My Predictions: The 2014 Oscars

Tonight, the red carpet rolls out, the tents go up (here comes the rain again, L.A.), and the Oscars are handed out for the best films and performances of 2013!

I haven't seen a race this close or exciting in years. With nine excellent films focused the survival of the human spirit in the face of varying adversities or vices, picking the winners couldn't have been easy.

Here are my predictions: 

BEST PICTURE
Nominees: American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years A Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street.
Should Win: Tough one! I'm evenly split between Dallas Buyers Club and Wolf of Wall Street.
Will Win: America is still grappling with its racial divide. So 12 Years A Slave.

BEST LEADING ACTOR
Nominees: Christian Bale, Bruce Dern, Leonardo DiCaprio, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matthew McConaughey
Should Win: Matthew McConaughey
Will Win: Chiwetel Ejiofor

BEST LEADING ACTRESS
Nominees: Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Judi Dench, Meryl Streep 
Should Win: Cate Blanchett
Will Win: Cate Blanchett

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Nominees: Barkhad Abdi, Bradley Cooper, Michael Fassbender, Jonah Hill, Jared Leto 
Should Win: Michael Fassbender
Will Win: Jared Leto 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Nominees: Sally Hawkins, Jennifer Lawrence, Lupita Nyong'o, Julia Roberts, June Squibb 
Should Win: Lupita Nyong'o
Will Win: Lupita Nyong'o 

BEST DIRECTOR
Nominees: Steve McQueen, David O. Russell, Alfonso Cuaron, Alexander Payne, Martin Scorsese 
Should Win: Alfonso Cuaron
Will Win: Alfonso Cuaron

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Nominees: Eric Warren Singer & David O. Russell (American Hustle), Woody Allen (Blue Jasmine), Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack (Dallas Buyers Club), Spike Jonze (Her), Bob Nelson (Nebraska) 
Should Win: Woody Allen 
Will Win: Eric Warren Singer & David O. Russell

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Nominees: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke (Before Midnight), Billy Ray (Captain Phillips), Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope (Philomena), John Ridley (12 Years A Slave), Terrence Winter (The Wolf of Wall Street) 
Should Win: Terrence Winter
Will Win: John Ridley

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Nominees: John Williams (The Book Thief), Steven Price (Gravity), William Butler & Owen Pallett (Her), Alexandre Desplat (Philomena), Thomas Newman (Saving Mr. Banks) 
Should Win: Wishboned between Steven Price (Gravity) and Butler/Pallett (Her)
Will Win: Steven Price

Watch FILM NIGHT WITH THE TWO PAULS - OSCAR EDITION: