Oscars 2014: Gravity and Hustle lead the nominations – full analysis and British hopes

When The Upcoming bestows a five star review you know it’s for something exceptional, Philomena received such an honour last year and it’s no surprise that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have agreed with our glowing assessment and given a Best Picture nomination to this outstanding British film, along with sci-fi blockbuster Gravity and major studio-supported American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave to name but a few.

Academy president Cheryl Bone Isaacs and actor Chris Hemsworth announced the 86^th annual nominations and our home-grown stars certainly shone brightly. Divine Oscar winner Dame Judy Dench received her seventh nomination for a mesmerising lead in Stephen Frears’ Philomena along with a Best Original Music Score going to Alexandre Desplat and Best Adapted Screenplay for Steve Coogan, star and co-writer with Jeff Pope.

Chiwetel Ejiofor has also earned a well-deserved recognition for an incredible lead in 12 Years a Slave along with fellow supporting cast members Lupita Nyong’o and Michael Fassbender with a Best Director nom for London-born Steve McQueen.

As always with awards season the buzz is immense, so as not to be left out of any water cooler chats or online frenzies, below are a couple of bite-sized bulletins.

Big hitters, American Hustle a star studded comedy-drama and sci-fi epic Gravity scored a staggering ten nominations with 12 Years a Slave picking up nine.

Surprisingly Oprah Winfrey and her critically acclaimed film The Butler were shut out entirely from the awards this year while late-to-awards-season The Wolf of Wall Street has fared much better than anticipated. Two-time best actor winner Tom Hanks was for once not a golden boy, his charming Disney film Saving Mr Banks had expected to do well with Academy members but it failed to secure any of the big nine categories plus Hank’s other amazing lead in Captain Phillips didn’t get a nomination either.

Along with Dame Judy (who took home a supporting Oscar for 1998’s Shakespeare in Love) there are quite a few Oscar-winning ladies who are hoping to make a pair of golden statuette book ends this year. In the lead actress list, Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) is nominated for a compelling performance in the smashing Gravity and Cate Blanchette (The Aviator) a serious contender with Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine plus Academy sweetheart, the incredible Meryl Streep who already has a guy trio (supporting gong Kramer vs Kramer and two leads in Sophie’s Choice and the Iron Lady) is never to be underestimated for her wonderful role in August: Osage County.

Fellow August: Osage County star Julia Roberts (Best Actress for Erin Brockovich) is in line for supporting actress, along with Hunger Games honey Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook, same director) this time for American Hustle. And it’s a safe bet parts of Dulwich will still be celebrating as our very own Sally Hawkins (who won international hearts as Poppy in Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky) has been given her first ever Academy nomination for Supporting Actress in Blue Jasmine.

As for the boys it’s mainly newbies apart from American Hustle’s Christian Bale (who won for The Fighter, again same director) and mega-star Leonardo Di Caprio who has been nominated four times and yet to win still, fresh from his Golden Globe success for The Wolf of Wall Street. Could 2014 be his year?

In the Visual Effects category along with the expected epics Gravity and The Hobbit sequel, nominations also go to Iron Man 3 and the spectacular Star Trek Into Darkness.

Sensational silver-surfers are also riding high this year, apart from our adored 79-year-young Dame Judy, Nebraska stars Bruce Dern (lead) and June Squibb (supporting) 77 and 84 years respectively, are among the favorites to take home this most converted of golden statuettes.

The ceremony hosted by comedian Ellen DeGeneres will be broadcast globally from The Dolby Theatre on Sunday 2^nd March 2014, so watch out Hollywood the British are coming! 

Laura Jorden

For all the nominations and further Oscar information visit here.