Cucalorus’ Oscar Pool and YOU

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The 86th annual Academy Awards are less than two weeks away and so is Cucalorus Film Foundation’s annual fundraiser!

That’s right – “An Evening on the Red Carpet” is jumping off at 7:30 p.m. March 2 at Wilmington’s EUE/Screen Gems Studios. We’re ecstatic that a few Cuc-alums (“The Act of Killing,” “Feral“) have earned Oscar nominations, and we’ve mentioned that the event will feature a red-carpet entrance, local cuisine, a silent auction, and craft cocktails – right?

Good.

Now that’s a lot sashaying and shmoozing – which is fabulous and all – but if you’re more into shaming your friends and family with your extensive film knowledge, then the Cucalorus Oscar pool is your ticket to stardom.

If you haven’t brushed up on this year’s nominees, it’s time to start preparing in earnest if you plan on becoming the CHAMPION of our pool, which means you get to take home a quarter of the pool’s CASH and an ALL-ACCESS PASS to the 20th anniversary edition of the Cucalorus Film Festival (going down in Wilmington, N.C. Nov. 12-16, 2014)!

Whew, that’s some prize. I’m a little hot ‘n bothered.

ANY-HOO. Let’s prepare by discussing this year’s nominees for best picture, shall we?

And the nominees are:
American Hustle
Captain Phillips

Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

Indiewire.com’s Peter Knegt’s loved “Her,” but thinks “12 Years a Slave” will be the race’s likely winner, while Melena Ryzik at The New York Times, argued that “Gravity,” with 10 nominations, including best director, is pitted in a three-way tie for best pic against “12 Years a Slave” and David O. Russell’s American Hustle.

“Not since 2001, when “Gladiator,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Traffic” were all nominated, has there been such a highly contested race,” Ryzik states.

(Please tell us which film YOU think deserves to go home with the little gold statuette in the comments section below.)

If y’all haven’t QUITE decided which of these phenomenal films to put your money on – RELAX – there’s more than 20 other award categories to research. We’ll be posting our ballot here in the next few days, but before we do, test your knowledge at Oscar.go.com/nominees.

And, if you haven’t already done so, reserve your “Evening on the Red Carpet” seat for $100 or get the special lovers discount for couples for $180! Proceeds from the fundraiser will support the 20th annual Cucalorus Film Festival, hosted in Wilmington, N.C., Nov. 12-16, 2014.

Until next time – happy movie watching friendlies!

-Cucalorus