Come Sunday March 2 (Monday, March 3, Singapore time), the world will witness, for the 86th time, who will be the hottest commodity in Tinseltown. Or, at least, to find out if you won your office Oscar pool.

Interestingly, when the nominations were announced last month, the names on the golden ticket were, for the most part, pretty predictable. But with the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Critics’ Choice Movie Awards and the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) all pointing various divergent paths to Oscar Gold, it looks like we just might have an Oscar race that will turn out wholly unpredictable.

It’s a safe bet to say that the front-runners — 12 Years A Slave, Gravity and American Hustle — will not go home empty-handed. The latter two are leading the way with 10 nods apiece and 12 Years A Slave is breathing down their necks with nine. So they should win in at least one category, right?

No one film completely monopolises the conversation this year. All of them have proved to be successful in nabbing various awards from the various guilds and critics’ groups, and the major award categories (Best Picture, Best Actor/Actress and the Best Supporting Actor/Actress) are now a gleeful open playing field.

But there were also glaring omissions. Where is Emma Thompson for Saving Mr Banks, Oprah for The Butler and everyone’s favourite monsters, Mike and Sully, for Monsters University? Is one even allowed to shaft Tom Hanks twice? It’s quite the statement to turn down Walt Disney and Richard Phillips, both real-life characters Hanks played (in Saving Mr Banks and Captain Phillips, respectively).

Perhaps the Academy Members didn’t watch the excellent Fruitvale Station, but it’s obvious they have lost their love for the previously popular Coen Brothers, what with the shut-out of their critically acclaimed Inside Llewyn Davis.

Indeed, in the past few years, the Academy nominations have been slowly and painfully reinventing themselves to be something that’s still relevant to 21st century cinema. They are introducing 10 Best Picture nominees, instead of the former five, to switch things up, for example.

But are the revered Oscars a predictable, safe massive bore of an awards show? One that is decided by a group of people too stuck in their ways to embrace what’s new and bold in film? It was reported that more than 90 per cent of the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voting members are white, almost 80 per cent are men and only 14 per cent are under 50. But the real question is: Does it matter?

Because even as people continue to argue about how the winners are determined year after year (if you believe them, it’s all left up to unjust old-school snobbery, politics and marketing muscle), to receive an Academy Award is, without doubt, still considered one of filmdom’s highest honours.

And so what if it comes across as being an excruciatingly self-congratulatory awards ceremony that celebrates studio politics and money, outlandish dresses and funny Jennifer Lawrence GIFS? Deep down, we like to believe it’s more than that.

The Academy Awards, with their nominee choices, omissions and gaffes, have been and will continue to be a platform for an ongoing, lively, ferocious debate about the films we love to watch, and what those films say about life and the human condition as we know it.

This is especially reflected in this year’s Best Picture category, with the nominees dealing with bold themes including slavery, existentialism, faith, religion, excess and greed. You could say it’s all up there “For Your Consideration”.

BEST PICTURE

The nominees are: American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years A Slave and The Wolf Of Wall Street.

What ought to be the winner: 12 Years A Slave

What will actually win: American Hustle

What we would gladly swop in an Oscar minute: There are only nine films this year, so we would add Before Midnight to make it an even 10.

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

The nominees are: Christian Bale (American Hustle), Bruce Dern (Nebraska), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf Of Wall Street), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave) and Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Who ought to be the winner: Bruce Dern

Who will actually win: Matthew McConaughey

Who we would gladly swop in an Oscar minute: Christian Bale for Joaquin Phoenix (for Her) or James Gandolfini (Enough Said) or Robert Redford (All Is Lost).

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

The nominees are: Amy Adams (American Hustle), Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), Sandra Bullock (Gravity), Judi Dench (Philomena), Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

Who ought to be the winner: Judi Dench or Cate Blanchett

Who will actually win: Cate Blanchett

Who we would gladly swop in an Oscar minute: No one, We love these all these girlies.

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The nominees are: Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips), Bradley Cooper (American Hustle), Michael Fassbender (12 Years A Slave). Jonah Hill (The Wolf Of Wall Street) and Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Who ought to be the winner: Barkhad Abdi

Who will actually win: Jared Leto

Who we would gladly swop in an Oscar minute: A lot of men had a perm in the ’70s. No one gave them an award. Which is why I’ll happily swop Bradley Cooper for the always versatile and always underrated Daniel Bruhl in Rush.

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The nominees are: Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine), Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years A Slave), Julia Roberts (August: Osage County) and June Squibb (Nebraska)

Who ought to be the winner: Lupita Nyong’o

Who will actually win: Jennifer Lawrence

Who we would gladly swop in an Oscar minute: As much as we enjoy Sally Hawkins’ solid work, Oprah Winfrey actually delivered a wonderful performance in The Butler. Plus, we wouldn’t dare say no to Queen O!

BEST DIRECTOR

The nominees are: David O. Russell (American Hustle), Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity), Alexander Payne (Nebraska), Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave) and Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Who ought to be the winner: Alfonso Cuaron

Who will actually win: Alfonso Cuaron

Who we would gladly swop in an Oscar minute: Can we add instead? Paul Greengrass should have some acknowledgement for making Captain Phillips as riveting as it was.