With the Academy Awards exactly a week away, it is time to introduce the first ever One Room With A View awards. Surely not another film award ceremony? Absolutely! We’ve got all the traditional categories you would expect as well as a few added numbers to celebrate the past cinematic year. Plus, we’ve judged men & women together so there are only two acting categories. As voted upon by the One Room With A View writers, let us reveal our winners of our inaugural ceremony!

BEST SOUNDTRACK

Courtesy of CBS Films

WINNER: Inside Llewyn Davis (T-Bone Burnett, Joel Coen & Ethan Coen)

Runner-up: Frozen (Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Christophe Beck, Chris Montan & Tom MacDougall)

For reasons unknown, there was little love for the Coen brothers latest cinematic delight within the Academy. We shall rectify this immediately as we award it with Best Soundtrack. Absorbing and celebrating the folk scene of Greenwich Village during the 1960s, the arrangements and vocal performances are superb. Film soundtracks are rarely enjoyable outside of its visual context, yet the soul and warmth imbued in the ballads makes it a grand exception to the rule.

BEST QUOTE

WINNER:  “Today, we are cancelling the apocalypse!” Pacific Rim (Idris Elba & Guillermo Del Toro)

Runner-up: “My name is Jordan Belfort. The year I turned 26, I made 49 million dollars, which really pissed me off because it was three shy of a million a week.” The Wolf of Wall Street (Leonardo DiCaprio & Terence Winter)

From the melancholic to the awesomely dumb, it’s Pacific Rim. In the most inspirational speech since Independence Day’s President Bill Pullman, Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) gathers his troops as they prepare for their final showdown with the destructive Kaiju enemies. Apparently it took over 30 takes for Elba to get it right, but thank god he did. Anyway enough talk, more apocalypse cancelling.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

WINNER: Man of Steel (Dir: Zack Snyder; Pro: Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas and Deborah Snyder)

Runner-up: Elysium (Dir: Neill Blomkamp; Pro: Neill Blomkamp, Bill Block and Simon Kinberg)

Following the overall shrug of Superman Returns, the rebirth of Superman could only be a success. With Christopher Nolan as producer to place the reigns upon Snyder’s eccessive visuals and clunky narratives, Man of Steel could only soar, right? Sadly, the man from Krypton never reached the high expectations we held or even came close. Plagued by plot holes and poor characterisations, the reboot was an overwhelming disappointment. Here’s hoping for better luck in his next outing of Batman vs. Superman in 2016.

BEST POSTER

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

WINNER: Godzilla 

Runner-up: The Grand Budapest Hotel 

The remake of the classic 1954 original and of the less critically revered 1998 version is one of the most anticipated films of 2014. Alongside a fantastic trailer, the teaser poster released for Gareth Edwards monster movie is gorgeous. Atmospheric, destructive and epic: the poster entices us even further for the film’s release in May.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

WINNER: Emmanuel Lubezki (Gravity)

Runner-up: Bruno Delbonnel (Inside Llewyn Davis)

How could there be any other winner? Technically brilliant and visually awe-inspiring, Lubezki’s cinematography is outstanding from every angle. Of course, he is aided greatly by Cuarón infatuation with lingering shots, superlative visual effects design from Tim Webber and great production design by Andy Nicholson yet it’s Lubezki’s eye that allows Gravity to reach the highest echelons of beauty. A deserved winner.

BEST DIRECTOR

Courtesy of Associated Pres

WINNER: Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)

Runner-up: Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave)

Many wonder how Steve McQueen can deliver the Best Film yet not be the Best Director? The answer is Alfonso Cuarón. Cuarón has added a new and revolutionary layer to the sci-fi genre, highlighting how much can be achieved with movies today. The ability to incorporate the superb technology alongside an engaging and emotional narrative highlights a director at the height of his game and at the top of his field.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

WINNER: Michael Fassbender (12 Years A Slave)

Runner-up (TIE): Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years A Slave), Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street) and Jared Leto (The Dallas Buyers Club)

Fassbender was the hot tip to sweep the board leading into this year’s award season yet his startling portrayal of Edwin Epps has gone largely unrewarded. That’s why One Room With A View is here to rectify that. Fassbender ensure the horrors of slavery are full of the airs of reality. Petrifying and domineering yet honest and human; it is a performance for the ages.

BEST ACTOR

Courtesy of Getty/Steven Merritt

WINNER (TIE): Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave)

Runner-up: Leonardo Di Caprio (The Wolf of Wall Street) and Daniel Bruhl (Rush) 

We placed all leading roles under one bracket yet the wit of Blanchett and the strength of Ejiofor ensured that everyone’s a winner. Blanchett has won every Best Actress gong going with her trophy cabinet heaving at her continual collection of accolades. Every award and every instance of recognition is wholly deserved. Blanchett is scintillating in her portrayal of woman who is irrevocably broken.

Chiwetel Ejiofor excels even against the Hollywood talents of Paul Giamatti, Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender. With the entire credibility of the project upon his shoulders, Ejiofor delivers in spaces as his struggle against the horrors of slavery is brave, courageous and heartwrenching. The British actor should now be recognised as one of the leading talents in the market.

BEST FILM

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

WINNER: 12 Years A Slave (Dir: Steve McQueen; Pro: Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Bill Pohlad, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan and Anthony Katagas)

Runner-up: Gravity (Dir: Alfonso Cuarón; Pro: Alfonso Cuarón and David Heyman)

12 Years A Slave is a game changer. It finally tackled America’s cultural elephant in the room with grace, fight and heart. Our review said it best: “Neither lesson nor lecture, this dignified slave drama is easily one of the strongest films of recent times. While the grave of Solomon Northup remains a mystery, this masterpiece serves as a beautiful eulogy to his ugly story.” 12 Years A Slave is a defining moment in cinema. It is our Best Film of the year.

Who do you think are the winners of this year? What do you agree or disagree with? Leave your thoughts below!