Oscars: Expectations and Reality
By Tatia Megeneishvili
Wednesday, March 5
The 86th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the actors, technical achievements, and films of 2013, on March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. The ceremony was scheduled one week later than usual to avoid conflict with the broadcast of the 2014 Winter Olympics. During the ceremony, the AMPAS awards in 24 categories. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres hosted the show for the second time, after hosting the 79th ceremony in 2007.
Let me be a little bit biased this time, as usually I am making absolutely objective news articles for The Messenger, but today I have permission to be subjective. I am not a film critic or an expert, but I am fond of watching movies. The Academy Awards ceremony is an event I am waiting for each year. I have my own reasons, I like flashing lights, the red carpet covered with stardust and smiley faces. This day has me flying high in the clouds!
I will start with the winner in the Best Picture Category... The Oscar is awarded to 12 Years a Slave. It is a film by Director Steve McQueen. What can I say? This movie is a masterpiece, nice decision AMPAS … Buyers Club was the movie that deserved this award most, simply because in this film the acting was fantastic and the storyline was also very emotional.
Let’s move to the best actor in a Leading Role. And the Oscar goes to Matthew McConaughey for his role in Dallas Buyers Club …. Sorry Leo, it’s not you … again, not you, and sorry for what I am going to say, but this year I really think that McConaughey was much more impressive.
Award for the best actor in a Supporting Role was won by Jared Leto for his role in Dallas Buyers Club. He was my favorite; I have never seen such a great transformation by a modern actor - well done Jared! He was simply stunning!
Oscar for the best actress in a Leading Role was given to Cate Blanchett for her role in Blue Jasmine. This was Blanchett’s second Oscar. She won it first in 2005 for her performance for her supporting role in The Aviator.What can I say about Cate, she was incomparable and to be honest she had no competitors.
Oscar for the best actress in a Supporting Role was given to Lupita Nyong'o, for her role in 12 Years a Slave. I should say that Jennifer Lawrence for her role in American Hustle was my favorite. Why? Because her acting was the absolute best! But supposedly the AMPAS decided that a second Oscar in just 2 years was too much for a young girl like Jennifer, even if she deserves it, the nomination will be quite enough.
The biggest disappointment was in the category of Animated Feature Film. Disney’s Frozen won the reward, while The Wind Rises by the Legend of Japanese Anime, Hayao Miyazaki was nominated. You know why I was disappointed? No, not because Miyazaki is my favorite animation director, or because this was his last work, after which he retired. No, I was disappointed simply because, Frozen is one of the worst works of Disney in my opinion and The Wind Rises was much better work. In spite of this, Frozen received the reward. Where is the justice? I have no answer…
This was not the only category won by Frozen. Frozen also won reward for Best Original Song, with the song, Let It Go, performed by Idina Menzel. This time I am not going to complain, because this song is just amazing. I loved it and I am sure everyone else did too.
The Best Costume Design was awarded to The Great Gatsby by Catherine Martin. This movie I watched about half year ago and I still remember the impression and emotion which I left the cinema with. It was one of the most beautiful movies in last few years. If there is anyone reading this who has not watched it yet, put the newspaper down and go watch it, I give you my word you will never regret it.
The award for Best Director was given to Alfonso Cuaron for his work on Gravity. Okay, maybe… MAYBE…But what about David O. Russell and his American Hustle? Let’s hope movie scientists know it better … but why does my heart feel so sad?
I think for now I am done with sharing my opinion. Let’s move back to the facts.
The nomination in the best animated short film was won by Mr. Hublot by Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares.
Best Foreign Language Film Winner was the Italian film The Great Beauty.
Reward for Cinematography was awarded to Gravity and its cinematographer and producer, Emmanuel Lubezki.
Oscar for Documentary Feature was awarded to 20 Feet from Stardom by Morgan Neville, Gil Friesen and Caitrin Rogers.
In the category for the Best Documentary Short Subject, the winner was The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life by Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed.
The prize for Best Production Design was awarded to The Great Gatsby.
Best Category of Music and Original Score was won Steven Price for Gravity.
Best Category Short Film Live Action was won by Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson for Helium.
Best Sound Editing category was won by Gravity’s Glenn Freemantle.
Sound Mixing winner is Gravity’s Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro.
Visual Effects category was also won by Gravity and its Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, David Shirk and Neil Corbould.
Prize for Writing in Adapted Screenplay was awarded to John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave.
Prize for Writing in Original Screenplay was awarded to Spike Jonze for Her.
The nominees for the 86th Academy Awards were announced on January 16, 2014, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California, by Cheryl Boone Isaacs, President of the Academy, and actor Chris Hemsworth. American Hustle and Gravity tied for the most nominations with ten each.
The Academy Awards, commonly known as The Oscars, is an annual American awards ceremony honoring the achievements in the film industry.
The first Academy Awards were presented on May 16, 1929, at a private dinner at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with an audience of about 270 people. The post Academy Awards party was held at the Mayfair Hotel. The cost of tickets for that night's ceremony was $5. Fifteen statuettes were awarded, honoring artists, directors and other personalities of the filmmaking industry of the time for their work between 1927–1928. The ceremony ran for 15 minutes.