Precursor: 53rd American Cinema Editors Awards (2013)

Leave it to the American Cinema Editors to do nothing to help predict this year’s Oscars. Giving their award to Captain Phillips seems a bit like cheating since they gave its director a Golden Eddie award this year. It’s obviously favoritism, but it’s not really that surprising. Most of Christopher Rouse’s recognition for editing has come for films directed by Paul Greengrass. This is his third ACE nomination (second win) and his third Oscar nomination.

Of the other winners, American Hustle took the expected Comedy/Musical Editing prize while Best Animated Feature frontrunner Frozen took the Animation Editing trophy. Meanwhile, 20 Feet from Stardom picks up steam that could lead it to an Oscar victory, a rarity for documentaries about music and musicians at the Oscars.