Oscar Race: Who Deserves A Shiny Prize?

BEST PICTURE

American Hustle / Captain Phillips / Dallas Buyers Club / Gravity / her / Nebraska / Philomena / 12 Years a Slave / The Wolf of Wall Street

'Gravity has my vote, but sci-fi never wins the top prize (2001: A Space Odyssey, E.T., Avatar). Oscar loves the past, not the future. Bet on Slave.'

BEST ACTOR

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)

'Bale gained weight, McConaughey lost a lot; both are superb. I'd pick the...