Dominating the 2014 Oscar race is the story of con-artists and outrageous hairdos, a tale of slavery that has one of the most vile characters to come out in a long time, and a literal out-of-this-world thriller.

David O. Russell, who’s behind this year’s “American Hustle,” is no stranger to making Oscar nominated movies. Last year he pulled out “Silver Linings Playbook,” with eight nominations, and landed a Golden Globe and Academy Award for Jennifer Lawrence. Years prior, he and Christian Bale teamed up on “The Fighter,” with seven nominations, yet an award for Directing has yet to land on his lap.

Battling it out for Best Picture at the March 2nd ceremony are “Captain Phillips,” “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Her,” “Nebraska,” “Philomena,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” along with the already mentioned “American Hustle,” “12 Years a Slave,” and “Gravity.”

The category of Best Supporting Actress has familiar faces: Julia Roberts, Sally Hawkins, and Jennifer lawrence (who already scooped up the Golden Globe for this category) versus June Squibb and newcomer Lupita Nyong’o from “12 Years a Slave.”

Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Matthew McConaughey will duel it out for Best Actor against Bruce Dern and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Best Actress is another tight race with Amy Adams, who won at the Globes, going head to head with Sandra Bullock, Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, and the queen of the Oscars, Meryl Streep.

Best Supporting Actor is another all out fist fight with former limo driver turned “Captain Phillips” somali pirate Barkhad Abdi, Bradley Cooper, Michael Fassbender who portrayed one of the most perfectly cruel characters in a while, Jared Leto, and Jonah Hill.

Spike Jonze’s “Her,” goes against Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine,” “American Hustle,” “Nebraska,” and “Dallas Buyers Club” in Best Original Screenplay.

Another category for screenplay, but adapted, has “Captain Phillips,” “12 Years a Slave,” “The Wolf Of Wall Street,” against “Before Midnight” and “Philomena.”

Best Animated Feature has pre-historic “The Croods,” “Despicable Me 2,” “Ernest & Celestine,” “The Wind Rises,” versus the heart-melting and sibling focused “Frozen.”

Other categories include Best Foreign Feature, Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Documentary Feature, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Song.

The Oscars air on March 2nd hosted by Ellen Degeneres.