2014 Oscar Contest

If it makes you feel any better, I do feel hypocritical after all my criticism about the Olympics. The Oscars are just as silly, though a few billion less costly. I sometimes think it is time to let it go, as taste is so subjective and unlike speed skating (but quite like figure skating), there really is no “best.” And yet…

I’m nostalgic for nights in my family’s TV room (that’s what we called the back den, complete with dark paneled walls), our ballots in hand, waiting in anticipation for a montage that would include an old favorite.
Just as the Olympics--- at its best--- celebrates human athleticism, the Oscars celebrates story-telling.

And, finally, it’s the 2nd anniversary of my little experiment with DOK Photography, so it is time for a week of giveaways! Let the party begin.

I’ve created a little ballot for your downloading/printing pleasure here, but it only includes the ten categories I’m using for our contest. You can find ballots with all the categories at oscar.go.com.

Regardless of how many movies you’ve seen (we never let that stop us), I want to know your vote.

Please leave a comment below with your picks, numbered 1-10. Comments will close at midnight on Saturday, March 1st. Whoever has the most correct picks will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card to purchase the DVD of their choice or a lot of Junior Mints---it’s up to you!


And the nominees are…

1. Best Picture: American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street

2. Best Director: David O. Russell for American Hustle; Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity, Alexander Payne for Nebraska, Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave, Martin Scorsese for The Wolf of Wall Street

3. Best Actor: Christian Bale, Bruce Dern, Leonardo DiCaprio, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matthew McConaughey

4. Best Actress: Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Judi Dench, Meryl Streep

5. Best Supporting Actress: Sally Hawkins, Jennifer Lawrence, Lupita Nyong’o, Julia Roberts, June Squibb

6. Best Supporting Actor: Barkhad Abdi, Bradley Cooper, Michael Fassbender, Jonah Hill, Jared Leto

7. Best Animated Feature Film: The Croods, Despicable Me 2, Ernest & Celestine, Frozen, The Wind Rises

8. Best Original Screenplay: Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell for America Hustle, Woody Allen for Blue Jasmine, Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack for Dallas Buyers Club, Spike Jonze for Her, Bob Nelson for Nebraska

9. Best Adapted Screenplay: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke for Before Midnight, Billy Ray for Captain Phillips, Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope for Philomena, John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave, Terence Winter for The Wolf of Wall Street

10. Best Original Song: “Alone Yet Not Alone”; “Happy”; “Let It Go”; “The Moon Song”’; “Ordinary Love”

Download the Oscar Ballot pdf here to see the nominees with the title of their movie (I got lazy here). In case of a tie, whomever posted the most correct picks first will win. So post early! I’ll post my picks in the comments as well.

To Enter: leave a comment below (not on Facebook) with your 10 picks numbered in the order above by midnight on Saturday. I’ll announce the winner in this post on Monday, March 3rd. Thanks for playing!