The period slavery epic moves into pole position for an Academy Award.
Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave has secured a place as ‘Oscars favorite’ following its triumph at this year’s Toronto Film Festival. The Steve McQueen-directed epic – based on the memoir of Solomon Northrup – remains the odds on choice for Best Picture at 13/4.
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave.
By winning the BlackBerry People's Choice award, 12 Years a Slave follows in the footsteps of previous Oscar winners, The Kings Speech and Slumdog Millionaire. What was once a the faint hum of Oscars buzz is now a powerful thud as McQueen’s latest effort leaves Mandela and Osage County in its wake.
It will still face stiff competition from the likes of Gravity – Alfonso Cuaron’s space thriller – and The Monuments Men – written, directed by and starring George Clooney. Both films, according to the odds, stand an outside chance of a win, and could be a sensible option if you’re leaning towards a flutter.
Watch the trailer for 12 Years a Slave:
12 Years has also put Chiwetel Ejiofor – the film’s lead – in a strong position for a Best Actor nod. He and Michael Fassbender – a double threat with The Counselor – are sure to be in the voter’s minds when the individual gongs are being narrowed down.
Sliding from favourite was David O Russell’s American Hustle, which sees Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper unite, while Christian Bale and Amy Adams relive their The Fighter days. With a fantastic cast and last year’s Silver Lining’s Playbook – another Toronto winner – O Russell could be walking away with a golden statuette.
We’ll be previewing every film’s Oscar chances – what it could and will win come February 2014 – in the build up to the big night, which, you’d be forgiven for forgetting, is still half-a-year away.
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Fassbender in in 12 Years
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