MY FINAL AND OFFICIAL PREDICTIONS FOR THE 86TH ACADEMY AWARDS

Alright, folks!  I've done all of the research I can with my 2014 Awards Tracker.  I've read all of the tea leaves and broken down every race.  I've made my picks and here's the master list.  In the three years of writing these Oscar nominations and following the data, my prediction score has improved every year.  Last year, I correctly guessed 19 of 24 awards up from 17 the year before.  This year, I want to crack 20.  

I've said it all along.  Stick with me and I will win you that Oscar pool!  To my fellow Chicagoans, there's a Classic Cinemas raffle ticket with these picks on it under my name that is begging and hoping for that coveted one-year pass movie prize.  Beyond my home, there are bragging rights on the line against my fellow movie writers Tim Day of Day at the Movies and Louis Plamondon of The Sleepy Skunk, something that has been brewing on both Facebook and my media appearances on Tim's radio show.  Those boys are going down, because I've got the winners right here.  In any case, enjoy Oscar night!  As they always say, it's "movies' biggest night."  It should be a great show!

BEST PICTURE:  "12 Years a Slave"

BEST DIRECTOR:  Alfonso Cuaron- "Gravity"

BEST ACTOR:  Matthew McConaughey- "Dallas Buyers Club"

BEST ACTRESS:  Cate Blanchett- "Blue Jasmine"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:  Jared Leto- "Dallas Buyers Club"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:  Lupita Nyong'o- "12 Years a Slave"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:  Spike Jonze- "Her"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:  John Ridley- "12 Years a Slave"

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:  "The Hunt"

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:  "Frozen"

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM:  "Get a Horse!"

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:  "The Act of Killing"

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT:  "The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life"

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM:  "The Voorman Problem"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:  Emmanuel Lubeski- "Gravity"

BEST EDITING:  "Gravity"

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:  "The Great Gatsby"

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:  "The Great Gatsby"

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING:  "Dallas Buyers Club"

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:  "Gravity"

BEST SOUND EDITING:  "Gravity"

BEST SOUND MIXING:  "Gravity"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:  Steven Price- "Gravity"

BEST ORIGINAL SONG:  "Let it Go"- "Frozen"

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter throughout Oscar night as I will be updating the award results, my prediction results, and overall reaction and responses to the winners and losers all night.  On Monday, the day after the Academy Awards, just as I did last year, I will present a deep look into the crystal ball and set up for the potential Oscar contenders for next year's 87th Academy Awards in 2015.  Once one year ends, the next year already starts up.  Enjoy the night, everyone!