award of a tie between "Hustle"'s two chief Oscar competitors for the Guild's top prize.  The PGA Awards are widely viewed as the second most important awards season show and the strongest indicator of the Best Picture Oscar winner.

People in the media, the moviegoing public and critics have been talking about Steve McQueen's "12 Years A Slave" ever since it debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival last September.  They still are.  Based on Solomon Northup's memoir as a free man kidnapped and sold into slavery, "12 Years A Slave" is deeply resonant.  As an experience "12 Years A Slave" towers in its magnitude and power.  It is the kind of film The Academy typically views as weighty and grand.  Mr. McQueen's unblinking film undoubtedly has gravitas.  A Best Picture Oscar win would serve as a moderate corrective and rejoinder to past Oscar winners like "Gone With The Wind", which showcased "happy", oblivious enslaved blacks.

"Gravity" has caught the attention of the planet in astounding ways.  It's a stunning, magnificently beautiful film, finely crafted and visualized by Mr. Cuarón, with virtually seamless visual effects.  Taking place thousands of miles above Earth out in space "Gravity" indulges us in another world, another realm and another dimension.  The atmosphere, tension and exhilaration the film brings to audiences is undeniable.  "Gravity" is the boldest film about space since Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey".  Mr. Cuarón's movie nods vigorously to "2001", and adds a steadfast woman, played by Sandra Bullock to its landscape.  The Academy has always admired visual effects and "Gravity", like "Avatar" before it, among others, will reap the benefits on Oscar night.  ("Gravity" will be released on DVD in the U.S. and Canada about a week before the Oscars.)

Alfonso Cuarón's historic win at the Director's Guild Of America Awards last night for Best Feature Directing gives "Gravity" increased momentum, coming off its PGA tie for top honors.  "Gravity", like "12 Years A Slave", is a singular achievement, and its wins on Oscar night will point directly to that.  "Gravity" could still win best picture, and the DGA win bolsters it.  Mr. Cuarón's DGA triumph assures him a Best Director Oscar. 

Yet the PGA tie last week was highly significant.  The tie signifies that "12 Years A Slave" will be heard from on Oscar night.  It won best drama at the Golden Globes.  "12 Years A Slave" has a litany of superb acting performances, three of which were recognized in the Academy's nominations this month.  An important film about American history, "12 Years A Slave" is an actor's film, which bodes especially well for its chances for Best Picture.  Actors in the Academy will be more likely to vote for it.  "Gravity" is a technical wonder, which has two performances.  Its creative and visual wizardry will assure it success in cinematography and varying effects categories. 

Anne Thompson of Thompson On Hollywood noted yesterday that "12 Years A Slave" has wider support among Academy members than "Gravity" does.  Last November she tweeted to me that the Oscars would come down to the art-film masterpiece of "12 Years A Slave" and the visual effects brilliance of "Gravity".  She pointed out that on Oscar Night in 2014 the "Avatar"-"Hurt Locker" Oscar race of 2010 would be replicated.  Like "Avatar", the box office for "Gravity" has already gone through the roof, prior to Oscar night.  Like "The Hurt Locker", the box office for "12 Years A Slave" has been steady yet modest in comparison.  A Best Picture Oscar win will give Mr. McQueen's film an instant boost.

Kathryn Bigelow made history on Oscar night in 2010.  And no matter what, history will be made again four years later.  Both Steve McQueen (for Best Picture) and Alfonso Cuarón (for Best Director) will take home Oscars of their own.  There will be a split decision on Oscar night.  And when you think about how competitive the 2013 year was, it makes the most sense.

The 86th Annual Academy Awards will be televised live in over 220 countries on Sunday, March 2.  In the U.S. The Oscars begin at 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern time.
 
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