Oscar 2014 Best Cinematography Prediction: 'Gravity' to Win Award

With the Academy chosing visual effects-driven films to win the category over traditional cinematography in recent years, the Best Cinematography category has become one of the most divisive categories at the Oscars. This year the front-runner is another visual effects-driven movie that is also nominated for Best Picture and is unlikely to lose this category. Recent Best Cinematography winners include "Life of Pi," "Hugo," "Inception," and "Avatar."

"The Grandmaster" - Philippe le Sourd - The nomination for Le Sourd marked the first for the cinematographer. Le Sourd was a huge surprise in the category as he was never in the running for the award and was only nominated for the American Cinematographers Society. With no prior wins during precursor season, it is unlikely "The Grandmaster" has a chance of winning.

"Gravity" - Emmanuel Lubezki - This is Lubezki's sixth Oscar nomination in the category. He was also nominated for "Children of Men," "The Tree of Life," "The New World," "Sleepy Hollow" and "A Little Princess." "Gravity" is currently the front-runner in this category as the film has won 23 awards including the ASC, and Critics Choice. The film also has the advantage because it fits with the Academy's current trend of handing the cinematography award to a special effects-driven film. Being nominated for the Best Picture is also a plus because only Best Picture nominees have won in the past six years. If "Gravity" does not win the award it will be a big surprise.

"Inside Llewyn Davis" - Bruno Delbonnel - The nomination for Delbonnel marks his fourth at the Academy Awards. The cinematographer was previously been nominated for "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince," "A Very Long Engagement" and "Amelie." Throughout the precursor awards the film has won three awards including the New York Film Critics. However, the Coen brothers' film was not nominated for Best Picture and the lack of buzz for the movie will affect Delbonnel's chances of winning.

"Nebraska" - Phedon Papmichael - This is the first nomination for Papmichael and the only other Best Picture nominee nominated in the Best Cinematography category. Papamichael has not won a single award in the category despite his nominations for the ASC and Critics Choice. Additionally, "Nebraska" has lost buzz because of the fact that the movie has not garnered major awards.

"Prisoners" - Roger A. Deakins - This nomination marks Deakins' 11^th. He has previously been nominated for his work in "Skyfall," "True Grit," "The Reader," "No Country for Old Men" and "The Man Who Wasn't There." Deakins has always been a favorite of the awards circuit, but this year his work has not obtained the buzz necessary, in part because "Prisoners" failed to be a major awards player. As a result, this won't be Deakins' year; the cinematographer has yet to win an Oscar.

Predictions: "Gravity" will win. The film has all the ingredients to score an Oscar and there is no other contender with as much buzz.