The Oscars Are Coming ...

Selflessly and without hope of praise or adulation, The Optimist has been trekking back and forth to the Cinema in a bid to see this year's Oscars forerunners - so that you, readers, can enjoy this award favourites special. Please, don't thank me.

Let's start with the beautiful people, the cream of the crop, the stars of the show - the awards for best leading actor and actress.

This year's nominees for best actor in a leading role are:

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)

There's one problem with this list ... the man that should win it, isn't on it. Step forward Tom Hanks. It's difficult to think of a film that feels more real than Captain Phillips - and it's largely down to Mr Hanks' ultra-convincing performance. You can see the panic on his face in every frame - it must've been an exhausting shoot. Even in the admirably ballsy moments when he's trying to outsmart or reason with his captors, his underlying panic is simmering. When we cry with him at the end of the film (unavoidable for me I'm afraid) it's a relief just to get some of the adrenaline out of your system. Yes, a third statuette would throw the symmetry of his mantlepiece out of whack but I still wish the people that voted for the nominees had put their concerns about interior design to one side and given him a chance.

In the absence of the master though, there are still plenty of deserving nominees in the category and my substitute pick is Chiwetel Ejiofor. Another exhausting performance and another bucketful of relief tears - this time at the end of 12 Years a Slave. Solomon Northup's story is one of the most harrowing ever to be told on film, it's a difficult watch that must've been even more difficult to play. From his dignified silences to his outbursts of anger and fits of tears, Ejiofor threw himself into this one and he'll rightly be remembered for it.

Of course, we can't leave out perennial bridesmaid Leonardo DiCaprio. This is his fourth nomination and it feels like he channelled every ounce of his Oscar frustration into his powerhouse performance in The Wolf of Wall Street. More free, more funny and more shocking than we've ever seen him - there's no question in my mind he would've picked up the gong had this film been released in a different year - it's just unfortunate timing. If someone from the Academy could fashion an award for "Person with most discernible taste in upcoming movie projects" though, that'd have his name all over it.

This year's nominees for best actress in a leading role are:

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

First, an admission that I've only actually seen two of these nominees in action (not for want of trying I might add - August: Osage County wasn't on at my local cinema). Amy Adams' turn in American Hustle is difficult to pin down. Tasked with playing an incredibly strong woman in an incredibly vulnerable situation, you can never quite tell which side of her is real, and that's the way it should be. If you ask me, she stole the show from the film's big, brash boys (and their questionable hairstyles) with considerable ease.

Cate Blanchett is the bookie's favourite to win best actress and with her track record, I'm sure she is as brilliant as everyone says she is in Blue Jasmine. Since I keep mentioning 'exhausting' performances though, it should come as no surprise that my pick for Oscar glory is Sandra Bullock, in what might just be the most exhausting role in the history of cinema; Dr Ryan Stone in the sensational, Gravity.

Not only does Sandy break your heart and massively increase your oxygen intake in this thrill ride - she also put herself in genuine danger to do it. She was suspended by wires, trapped inside a spacesuit, flipped like a burger on a barbeque and even remembered her lines as a camera was catapulted directly towards her face at 30 miles per hour. Forget the Oscar, give the woman a bloody medal! And a drink (personally, I'd like Leo to do the honours - who doesn't want to see that power couple formation?)

The Optimist's Honourable Mentions:

Honourable mention goes to Michael Fassbender, relentlessly brutal in his role as a plantation owner in 12 Years a Slave. His co-star and the object of most of his cruelty Lupita Nyong'o is utterly, painfully convincing in her breakout role. Jennifer Lawrence is a revelation once again, this time in American Hustle. The Costume and Art Direction in The Great Gatsby - 'nuff said (although if you want a bit more, check out The Optimist's recommendation here). Steven Price's score for Gravity is something to behold and of course there's the sublime music from Inside Llewyn Davis (read the recommendation here).

This year's nominees for best picture are:

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

My choice for best picture (somewhat predictably if you've read the Optimist's recommendation) is Gravity. The most visually impressive film I've ever seen, but it never forgets it's got a story to tell. Physically captivating, emotionally enthralling, surely it deserves another accolade. Failing that, 12 Years a Slave is as important as everyone's been saying - and it would be nice to see it recognised not just for its historical message, but also as the stunning film it is. Visually it's beautiful and its performances are visceral.



It's been a year of extraordinary achievements in film. Here's to the next one.