Best Picture: 12 Years A Slave (Steve McQueen)

Surpassing both the popularity and ratings of his last notable film, Hunger, McQueen captures the full range of human brutality and sympathy in the pre-Civil War  South. Already a Golden Globe award winner for Best Drama Motion Picture, this movie’s talented stars  summon tears of fear, happiness, and sadness from theater audiences.

Best Actor In a Leading Role: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)

No longer a young, rising star in the Hollywood industry, DiCaprio has earned his way to the top of the acting powerhouses. The love and humility he evokes as Jordan Belfort, or the “wolf” of Wall Street, makes him the top pick for a long, overdue Oscar. (This is DiCaprio’s fourth nomination.)

 Best Actress: Sandra Bullock (Gravity)

Bullock’s enormous amount of solo screen time is inspiring and wholeheartedly convincing, especially considering the majority of the film was shot in a studio building in front of a green screen. Despite my  distaste for  Gravity’s plot, Bullock’s breakthrough performance makes her worthy of my vote.

Written by Christina Lee’16