Why the Oscars Matter, the Case for My Favorite Film of the Year, and My Predictions

Despite losing a significant chunk of viewership amongst the key demographic of 18-49 year olds, the Academy Awards are still a culturally significant, exciting, and important celebration of excellence in film. In the United States, our mastery of movies, acting, and the thriving nature of the Hollywood industry has fueled economic productivity, livened our culture, and has made us a beacon of free expression and art in the world. Further, the films that are recognized at these ceremonies are ones that capture our imagination in the most inspirational, heartwarming, tragic or enlightening ways. They are the best of the best -- movies that, in some cases, can reshape our thinking and understanding of life. For these reasons, the Academy Awards are still very much relevant, important, and worth our attention.

This year's films are among those movies that inspire us, challenge our thinking, and boggle our minds. 12 Years a Slave reminds us of the horror of slavery and why we should never forget, dismiss or understate the brutality and gruesomeness of America's greatest sin. American Hustle makes us laugh at the comedic nature of the corruption of the ABSCAM scandal while making us cognizant of the dangers of pay for play politics. Her dares us to imagine the unthinkable possibilities of a future of constantly expanding technology. Of all of these films though, the one that deserves Best Picture, and the one for which the lead actor deserves Best Lead Actor, is The Wolf of Wall Street and Leonardo Dicaprio.

The criticisms of the film are understandable - mainly, that it glorifies the excess and bad behavior of Jordan Belfort and that there are sexist undercurrents in the portrayal of the characters involved. Perhaps I am biased towards liking the movie only because I saw the film with my best friends on my birthday but I don't think that explains my belief that it is worthy of Best Picture.  Far from glorifying Mr. Belfort's despicable actions, the film vividly illustrates the dangers of his way of life, the heartache and misery his decisions cause for his family and for so many working individuals he duped along the way, and the horrible consequences of greed.

Beyond that, The Wolf of Wall Street is an incredibly timely film, a movie that tackles head on many of the most pressing issues of economic justice that have dominated our national dialogue in the years since the financial crisis. It superbly demonstrates the deranged yet self-serving mechanisms, motivations, and mindset of the worst of Wall Street financial titans whose desires and decisions are entirely driven by their own well-being. The film shows these actions are wrongs, as seen in its demonstration of the pain that these decisions cause for many, many people, while indicating that justice is attainable. The final scene, in which the FBI agent on the subway appears satisfied and content looking at the faces of middle class Americans he looked out for in going after Mr. Belfort, encapsulates the movie's overriding message that levers of power, in this case that of the government's, can be utilized for good to squash power that is used for bad and that, ultimately, justice can be served. Further, the film also includes extremely talented acting on the part of Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, both of whom deserve the respective awards tonight for which they are nominated. They electrify the screen, brilliantly capture the spirit and personalities of their characters, and have a rapport in the film that is masterful and wonderfully orchestrated. These actors, combined with the compelling nature of the story, make for a truly great film that, despite being three hours long, keeps you excited, alert, and involved for the entirety of its duration. It is a film like The Wolf of Wall Street  - relevant, entertaining, and defined by skilled acting - that makes watching the Oscars still an important annual ritual.

Now, for my predictions:

OSCAR HOST: Ellen DeGeners will do a fantastic job as emcee of the Academy Awards. She is extremely funny, down to earth, and virtually universally well-liked. She'll do a better job than Seth MacFarlane, without question, though it remains to be seen if she'll top her own 2007 hosting performance for which she won an Emmy.

BEST PICTURE: 12 Years a Slave

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: Judi Dench (Philomena) 

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: Frozen

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Gravity

BEST DIRECTING: American Hustle

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: The Act of Killing

BEST FILM EDITING: American Hustle