What follows is a hypothetical scenario in which we are Academy voters who commit the ultimate sin of showing you our completed ballots.

Note: Like many Oscar voters, we could go through the motions of voting for shorts and foreign films, but, for the sake of honesty (and what we hope the real voters practice), we'll abstain from the categories where we have yet to see all the nominees.

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BEST PICTURE

The cream of the crop is voted on by a preferential ballot where voters are instructed to rank all the nominees for Best Picture in the order of their personal preference. While this means one could, in effect, vote against a particular film by placing it lower on their ballot, the system is in place to gauge overall support for the top films. Here's where the pictures fall for us.

Matt

1. Gravity
2. 12 Years a Slave
3. Captain Phillips
4. Her
5. American Hustle
6. Nebraska
7. The Wolf of Wall Street
8. Philomena
9. Dallas Buyers Club

I have a definite number one (and an even more definite number nine). It's a great group of films, but Gravity is, for me, in another league.

Nathan

1. 12 Years a Slave
2. Gravity
3. Her
4. Captain Phillips
5. Nebraska
6. American Hustle
7. Philomena
8. Dallas Buyers Club
9. The Wolf of Wall Street

Number one was a tough call. Gravity tops my personal best of 2013 list because sci-fi. I think, however, if I had a ballot to submit I'd feel 12 Years a Slave is more deserving of Academy recognition. I think? Maybe I'd flip a coin.

BEST DIRECTOR

Matt

*Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)
Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)
Alexander Payne (Nebraska)
David O. Russell (American Hustle)
Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)

I have truly immense appreciation for the visions both Cuarón and McQueen brought to the screen, but, to me, this is a no brainer.

Nathan

*Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)
Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)
Alexander Payne (Nebraska)
David O. Russell (American Hustle)
Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)

I've been in love with Cuarón since Y Tu Mamá También, and I wouldn't pass up the chance to honor him.

BEST ACTOR

Matt

Christian Bale (American Hustle)
Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
*Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

A formidable five-some, to be sure, without even mentioning the lead actors who just missed on this nomination. Dark comedy suits DiCaprio shockingly well, and I would love to see him rewarded for this electric performance rather than 10-20 years from now for mediocre work simply because "they owe him."

Nathan

Christian Bale (American Hustle)
*Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Choosing a winner here is an impossible task, though I can narrow the field to two without difficulty. Dern takes the win over Ejiofor by a hair. Could be my inner Laura Dern fanboy coming out.

BEST ACTRESS

Matt

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

There's a reason Blanchett has swept through this season winning everything in her path.

Nathan

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

She had me at "New York... Park Avenue."

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Matt

Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
*Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)
Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Cooper's loose, hilarious, and desperate performance stands out from the pack for me. Fassbender is a close second though.

Nathan

Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)
Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)
*Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

If I'm being honest Jared Leto almost lost my vote with his tone-deaf acceptance speeches. (Hint: ditch the gay-panic jokes. Also, no one but you thinks Hollywood's welcoming you back is that big of a deal). I'm not a fan of Oscar-bait roles like this one, but my irrational self still wants to reward Leto for Requiem for a Dream.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Matt

*Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)
Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
June Squibb (Nebraska)

There's much to admire in all five performances, but the way Hawkins breathes total believability into an original role opposite a towering Cate Blanchett gives her the edge in my book.

Nathan

Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)
Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
*Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
June Squibb (Nebraska)

Devastating performance. She captures hope and despair like no one I've seen. Lupita's a star.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Matt

American Hustle
Blue Jasmine
Dallas Buyers Club
*Her
Nebraska

Nathan

American Hustle
Blue Jasmine
Dallas Buyers Club
*Her
Nebraska

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Matt

*Before Midnight
Captain Phillips
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

I would give Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, & Richard Linklater ALL the awards for any installment of their breathtaking romantic trilogy.

Nathan

*Before Midnight
Captain Phillips
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

This talkiest of scripts portrays relationships as they truly are: messy, tumultuous, rewarding.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Matt

The Act of Killing
Cutie and the Boxer
Dirty Wars
*The Square
20 Feet from Stardom

20 Feet and Cutie are totally enjoyable films, but both Killing and The Square have major impact artistically and emotionally.

Nathan

The Act of Killing
Cutie and the Boxer
Dirty Wars
*The Square
20 Feet from Stardom

The Square reveals the human face of recent events in Cairo while making us feel the tension. Informative and artfully crafted.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Matt

The Grandmaster
*Gravity
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
Prisoners

In a year without Gravity, I would have a hard time choosing between Llewyn Davis and Prisoners. Alas, Gravity exists.

Nathan

The Grandmaster
*Gravity
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
Prisoners

BEST FILM EDITING

Matt

*American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
12 Years a Slave

Nathan

American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
*Gravity
12 Years a Slave

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Matt

American Hustle
Gravity
The Great Gatsby
*Her
12 Years a Slave

Nathan

American Hustle
Gravity
The Great Gatsby
*Her
12 Years a Slave

Future-realism chic.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Matt

American Hustle
The Grandmaster
*The Great Gatsby
The Invisible Woman
12 Years a Slave

Nathan

*American Hustle
The Grandmaster
The Great Gatsby
The Invisible Woman
12 Years a Slave

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Matt

The Book Thief
*Gravity
Her
Philomena
Saving Mr. Banks

Nathan

The Book Thief
Gravity
*Her
Philomena
Saving Mr. Banks

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

Matt

"Happy" (Despicable Me 2)
*"Let It Go" (Frozen)
"The Moon Song" (Her)
"Ordinary Love" (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)

Nathan

"Happy" (Despicable Me 2)
*"Let It Go" (Frozen)
"The Moon Song" (Her)
"Ordinary Love" (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)

I'd have to turn in my gay card if I didn't vote for this one.