Which Movie Should Win the 2014 Oscar for Best Picture? – Readers Poll

The Academy Award for Best Picture honors movies that excelled in every category, including acting, directing, writing and cinematography. This year's contenders range from period pieces to biopics to a glimpse into a futuristic world. ‘American Hustle,’ ‘Captain Phillips,’ ‘Dallas Buyers Club,' ‘Gravity,’ ‘Her,’ ‘Nebraska,’ ‘Philomena,’ '12 Years a Slave’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street' are all nominated. Who should take home the Oscar?

The 2014 Best Picture candidates feature over-the-top films such as  ‘American Hustle’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street.' Both movies used comedy and energetic performances to highlight the era in which they are set.

Other movies had us sitting on the edges of our seats, holding our breath until the end credits rolled. The Tom Hanks-led ‘Captain Phillips’ featured the actor as a mariner taken hostage on his own ship, while 'Gravity' took us out of this world -- literally. Sandra Bullock was captivating as an astronaut fighting for her life.

However, other films forced us to re-examine our own lives and the society in which we live. Moving performances in ‘Dallas Buyers Club,' ‘Philomena’ and '12 Years a Slave’ showed people from numerous walks of life fighting various struggles. These movies served to remind us of the serious issues in the world that we still face today.

One of the most exciting aspects of the cinema is escaping into imaginary places and time. ‘Her’ took us into the future, showcasing a touching, yet unconventional, love story. Bruce Dern gave one of the best performances of his career when he played a naive lottery winner in ‘Nebraska.’

Which movie should win the Oscar for Best Picture? You can vote once an hour until the polls close at 7:59PM ET on March 2.