2014 Oscar – And the winner is… 12 years a slave or Gravity

As awards season draws to a close, those in the movie industry wait with baited breath for the last and most prestigious ceremony in Hollywood. The Academy Awards represents the ‘big leagues’ and can turn relatively unknown actors and directors into household names practically overnight.

Even seasoned pros who claim not to covet one of the gold statues will weep and gush as soon as their name is called out.

As with previous ceremonies, this season’s awards looks set to be a suspense-filled evening with several movies battling it out for top prize.

Two movies that have already done well at other awards shows are also set to clean up at this year’s Oscars.

12 Years a Slave starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Gravity featuring the combined talents of George Clooney and Sandra Bullock will be going head-to-head in several different categories including Best Picture and Best Director. Both movies feature tales of survival and triumph over adversity, although in very different circumstances.

12 Years a Slave tells the true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841.

The movie is based on Northup’s memoirs that describe how he was sold to various plantation owners and subjected to horrifying abuse.

Directed by Steve McQueen, the film also stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o and features a small appearance by Brad Pitt.

Upon its release, the movie received worldwide critical acclaim and has been likened to historical epics such as Schindler’s List and The Passion of the Christ. At the Golden Globes, 12 Years a Slave scooped the Best Motion Picture Award. Steve McQueen narrowly missed out on the Best Director prize which went to Gravity director Alfonso Cuaron.

The movie also had an outstanding night at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAS) where it took home both the Best Picture and Best Director award and even scored the Best Actor prize for Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Gravity is a visually stunning achievement. It tells the story of seasoned astronaut Matt Kowalski played by George Clooney and Dr. Ryan Stone who is a medical engineer on her very first venture into outer space played by Sandra Bullock. The pair are attempting to repair a section of the Hubble Telescope when debris from a nearby explosion destroys their spacecraft.

The astronauts then have to find a way to get to the nearest space station in order to return to earth. The story was written by Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron along with the help of his son. The movie features heart-stopping special effects and an exhilarating soundtrack that has made it one of the biggest hits of 2013. The thriller won a Golden Globe for Best Director along with seven Critic’s Choice awards.

However, the film’s biggest triumph took place at the BAFTAS where it scored a total of seven prizes including Best British Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Sound. The film has been praised for its visual effects, outstanding direction and stellar performances from its two main stars.

Gravity has received a total of ten academy award nominations compared to nine for its main competitor. The two films are competing in multiple categories including Best Picture, Directing, Film Editing and Production Design. The vast majority of film critics predict that 12 Years a Slave will scoop the prize for Best Picture due to its harrowing storyline.

Gravity is tipped to earn recognition for its technical brilliance and win the Directing, Music and Visual Effects awards. Both films are perfect examples of movie making at its very finest and deserve to be honoured for their outstanding achievements that have taken Hollywood by storm over the last year.

Another film that is expected to do well is American Hustle directed by David O. Russell. The movie stars Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence. The story revolves around two con-artists that are forced into participating in an FBI sting operation to snare corrupt politicians. American Hustle is also up for ten Academy Award Nominations including the coveted Best Picture.

Other movies competing for the night’s biggest prize are Martin Scorsese’s tale of wealth and debauchery entitled The Wolf of Wall Street, a terrifying tale of kidnap by pirates in Captain Phillips starring Tom Hanks, and a love story between a lonely man and his operating system in Spike Jonze’s Her.