10 reasons American Hustle may win best picture at the 2014 Oscars
“American Hustle” was a film directed by David O. Russell that was released in 2013. There are a number of compelling reasons why it is likely to win “Best Picture” at the Oscars.
1. It Was a Crowd Pleaser
When you think about the other films that are nominated for Best Picture at the 2014 Oscars, none of them are really “Crowd Pleasers” in quite the same way that “American Hustle” is.
The closest film in competition would be “Gravity” by Alfonso Cuaron, but it’s in the completely different genre of science fiction.
Films like “12 Years a Slave” are certainly exceptional, but they also aren’t something that a person would watch to feel good and have a fun time for a few hours. “American Hustle” holds the distinction of being both an excellent film and one that people can enjoy for the duration of its running time.
2. The Academy Loves David O. Russell
David O. Russell is someone who has been celebrated by the Academy for nearly his entire career.
He burst onto the scene in the late 1990s with a film called “Three Kings” that starred George Clooney and Ice Cube.
After that he made several other films like “I Heart Huckabees,” “The Fighter” and “Silver Linings Playbook.
” The Academy has always been celebratory of the films that David O. Russell has made, but they’ve never awarded him the big prize before.
With “American Hustle,” it is starting to look like 2014 could easily be his year.
3. It Had an Impeccable Cast
Of all the positive attributes that “American Hustle” has going for it, one of the strongest is undoubtedly its all-star cast.
Lead by Christian Bale in a performance that is the total opposite of his performance in “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises,” the cast also includes Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence and more.
The cast is not only very likeable, but there isn’t a weak link in the bunch.
Even Jennifer Lawrence, who has the distinction of holding one of the more basic roles in a very complex movie, turns in a memorable character that helps make the film better.
With a cast this strong, it is hard to overlook the film’s Oscar chances.
4. It Made a Lot of Money
It is important to note that a film making a great deal of money isn’t necessarily a sign of its quality.
There are a large number of different movies that make hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office that are reviled by critics and cinema patrons alike.
However, when a film does hold the distinction of being both highly regarded by the critical community and profitable at the same time, these two elements only serve to make its Oscar contention even stronger.
“American Hustle” didn’t break box office records, but it is one of the highest grossing films in “Best Picture” contention besides Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity.”
5. It’s the Only Comedy Best Picture Nomination
When you think about all of the films that are nominated for Best Picture, it is important to consider the genre that those films are in.
Genre is very important, as certain genres are almost universally overlooked by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
“Gravity” is a science fiction film, for example, which places it in a genre that never gets the recognition it sometimes deserves.
“American Hustle” is not only a comedy but it is also the only true comedy out of all the Best Picture nominees.
If Academy voters are looking for a funny film to cast a vote for, “American Hustle” is their only option.
6. Best Picture Isn’t as Tight of a Race as People Think
When people think about the race for Best Picture at the Oscars, they are usually thinking of a pretty tight race that seems like it is “up in the air” until the last possible moment.
These are the films that are (supposedly) the best of the year, which can make it very difficult to predict what will win.
When you look at the 2014 race, however, there are a few films that are clearly favored more than others.
Besides “American Hustle,” the only other film that might have a solid chance at Oscar gold is “Gravity”.
It would, however, require the Academy to honor the science fiction category, which is something they rarely ever do.
7. It’s David O. Russell’s Best Movie
Besides “I Heart Huckabees,” David O. Russell has been making critically acclaimed films for over ten years.
When you think about the man’s body of work, you will usually find one of your favorite movies hidden within his filmography.
When you consider the fact that “American Hustle” is very likely the man’s best movie for a wide variety of different reasons, the film’s chances of winning the “Best Picture” Oscar become that much more obvious.
The Academy has also never given a Russell film “Best Picture” before, which means that the auteur is more than due.
8. It Had a Tight Script
Besides the cast, one of the best attributes of “American Hustle” is the film’s script.
Even though the film is quite long, it still breezes by because of its excellent pacing. All characters are properly fleshed out and the individuals you see on screen feel real.
The film also has the distinction of being heavily based on a true story, which is something that Oscar voters have traditionally loved.
The film also has a great deal of humor, which is something that likely surprised people if they went to see it in a theater based only on the early theatrical teaser and trailer.
9. It Has a Giant Oscar Campaign
One thing that many people might not realize is that studios campaign for films to win Oscars in the months leading up to the event.
Even if a film is great, if it doesn’t have the backing (and the money) of its studio behind it the Oscar will likely go to another motion picture.
“American Hustle” is in the middle of a massive Oscar campaign that is seeing advertisements and “For Your Consideration” mailers appear on a daily basis.
The aim of an Oscar campaign is to get Academy voters to remember that the film exists and never let them forget. The Oscar campaign for “American Hustle” is certainly fulfilling that goal.
10. It’s the Most Popular Choice
The final reason that “American Hustle” is likely to win “Best Picture” at the 2014 Oscars has to do with the fact that it is clearly the most popular choice.
Not only does it have the most likeable and varied cast out of all the nominees, it is also one of the best reviewed in the entire bunch.
A film like “12 Years a Slave” is certainly an achievement in the history of cinema, but it isn’t something that one would use the word “popular” to describe.
“American Hustle” is like a great rock and roll song – it gets into your head and refuses to leave. You’re likely to enjoy it more and more each time you watch it.
