WINNERS IN BOLD
Best Picture
Nominees:
The Babadook
Boyhood
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Two Days, One Night
The Lego Movie
Wild
Birdman was by far the best film of the year. However it didn't have much competition for that spot. I liked everything else, but none of them would make my Top 10 in most years. Runner-Up: Wild.
Best Director
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
J.C. Chandor, A Most Violent Year
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher
Jean-Marc Valée, Wild
Directing was very strong this year, with Bennett Miller delivering very stiff competition with Alejandro. Ultimately though Birdman's gimmick works all thanks to him. Runner-Up: Bennett Miller.
Best Actor
Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
Bill Hader, The Skeleton Twins
Michael Keaton, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Matthew McConaughey, Interstellar
David Oyelowo, Selma
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Michael Keaton was magnificent in my favorite performance of the year. The role was semi-autobiographical, but Keaton became Riggan. He flows with the ups and downs of the piece and captures the tone perfectly. He is the Birdman. The rest of the line-up was strong, while I wasn't a fan of Interstellar, McConaughey gives the performance of his career. He is the reason it works when it works. Oyelowo really felt electric as MLK, Redmayne really captures Stephen Hawking and if he wins the Oscar, he'll be one of the best winners in this category in awhile. Hader did a perfect job of mixing the dark with comedy and Gyllenhaal perfectly nails a man who is slowly becoming unhinged. Runner-Up: Jake Gyllenhaal.
Best Actress
Rose Byrne, Neighbors
Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night
Essie Davis, The Babadook
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Jenny Slate, Obvious Child
Reese Witherspoon, Wild
This category was stacked. It was hard to leave off Cotillard's second lead performance in The Immigrant, Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl and Jennifer Lawrence in Mockingjay who I thought was fantastic. She continues to get better and better as she gets more experience. Ultimately the category was interesting as there were three strong dramatic performances, (Cotillard, Moore and Witherspoon) alongside two great comedic performances. The under-seen but fantastic Obvious Child really needs to be seen for Slate's performance. Byrne is the heart of Neighbors, and I hope Hollywood gives her the true lead role in a comedy soon. She is equally as fantastic as she is in Bridesmaids (For which she won my 2011 Best Supporting Actress prize.) But ultimately my favorite lead female performance was Essie Davis, who played a mother at wits end who is still grieving with the death of her husband. She goes to places in the film that most actors would shy away from. Runner-Up: Jenny Slate
Best Supporting Actor
Patrick d'Assumçao, Stranger by the Lake
Logan Lerman, Fury
John Lithgow, Love is Strange
Edward Norton, Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
It was difficult to fill six spots in this category. All six are fantastic, but after them this category is a wasteland. Ethan Hawke is great in Boyhood, and came closest but otherwise there wasn't much competition in this category. Norton is dynamic in Birdman and nearly runs away with the picture. His rapport with Keaton, Stone and Watts is fantastic. Ruffalo is great throughout his film, but the interview scene may be the best acted scene of the year. Simmons is one of the best character actors around, and I'm happy he finally got a role to really sink his teeth into. Lithgow and Patrick both give gentle performances that fit perfectly in the film. Lerman continues to show he is one of the best actors of his generation. Runner-Up: J.K. Simmons
Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Julianne Moore, Maps to the Stars
Emma Stone, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Meryl Streep, Into the Woods
Tessa Thompson, Dear White People
Marisa Tomei, Love is Strange
This was such a difficult category to decide on a final line-up. Naomi Watts in Birdman, Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year and Interstellar, Tilda Swinton in Snowpiercer and Only Lovers Left Alive, Laura Dern in Wild and Uma Thurman in Nymphomaniac Vol. I all were fantastic. Patricia Arquette was so natural in Boyhood and that final scene is so, so good. I can't wait for her upcoming Oscar win. Julianne Moore is hilarious as Lindsay Lohan in ten years. Emma Stone spews toxic in Birdman and it's so enjoyable. Tessa Thompson is great as the voice of an attempted revolution. Marisa Tomei elevates her underwritten character and gets us under the rough exterior to really feel for her. I'm not always the biggest fan of Meryl, but when she is at her best there is no one better. She dominates Into the Woods with her showstopping performances of "Last Midnight" and "Stay With Me." Runner-Up: Julianne Moore
Best Original Screenplay:
Boyhood
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Dear White People
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Selma
Whiplash
Best Adapted Screenplay:
American Sniper
Gone Girl
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Lego Movie
Obvious Child
Wild
Both categories are strong, and I really loved both winners. Original overall was stronger than Adapted. Boyhood really ended strong since it was ever changing, but ultimately once again Birdman won out for me.
Best Soundtrack/Score:
Begin Again
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy
Only Lovers Left Alive
Best Original Song:
"The Big House" from The Muppets: Most Wanted (Performed by Tina Fey)
"Everything is Awesome" from The Lego Movie (Performed by Tegan & Sara & The Lonely Island)
"Lost Stars" from Begin Again (Performed by Keira Knightley)
"The Hanging Tree" from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Performed by Jennifer Lawrence)
Best Cinematography:
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Foxcatcher
Ida
The Immigrant
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wild
Best Editing:
American Sniper
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood
Dear White People
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Whiplash
Best Animated Film:
Big Hero 6
The Lego Movie
Best Foreign Film:
Two Days, One Night
Best Production Design:
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Visual Effects:
Guardians of the Galaxy
Total Awards for Each Film:
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - 7 Wins
Guardians of the Galaxy - 2 Wins
The Lego Movie - 2 Wins
The Babadook - 1 Win
Boyhood - 1 Win
The Grand Budapest Hotel - 1 Win
Two Days, One Night - 1 Win
Wild - 1 Win
Whiplash - 1 Win
No comments:
Post a Comment