Oscar 2014 Best Sound Editing Prediction: 'Gravity' to Defeat 'Captain Phillips'

The Sound Editing category is always one of the most confusing categories to most audiences because many don't understand the difference between Editing and mixing. This category relates to the sounds created for the film as well as ADR and Foley work. The nominees this year include two films nominated for Best Picture and three with one or two nominations. Previous winners in the category have included "Zero Dark Thirty," "Skyfall," "Hugo," "Inception," "The Hurt Locker," and "The Dark Knight."

"All is Lost" - Steve Boeddeker is receiving his first Academy Award nomination while Richard Hymns has garnered his ninth nomination for the J.C Chandor film. Hymms was previously nominated for "Minority Report," "War Horse" and "Fight Club." The Sound editing team was previously nominated for the BAFTA, Critics Choice, the Satellite Awards, and Motion Picture Sound Editors but lost every single award. The film is also only nominated for one award and most of the time when a film is nominated in one category, the movie never wins.

"Captain Phillips" - Oliver Taney is receiving his first nomination for the Paul Greengrass film. Like "All is Lost," Phillips was nominated for the BAFTA, MPSE, and Satellite Awards. The film won the MPSE for ADR and Foley work and while that isn't the top award for this organization, "Phillips" could have a chance at winning the Oscar in this category. Additionally, the Academy has given similar films the award in this category, including "Zero Dark Thirty," "The Hurt Locker" and "Letters From Iwo Jima." However, it may have tough competition from "Gravity," which has dominated the category throughout awards season.

"Gravity" - Glen Freemantle's latest nomination marks his second in this category; he was previously shortlisted for "Slumdog Millionaire" in 2008. The Alfonso Cuaron film is garnering awards in Sound Editing throughout all the precursor awards. The film won the BAFTA, the MPSE, and the Critics Choice awards in sound. The film is likely to follow in the footsteps of recent Best Picture nominees "Hugo" and "Inception." Both these films were special effects driven and took home awards in both sound categories.

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" -  Brent Burge and Chris Ward garnered their first nominations for Peter Jackson's latest Middle Earth film. Jackson's J.R.R. Tolkien films have not had a good run in this category as only one of the five films released has been nominated for this category, "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers." "The Desolation of Smaug" marks the second time a Jackson film is nominated for sound editing. The new film was previously nominated for the MPSE but did not have any luck. It is unlikely "The Hobbit" will walk away with the accolade while facing two Best Picture nominees.

"Lone Survivor" - Wylie Stateman obtained his seventh nomination at the Oscars. The sound editor was previously nominated for "Django Unchained," "Inglorious Basterds," "Wanted" and "Memoirs of a Geisha." "Lone Survivor" was once thought of as a huge contender for Best Picture but eventually lost steam throughout precursors. The film was nominated in the two sound categories, which does not bode well for the movie. For Sound Editing "Lone Survivor" was nominated for the MPSE but lost the award to "Gravity." As a result, it is unlikely "Lone Survivor" has any chance of winning this award.

Predictions: "Gravity's" cutting edge sound work will take the award. However, if the Academy wants to split the two categories, "Captain Phillips" will win Sound Editing.