After running down predictions for the Oscars in a number of categories over the past two days, we’ve now come to the big ones.  As I’ve said many times before over the course of this awards season, this is quite possibly the closest Best Picture race in history; a coin flip would not be unwarranted.  And while some of the acting categories are pretty sewn up, Supporting Actress remains a bit tricky and there’s some intense competition in the race for Best Original Screenplay.  I’ve had a lot of fun covering this year’s awards race over the last five months with Oscar Beat and I look forward to doing it all over again this fall, but for now here’s the culmination of this season’s coverage.After the jump you’ll find my predictions for the final categories ahead of this weekend’s Academy Awards ceremony as well as my full predictions list for the ceremony, and if you missed Part 1 or Part 2 be sure to check them out.  The 86th Academy Awards will air on Sunday, March 2nd on ABC, during which time our own Matt Goldberg will be live-blogging the ceremony right here on Collider.

Best Picture

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American Hustle

Captain Phillips

Dallas Buyers Club

Gravity

Her

Nebraska

Philomena

12 Years a Slave

The Wolf of Wall Street

It’s not every year that Best Picture is one of the most unpredictable categories at the Oscars, but here we are.  This is a three-way race between Gravity, 12 Years a Slave, and American Hustle with Gravity and 12 Years our clear frontrunners.  There are a number of different possible scenarios here.  Some argue that Gravity and 12 Years will split the “important” votes and the preferential ballot system will crown American Hustle—an inoffensive, charming, and relatively empty choice—the winner.  Though it is a possibility, I personally don’t think Hustle will have enough number one votes to pull it off.  That leaves us with Gravity vs. 12 Years a Slave.  In simple terms, the “Important” choice is 12 Years a Slave and the “achievement” choice is Gravity.  Both films have immense, passionate supporters and both films have their detractors, with Gravity being hailed as a technical masterpiece and 12 Years a Slave serving as the most striking and unflinching portrait of slavery ever put to film.  It’s hard to argue with either statement.

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Image via Warner Bros.

Many are predicting that the Academy will go with 12 Years a Slave for the win, but that almost feels too “right” for a voting body that has given Best Picture to The King’s Speech and The Artist in recent years over tougher films.  Moreover, those that don’t like 12 Years a Slave simply do not like it, while those who aren’t head over heels for Gravity still recognize it as a technical marvel.  There’s also the fact that many Academy members simply refused to see 12 Years a Slave, with it having been deemed “too hard to watch”. This makes me think Gravity will fare better on the preferential ballot system than 12 Years a Slave, giving it the slightest edge to squeak out the win.  The best case scenario, though, would be a first-ever for the category: a tie.

Will Win: Gravity

Dark Horse: 12 Years a Slave

Should Win: 12 Years a Slave

Should Have Been Nominated: Inside Llewyn Davis

Best Director

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Image via Warner Bros.

David O. Russell – American Hustle

Alfonso Cuarón – Gravity

Alexander Payne – Nebraska

Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave

Martin Scorsese – The Wolf of Wall Street 

While pundits are split on Best Picture, most agree that it’s Alfonso Cuarón who has the edge in the Best Director race.  Steve McQueen’s work in 12 Years a Slave is incredibly precise and emotionally affecting, but the fact remains that Alfonso Cuarón had to actually invent the technology to make Gravity possible.  His unrelenting vision made the pic a reality, and if someone else had directed it, Gravity would be an entirely different film.  It’s Cuarón's passion and talent that brought this visual marvel to the screen, so he’s a very safe bet to land his first-ever Oscar trophy for Best Director.

Will Win: Alfonso Cuarón – Gravity

Dark Horse: Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave

Should Win: Alfonso Cuarón – Gravity

Should Have Been Nominated: Spike Jonze – Her

Best Actor

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Image via Focus Features

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

This has been one of the most entertaining categories of the year.  Matthew McConaughey certainly emerged a frontrunner when Dallas Buyers Club first debuted last fall, but he has fielded serious competition from a number of other fantastic performances in the ensuing months—some of which just missed the cut for Oscar.  His biggest threat is Chiwetel Ejiofor for turning in an immensely powerful performance in 12 Years a Slave, but there’s also the possibility that Bruce Dern or Leonardo DiCaprio could pull off a (very big) upset.  In the end, though, a Best Actor trophy for McConaughey just makes sense.  He’s had an incredible run as of late, not only with Dallas Buyers Club but also with impressive turns in Magic Mike, Mud, and The Wolf of Wall Street.  Moreover, he’s been enjoying free campaigning by way of HBO’s True Detective.  His phenomenal performance on the HBO show has been broadcast directly into voters’ homes for the past month, serving as a weekly reminder of the actor’s talent.  I won't be surprised if he wins, but I will be surprised if the first three words out of his mouth aren’t “alright, alright, alright.”

Will Win: Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

Dark Horse: Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave

Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street

Should Have Been Nominated: Joaquin Phoenix – Her 

Best Actress

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Image via Sony Pictures Classics

Amy Adams – American Hustle

Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

Sandra Bullock – Gravity

Judi Dench – Philomena

Meryl Streep – August: Osage County

Here’s one of two acting categories where we almost certainly won’t be seeing surprises on Oscar night.  Cate Blanchett won this trophy all the way back in July when Blue Jasmine was released.  This isn’t just the best lead actress performance of 2013; this is the performance of the year period.  Blanchett is positively transcendent in the definition of “tour-de-force”, and while the recent controversy surrounding Woody Allen might impact her win slightly, I doubt it will be enough to prevent her from taking home the trophy entirely.  In the highly unlikely event that it does, though, keep an eye out for Amy Adams or Judi Dench.

Will Win: Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

Dark Horse: Amy Adams – American Hustle

Should Win: Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

Should Have Been Nominated: Adèle Exarchopoulos – Blue Is the Warmest Color

Best Supporting Actor

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Image via Focus Features

Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips

Bradley Cooper – American Hustle

Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave

Jonah Hill – The Wolf of Wall Street

Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

Whatever your feelings on the nominees, this one’s already over.  Jared Leto has won virtually every single Best Supporting Actor prize since December, making him a near-lock to take home the Oscar on Sunday for his refreshingly subdued performance as a transgendered AIDS patient in Dallas Buyers Club.  He’s been campaigning hard for the trophy as well unlike fellow nominee Michael Fassbender.  After being snubbed for a Best Actor nomination for Shame, Fassbender opted to sit this awards season out despite his tremendous work in 12 Years a Slave.  One has to wonder whether the race would have turned out differently had Fassbender campaigned, but alas this one is Leto’s to lose.

Will Win: Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

Dark Horse: Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave

Should Win: Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave

Should Have Been Nominated: Will Forte – Nebraska

Best Supporting Actress

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Image via Sony Pictures

Sally Hawkins – Blue Jasmine

Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave

Julia Roberts – August: Osage County

June Squibb – Nebraska

Ah, and we’re back to another tricky one.  Newcomer Lupita Nyong’o is the frontrunner here for her absolutely heartbreaking work in 12 Years a Slave, but then there’s Jennifer Lawrence.  Nyong’o won the SAG award just as it was beginning to look like Lawrence had the momentum, but then the American Hustle actress recently enjoyed a surge as she took home the BAFTA.  Nyong’o is really the emotional center of 12 Years a Slave and Lawrence isn’t in American Hustle all that much, but she steals every scene she’s in.  Then there are the statistics to consider: of the 14 films that have received nominations in every acting category (like Hustle), only two of them failed to win a single acting award.  Lawrence won Best Actress last year for Silver Linings Playbook—a film that also received nominations in every acting category—so can she pull off back-to-back wins for David O. Russell films?  She’s incredibly likable and Hustle has much love within the Academy, but my guys says a film as emotionally devastating as 12 Years a Slave just won’t go home without an acting win, and Nyong’o is its best shot; she also happens to be quite deserving of the trophy.  This one’s closer than you think, but I’m going with Nyong’o.

Will Win: Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave

Dark Horse: Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

Should Win: Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave

Should Have Been Nominated: Scarlett Johansson – Her 

Best Original Screenplay

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Image via Warner Bros.

American Hustle

Blue Jasmine

Dallas Buyers Club

Her

Nebraska

This one’s a close race as well.  Woody Allen won a few years ago for Midnight in Paris, but Blue Jasmine is more of a performance piece and the recent controversy doesn’t exactly help his chances, so Blue Jasmine is probably out.  Same goes for Dallas Buyers Club, which was a bit of a surprise nominee here and lacks the flash or flourish of the other nominees.  Nebraska could be a sleeper in this category, but it really looks to be a race between American Hustle and Her.  The former has been the frontrunner for months with most assuming David O. Russell would take home his first Oscar win, but Her proved to be a somewhat surprising hit with voters by earning a Best Picture nomination, and it also took home the Writers Guild of America prize over Hustle.  Given that American Hustle has 10 nominations and is very obviously an Academy favorite this year, it seems like the obvious choice, but a win for Her is a way to honor a film that doesn’t have a shot in the bigger categories.  It also happens to be a wonderfully original story told with a delicate touch—the whole movie is a bit of a high-wire act, really, and it’s miraculous how Jonze pulls it off.  In a bit of an upset, I think Her takes it.

