'12 Years a Slave' Remains the Film to Beat

At LAT, "Oscar nominations 2014: The complete list."

And see the Hollywood Reporter, "Oscar Nominations: '12 Years a Slave' Remains the Film to Beat (Analysis)":

At long last, our questions have been answered! Or have they?

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its nominations for the 86th Oscars on Thursday morning, and while some are undoubtedly feeling disappointed by the choices (i.e. the campaigns behind Inside Llewyn Davis and the brothers Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Saving Mr. Banks and Emma Thompson, Lee Daniels' The Butler and Oprah Winfrey, Rush, Robert Redford and Tom Hanks), many have major cause for celebration (i.e. American Hustle and Gravity, which led the field with 10 noms each, plus Nebraska and The Wolf of Wall Street, which outperformed most people's expectations). Now, as we head into the second phase of one of the most wide-open and competitive Oscar races in recent memory, the question, of course, is what does it all mean?

My take...

Even though it scored one nom fewer than Hustle and Gravity, 12 Years a Slave remains the film to beat among the nine best picture nominees. It has what most of the others lack -- namely, gravitas, social significance and relevance to the present day, plus the support of most of the key constituencies in the Academy (actors, directors, writers, film editors, etc.). It basically got everything that it could have realistically hoped for, save for noms for best cinematography (Sean Bobbitt hasn't worked much in this country before) and best original score (Hanz Zimmer being snubbed is bizarre and perhaps attributable only to the fact that he had several other scores in contention, as well, including Rush and Man of Steel, which may have split his support). And, as a result of its strong showing, I suspect that most of the Academy members who have heretofore resisted seeing the film for fear of being too disturbed by its content -- a not inconsiderable number, from what my fellow Oscar bloggers and I have been able to gauge on the circuit -- will reconsider that position and adopt a more conscientious one...

It's a great movie, and taking the Golden Globe "Best Picture" award certainly can't hurt.

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