Best Picture

Okay, so year after year, we see a big and upbeat movie pitted against a smaller one mostly based on history. The Oscars like history! This time around, it's American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave playing these parts. Interestingly, anything upbeat and entertaining has never been able to beat history and staidness in the Academy's mind. Which is precisely the reason why 12 Years a Slave has a greater chance of gaining any Oscar.