My Top 10 Films of the Half-Decade

Somehow we are already in 2015, which means the decade is half-over! I guess an optimist would say half of the decade still remains? Anyway here are my Top 10 films of the half-decade so far. This list is from 2010 - 2014. 

10. Frances Ha (2013)

9. Gravity (2013)

8. Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

7. Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

6. Drive (2011)

5. Black Swan (2010)

4. Cloud Atlas (2012)

3. Spring Breakers (2013)

2. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

1. Blue is the Warmest Color (2013)

Final Oscar Predictions - February, 21st

This has been a very boring Awards Season for the most part, with only a couple unexpected events occurring. Eddie Redmayne winning the SAG, which then made him the front-runner for Best Actor was the first big shake-up. Then the unexpected cultural event that American Sniper became at the last minute, which put Bradley Cooper in the race with none of the precursors (SAG, Globes, BAFTA, BFCA, etc.)

However the biggest twist was Birdman's rise over Boyhood. Boyhood began the season the favorite, but Birdman won almost every guild which seemingly has made it the front-runner, but then Boyhood went and won the BAFTA. The last two Oscar races have split Best Picture and Best Director, which rarely happens but I think it may happen again? Both films have been lauded for their direction, but for some reason the race is so close that I can't figure out which way to go. Three straight splits would be insane, but it's highly likely. Birdman just seems so out there for the Academy, but Boyhood isn't their usual fare either. If Sniper had more time to build buzz, I think it could have taken it.

Final Predictions:

Best Picture:
WINNER: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Alternate: Boyhood

Best Director:
WINNER: Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Alternate: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Best Actor:
WINNER: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Alternate: Michael Keaton, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) or Bradley Cooper, American Sniper

Best Actress:
WINNER: Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Alternate: None, Julianne isn't losing.

Best Supporting Actor:
WINNER: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Alternate: He isn't losing either.

Best Supporting Actress:
WINNER: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Alternate: None, she's the biggest lock of the night.

Best Original Screenplay:
WINNER: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Alternate: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Adapted Screenplay:
WINNER: The Imitation Game
Alternate: Whiplash

Best Animated Feature:
WINNER: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Alternate: Big Hero 6

Best Foreign Film:
WINNER: Ida
Alternate: Wild Tales

Best Documentary:
WINNER: Citizen Four
Alternate: The Salt of the Earth

Best Original Score:
WINNER: The Theory of Everything
Alternate: The Imitation Game

Best Original Song:
WINNER: "I'm Not Gonna Miss You", Glenn Campbell: I'll Be Me
Alternate: "Glory", Selma

Best Film Editing:
WINNER: Whiplash
Alternate: Boyhood

Best Cinematography:
WINNER: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Alternate: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Art Direction:
WINNER:: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alternate: Into The Woods

Best Costume Design:
WINNER: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alternate: Into the Woods

Best Makeup:
WINNER: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alternate: Guardians of the Galaxy

Best Sound Mixing:
WINNER: Whiplash
Alternate: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Best Sound Editing:
WINNER: American Sniper
Alternate: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Best Visual Effects:
WINNER: Interstellar
Alternate: Guardians of the Galaxy

Hope y'all enjoy the show!

My 2014 Film Awards

Here are my awards for the films of 2014. Overall I felt it was a weak year, but I had a very hard time deciding on a final six nominees in both of the actress categories. Birdman was far and away the best film of the year, in my opinion. While I didn't hate anything, I also didn't feel too strongly about anything else. 2015 looks like it will be an incredible year in film, and I can't wait.



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

My 5 Favorite Scenes from 2014.

As I make my final viewings before my I finalize my top films of 2014, ( Last two: Force Majeure and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby.) I wanted to begin the festivities with my five favorite scenes from 2014.

5. "I just thought there would be more." From Boyhood

Patricia Arquette's final scene in Boyhood is crushing. We've seen her life through the eyes of her son, and finally we see her emotional breakdown. Her life has passed her by, and even though she has been a successful single mother and professional she can't help but be disappointed by her son's nonchalant attitude. I absolutely love the dialogue, but Patricia Arquette nails the scene. This is the scene that will win her the Oscar on February 22nd, and it couldn't be more deserved. That final line is just devastating. 

4. "Mrs. H" From Nymphomaniac Vol. I

Young Joe (Stacy Martin) who seemingly can keep a large list of lovers without ramifications, finally faces the effect of her addiction. Mrs. H (Played by Uma Thurman) confronts Joe after her husband decides to leave her for Joe. Thurman rips through the scene completely unhinged. This is the peak of the film, and really is one of the most memorable scenes of the year. Thurman deserves a major film comeback for this scene. She leaves such a great impression for only six minutes in the film.

