Oscars. As in, who gets what: “Gravity.” Ground-breaking like “Avatar.” Alfonso Cuarón deserves a weekend with those Sports Illustrated uncover girls. But his 90-minute landmark joyride’s not enough story to win Best Director. Techies will vote “Yes.” Political types won’t.
“12 Years a Slave.” Historic global human rights. A most important work. Director Steve McQueen’s now so worshipped, he thinks he’s Spielberg, but a viewer’s DNA requires moral fiber. Tough to take. People will vote for it if they don’t see it.
“American Hustle.” Could grab the prize. Performance driven with nominees Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale. The academy’s largest 1,500-member acting bloc supports actors. And there’s David O. Russell, director.
Harvey Weinstein, always a player, had many horses in the race. Which to put money behind? Noses went out of joint when “Mandela,” “The Butler,” “August: Osage County” with nominees Meryl and Julia blew Best Picture noms. So it’s Best Actress nominee Judi Dench’s “Philomena.”
“Gravity” cops technical awards. “Hustle” grabs acting honors. Politics maybe helps “Slave” to Best Picture.
MIA re: “Gravity,” Clooney didn’t want to take anything away from Sandra Bullock as Best Actress. Besides, 10 minutes later he was hustling “Monuments Men.”
Forget Woody or wouldn’t he/did he or didn’t he — odds favor Cate (“Blue Jasmine”) Blanchett for Best Actress. Supporting Actor could be “Dallas Buyers Club’s” music-playing weight-losing Jared Leto.
Best Actor? McConaughey’s career rose from the toilet so everyone’s just happy he’s everywhere — “Mud,” “Wolf,” HBO, etc. Winner’s Leonardo. Maybe because “Wolf” is so long — three hours and 8,000 F- words — the audience can catch an extra hour’s sleep.
Jennifer Lawrence won last year, so looks like Lupita Nyong’o — charming, articulate, well-dressed, Yalie from Kenya, all the above — could get Supporting. Spike Jonze’s “Her” also waltzes away with a statuette or two.
Eatery flexes its muscles
Restaurant Flex Mussels so crowded in the storm that friends couldn’t get a table . . . During the blizzard into Le Cirque came former Cop Commissioner Ray Kelly with wife Veronica. Said he’s going to Vanity Fair’s Oscar party March 2 . . . Ambassador Edward Elson: “How about removing fake sugar packets’ surrounding paper?” Result? Café Boulud owner Daniel ordered a special saucer receptacle. Excellence from His Excellency.
King among ’em
Didn’t catch Frank Langella as King Lear in Brooklyn? Come June catch John Lithgow as King Lear at the Public. Maybe next fall Jay Leno. . . April 6 East Side Dem Club honoring Manhattan BP Gale Brewer at Osso Buco. Chairlady’s attorney Arlene Kayatt. . . Jersey mouths hissing more’s coming on Christie. I know nothing beyond that. When I know more, you’ll know more.
Odds & Ends
Berry Gordy caught a performance of his “Motown: The Musical.” Wool cap pulled low to stay unnoticed but the cast kept glancing his way . . . Tribeca Film Festival awardees can win Matthew Modine’s Rolleiflex of “Full Metal Jacket” Stanley Kubrick’s director’s chair; or Tony Bennett’s 20-by-24 Central Park watercolor . . . MORE stuff: Workman’s publishing “Movie Speak: How To Talk Like You Belong on a Film Set” — 224 pages and you tawk like De Niro.
Senior: “Sometimes I look at my watch three times and still not know what time it is.” Second senior: “What did you say? Speak up.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.