The shoo-ins at the Oscars 2014

WINNING may not be everything at the 86th Academy Awards this weekend, but it comes mighty close. Unlike sporting events, there are no medals for second place in Hollywood and after an unusually long campaign - extended to avoid clashing with the Winter Olympics - having your name pulled out of the envelope will be doubly sweet.

It was a good year for cinema in 2013, with each of the nine films in the Best Picture category deserving of its nomination. Similarly, all the major categories are well represented and for once that cliched loser's p…