Will Win: Her

Dark Horse: American Hustle

Should Win: Her

Should Have Been Nominated: The World’s End

Best Adapted Screenplay

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Before Midnight

Captain Phillips

Philomena

12 Years a Slave

The Wolf of Wall Street

Here’s the category in which 12 Years a Slave has the biggest lead.  Due to guild rules, John Ridley’s screenplay was ineligible for the WGA prize, but his screenplay is the definitive frontrunner in this category.  Its primary competition, somewhat surprisingly, comes from Philomena.  Producer Harvey Weinstein has no doubt been working behind the scenes to secure some kind of win for his only horse in this year’s race.  Nevertheless, this category is an easy way to honor 12 Years a Slave for those not deeming it the Best Picture, and enthusiasm for another one of the other Best Adapted Screenplay nominees has failed to coalesce.

Will Win: 12 Years a Slave

Dark Horse: Philomena

Should Win: Before Midnight

Should Have Been Nominated: The Spectacular Now

And with that, Oscar Beat’s 2014 race coverage comes to a close.  It’s been a pleasure covering this awards season over the past few months, and I’m eager to see how things turn out this Oscar Sunday.

Head over to Page 2 for my full list of Oscar predictions (which includes a last-minute switch in Costume Design—indecisive!) or read the full articles below.

Continue Reading for Adam's Full Oscar Predictions

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Best Picture

Will Win: Gravity

Dark Horse: 12 Years a Slave

Should Win: 12 Years a Slave

Should Have Been Nominated: Inside Llewyn Davis

Best Director

Will Win: Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity

Dark Horse: Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave

Should Win: Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity

Should Have Been Nominated: Spike Jonze – Her

Best Actor

Will Win: Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

Dark Horse: Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave

Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street

Should Have Been Nominated: Joaquin Phoenix – Her

Best Actress

Will Win: Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

Dark Horse: Amy Adams – American Hustle

Should Win: Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

Should Have Been Nominated: Adele Exarchopoulos – Blue Is the Warmest Color

Best Supporting Actor

Will Win: Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

Dark Horse: Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave

Should Win: Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave

Should Have Been Nominated: Will Forte – Nebraska

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Best Supporting Actress

Will Win: Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave

Dark Horse: Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

Should Win: Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave

Should Have Been Nominated: Scarlett Johansson – Her

Best Original Screenplay

Will Win: Her

Dark Horse: American Hustle

Should Win: Her

Should Have Been Nominated: The World’s End

Best Adapted Screenplay

Will Win: 12 Years a Slave

Dark Horse: Philomena

Should Win: Before Midnight

Should Have Been Nominated: The Spectacular Now

Best Animated Feature

Will Win: Frozen

Dark Horse: The Wind Rises

Should Win: Frozen

Should Have Been Nominated: Monsters University

Best Documentary Feature

Will Win: 20 Feet from Stardom

Dark Horse: The Act of Killing

Should Win: The Act of Killing

Should Have Been Nominated: Stories We Tell

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Best Foreign Language Film

Will Win: The Great Beauty

Dark Horse: The Broken Circle Breakdown

Should Have Been Nominated: Blue Is the Warmest Color

Best Cinematography

Will Win: Gravity

Dark Horse: Nebraska

Should Win: Gravity

Should Have Been Nominated: Her and 12 Years a Slave

Best Production Design

Will Win: The Great Gatsby

Dark Horse: Gravity

Should Win: Her

Should Have Been Nominated: Inside Llewyn Davis

Best Costume Design

Will Win: The Great Gatsby

Dark Horse: American Hustle

Should Win: The Great Gatsby

Should Have Been Nominated: Her 

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Will Win: Dallas Buyers Club

Dark Horse: Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Should Win: Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Should Have Been Nominated: American Hustle

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Best Film Editing

Will Win: Gravity

Dark Horse: Captain Phillips

Should Win: Captain Phillips

Should Have Been Nominated: The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Visual Effects

Will Win: Gravity

Dark Horse: Ha, please.

Should Win: Gravity

Should Have Been Nominated: Man of Steel

Best Sound Mixing

Will Win: Gravity

Dark Horse: Captain Phillips

Should Win: Gravity

Should Have Been Nominated: Stoker

Best Sound Editing

Will Win: Gravity

Dark Horse: All Is Lost

Should Win: Gravity

Should Have Been Nominated: Rush

Best Original Score

Will Win: Gravity

Dark Horse: Philomena

Should Win: Gravity

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Should Have Been Nominated: Rush 

Best Original Song

Will Win: “Let It Go” – Frozen

Dark Horse: “Ordinary Love” – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Should Win: “Let It Go” – Frozen

Should Have Been Nominated: “So You Know What It’s Like” – Short Term 12

Best Animated Short Film

Will Win: Get a Horse!

Dark Horse: Mr. Hublot

Should Win: Mr. Hublot

Best Live Action Short Film

Will Win: The Voorman Problem

Dark Horse: Helium

Should Win: The Voorman Problem

Best Documentary Short Subject

Will Win: The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life

Dark Horse: Facing Fear

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