3. "Happy" from Wild

Wild is dominated by Reese Witherspoon. She owns the film from start to finish, portraying Cheryl from the teenage years to a mature and grown-up woman. The driving force behind her character's decisions are based on her love of her mother. This scene gives us everything we need to know as to why Cheryl is making this insane journey, and is so brilliantly acted by Witherspoon and the always fantastic Laura Dern. Like Thurman, Dern has limited screen-time in the film, but makes the absolute best of it and this scene is so optimistic that I can't help but love it. If only we all could spin gold out of straw like Cheryl's mother seemingly could. 

2. "Agony" From Into the Woods 

Two royal brothers used to getting their way, are hurt when their true loves (Cinderella and Rapunzel, respectively) are proving to be more difficult to marry than they like. The ever competing brothers hilariously steal the show as they continue to try and one-up the other, even though they are alone in the woods. Chris Pine is hilarious in this scene, but Billy Magnussen is great as he tries to impress his older brother. That final look he gives as if asking for permission to join him on the final note, is so small but makes me laugh every-time.

1. "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" from The Skeleton Twins

Trying to get his sister to cheer up from her lowest life spot yet, Milo (Bill Hader) begins a charade that Maggie (Kristen Wiig) is initially hesitant to participate in. But when she finally gives in, there isn't a more rewarding film moment in 2014.

Reaction to Oscar Nominations

The time has finally arrived. We finally know the individuals that are nominated for the Oscars next month. It started almost a year ago, when Boyhood and Whiplash premiered at Sundance. We watched them go from underdogs to two of the strongest films in the race due to everything else underwhelming (Unbroken, Big Eyes) or having campaign problems. (Selma) This year is actually fairly boring because almost everything will be easy to pick.

Quick Reactions:
4-Time Oscar Nominee Bradley Cooper. (3 for Acting) Who would of said that 5 years ago? Even more impressive is they are consecutive.

The internet claims that Best Actress was weak this year, but really the final group is strong. Marion Cotillard is brilliant as always and was a great nomination. Jones is probably the weak link, but she's still better than many past nominations.

Foxcatcher missed Best Picture, but made it in Director, Actor, Supporting Actor and some tech categories. How did it miss Picture?

Gone Girl was snubbed everywhere but in Actress. That film really fell from grace.

Nightcrawler had been gaining steam, but the old crusty Academy didn't buy it and fell everywhere but Screenplay.

Selma would probably win a bunch of Oscars if they had waited until next year to release it, but since it wasn't finished until late and yet they still decided to release it, the film suffered and only made it in picture, and song. Paramount messed the campaign up drastically.

The Lego Movie being snubbed in Animated film, was disgusting. Absolute crime.

This year is fun in the acting categories, because 4 great overdue actors will finally be getting their due. J.K. Simmons, Patricia Arquette and Julianne Moore are all winning and have given so many great performances over the years. Micheal Keaton will probably win, and as the comeback kid it's great to see how humbled he is by the attention.

Quick Rundown of the "major" categories. I'll do final predictions for all categories closer to the ceremony.

Best Picture:
Boyhood is winning. The Imitation Game and The Grand Budapest Hotel will have support, but Boyhood is the clear front-runner.

Best Director:
Linklater has this locked. There is no other option.

Best Actor:
Michael Keaton vs. Eddie Redmayne will be the big battle in this race. I personally think they will go with the veteran and Keaton will come out on top. However Redmayne has the baitier role that they love, so I wouldn't be shocked. Redmayne will win the BAFTA. If he wins SAG then he'll win Oscar. Keaton will however probably win SAG and come out on top.

Bradley Cooper is the dark horse. He didn't receive any major precursors, but the film has been building steam and many A-Listers have been publicly supporting him for the win. This is also his third straight acting nomination, so he could upset.

Best Actress:
Get used to many speeches from Julianne Moore. She's winning SAG, Oscar and probably the BAFTA. If she lost the Oscar it would be one of the biggest upsets of all-time.

Best Supporting Actor:
It is always nice to see a great character actor get his due. This time it's J.K. Simmons, and he is brilliant in Whiplash. He is locked.

Best Supporting Actress:
"I just thought there would be more."
Patricia Arquette there is so much more coming your way, in the form of SAG, BAFTA, BFCA and then Oscar.

Look for my personal awards for 2014 in the next couple weeks.

2015 Golden Globes Predictions

Here are my predictions for the 2015 Golden Globes on Sunday. The Globes have in recent years transitioned from their old position as a ceremony to kiss the butts of A-listers, to more of just an Oscar predictor. They will be the first to pick who Michael Keaton's biggest competition will be for the Oscar. The most up in the air category will be Best Actress - Musical or Comedy, because well anyone but Lil'Q could win. The Globes are the most fun, because they provide everyone with endless booze and this will be the last round with Tina and Amy so it should be a good one!

These predictions are just for the movie side, because honestly I couldn't care less about the TV side.

Best Picture - Drama
Boyhood - WINNER
Foxcatcher
The Imitation Game
Selma 
The Theory of Everything

This should be an easy win on the upcoming sweep for Boyhood. However the Hollywood Foreign Press could easily go for the British prestige pick, The Imitation Game (Plus we all know they eat up anything The Weinstein Company puts in front of them.) Selma could maybe upset, since the small group shouldn't have any of the screening problems that the Guilds have had so far.

Best Picture - Musical or Comedy
Birdman - WINNER
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Into The Woods
Pride
St. Vincent

This is between Birdman and Hotel. Birdman is just a bigger overall Award contender so I think they will go with it.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
David Oyelowo, Selma - WINNER
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

Last year the Globes were the first awards body to tell us that Matthew McConaughey was the front-runner for Oscar. We can eliminate Carell. I can't see Gyllenhaal winning either, so the three British contenders will be fighting for the Globe. Selma is having screening troubles, but I don't think that should factor here. I could also see the Globes wanting to keep him propped up in the race so I see him winning. Redmayne is probably his biggest competition and has campaigned HARD. As baity as Stephen Hawking is as a role, Martin Luther King Jr., is the role that every actor could only dream of. Cumberbatch is the biggest star of the three, but at the end of the day I just feel like his buzz has dipped. As Weinstein's pony in this race he will of course be a major dark horse.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Jennifer Aniston, Cake
Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore, Still Alice - WINNER
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Julianne Moore is winning the Oscar. The media has tried to prop Aniston as her competiton but NO. Moore is winning everything en route to her overdue Oscar.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy
Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Bill Murray, St. Vincent
Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice
Christoph Waltz, Big Eyes

Keaton is the front-runner for Oscar and will win this category easily. Fiennes is his only competition at the Globes, but that just isn't going to happen.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy
Amy Adams, Big Eyes
Emily Blunt, Into the Woods - WINNER
Helen Mirren, The Hundred-Foot Journey
Julianne Moore, Maps to the Stars
Quvenzhane Wallis, Annie

Lil' Q and Mirren are not winning. Blunt is beloved by the HFPA, but has never won a film Globe. Adams won the Globe last year, and is backed by Harvey Weinstein. However a Moore win, would be so freakin' amazing. Probably my favorite Globe win ever. It's just so out there, but I could see the Globes capping off Moore's year with a double Globe win. At the end of the day, though HFPA loves their musicals so I'm going with Blunt.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Robert Duvall, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash - WINNER

Thanks for showing up gentlemen, but J.K. Simmons is winning everything.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood - WINNER
Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Emma Stone, Birdman
Meryl Streep, Into the Woods

Never count Streep out at the Globes, Stone could have won back when it was all about the stars, but I do think they will go with the consensus which is Arquette.

Best Director
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ava DuVernay, Selma
David Fincher, Gone Girl
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Birdman
Richard Linklater, Boyhood - WINNER

This will go to whomever wins the Drama category which is between Selma and Boyhood. Linklater will probably come out on top, but Ava will be a huge contender and I'm sure the Globes would love to start the trek towards history.

Best Screenplay
The Grand Budapest Hotel-WINNER
Gone Girl
Birdman
Boyhood
The Imitation Game

I don't honestly know where the HFPA will go with this category. I'm going to go with Budapest and Wes Anderson, but honestly I'm not too confident.

Best Animated Film: The Lego Movie
Best Original Score: The Imitation Game
Best Original Song: "Glory" (John Legend and Common),
Best Foreign Language Film: Ida

WELCOME

Welcome to the new blog, the old one felt cluttered and I had neglected it for awhile so a fresh start seemed fitting. Look for some new content while I continue to post awards predictions, and reviews throughout the year. I'll also be messing around with the layout so bare with me through these changes. If you would like to view anything on the old blog I will leave it up for a good laugh.

Look for my awards for 2014 in the next few weeks, in the meantime feel free to check out 2012 and 2013 on the sidebar as I continue to work on years prior to the old blog.

Old Blog:
http://kevinsfilmviews.blogspot.com/