Awards season is in full swing. We’ve already seen the Globes, the SAG Awards and more, but we all know those events are just the pre-game shows for the 86th Annual Academy Awards. I typically watch the earlier awards shows to get a sense of which films I need to see going into The Oscars, but when this year’s nominations were released and I realized I had already seen five of the nine Best Picture nominees, I decided to make it a goal to see all of them. You know, so I could form the most educated opinion on which film really was the best of 2013. I did it, and it was a feat that I’ve never accomplished before (I kinda feel like I should get a trophy!). So here you go: my rankings and reviews of the Best Picture nominees this year.
9. Gravity
In a sentence: Sandra Bullock stars as a scientist on an ill-fated trip to space with a few astronauts, among them, George Clooney.
I did not like this movie. My aversion to this film probably has a lot to do with the fact that I saw it in IMAX 3-D and felt nauseated for the rest of the day after that experience. I shelled out the $17 (matinee price!!) to see it, knowing that it was supposed to be a cinematography marvel and if I were to see it, it had to be with all of director Alfonso Cuaron’s bells and whistles. The plot wasn’t that interesting to me. I knew going in that something bad was going to happen. The film had me wondering why anyone would want to go to space in the first place. That being said, the cinematography was breathtaking. Knowing the film wasn’t actually shot in space, it was impressive to see how realistic everything was. Though an astrophysicist pointed out there were some inaccuracies in Cuaron’s depiction of space, for the most part, through consultations with astronauts, the film is pretty realistic, which is neat. Sandra Bullock’s (Best Actress nominated) performance as a woman trying to overcome impossible odds, was great. George Clooney was his usual charming, sexy self. But I still didn’t care for it.
8. The Wolf of Wall Street
In a sentence: Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker who becomes a millionaire through corrupt white collar criminal activities, taking us on a raucous and raunchy ride profiling his rise and fall.
I feel like I’d been looking forward to this film for almost a whole year. I took my mom on a movie date to see it. I was a little nervous going in knowing that it was three hours long, but assumed that the run time meant that it would be three full hours of epic awesomeness. Martin Scorsese is the director of two of my favorite films ever, Goodfellas and The Departed, so I had a great deal of trust in the man. I say had because this film was a failure. There was absolutely no reason to make us sit through so much of the same plot. I get it, Jordan Belfort and his cronies made a ton of money, spent a ton of money, did more drugs that I think a human body could ingest without dying, had tons of sex…yeah, yeah. I checked my watch the first time only an hour into it. At the two hour mark, Mom leaned over to me and said, “I’m going to get a hot dog…you want anything?” She needed a break from it. It was just too long. That aside, it was a nice look into the world of Wall Street and its excesses in the late 80’s and early 90s. The performances were stellar with both Leo (Best Actor) and Jonah Hill (Best Supporting Actor) getting well earned Oscar nods. Additionally, Matthew McConaughey has an awesome, though small, part in the film. But my favorite discovery about the film is that it broke the record for most usage of the f-word in a film. There appears to be some debate on the internet over the exact number of times the expletive is uttered, but everyone agrees it’s more than 500 times. (NSFW) Thanks, for that, writers. If you can stand sitting still for three hours, then sure, you’re going to love this movie. I can’t, so I didn’t. I get that the film was based on a true story, but we really don’t need to know the whole story. There were parts that could have been left on the cutting room floor.
7. Philomena
In a sentence: Dame Judi Dench plays Philomena, a woman who enlists the help of a journalist played by Steve Coogan to track down the son who was taken from her by Irish nuns.
This was a lovely, bittersweet film. The reason I’m ranking it toward the bottom of the list is simply because I think there were many better movies this year. As one would expect, Judi Dench killed it and is nominated for Best Actress for her performance. What I loved most about her character was that she lacked the ability to recognize humor, yet would constantly say the funniest things. Steve Coogan was also great. Unfortunately this was just one of those regular old feel good (and sometimes sad) movies that I honestly don’t think deserved an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, but you know how it goes…they always get one non-domestic film on the list and this is the one this year. I saw the movie with my friend, Sarah, and when I mentioned that I didn’t think it belonged on the Best Picture list, she argued that it was an important story to tell (the film is based on a true story), and I argued that Fruitvale Station was also an important story (probably an even a more important story) and it didn’t even make the cut – more about that later. At any rate, this was a nice movie…take your mom to see it. She’ll love it.
6. Her
In a sentence: Joaquin Phoenix plays Theodore, a man who falls in love with his operating system, Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson).
This film was the most unique of the nine nominees. The concept was fresh and original. It was nice to see Joaquin Phoenix playing a (semi) normal character. His performance as a lonely man suffering from a broken heart after separating from his wife really made me feel for his character. His life brightens when he buys a new artificially intelligent operating system and develops a relationship with her. The film takes place in an undefined future era where men’s fashion is a little odd, and what seemingly appears to be Los Angeles has a different skyline sometimes and the one we know now at other times. I found myself constantly trying to figure out where they were in LA as film unfolded. The city appeared to be not quite the one I know…this was very distracting to me. I’m sure I was getting hung up on this aspect of the film way more than the average person was, but it really bothered me. I recommend that you see this film if you’re looking for something different. I have a strong appreciation for the inventive storyline and it got me wondering if our future is headed toward the one depicted in the film. That kind of scared me. Also see the film if you’re curious about exactly how a romantic relationship between a human and an inanimate object would play out. It’s….interesting.
5. Captain Phillips
In a sentence: Captain Phillips’ (Tom Hanks) freighter is boarded by armed pirates off the coast of Somalia and he and the rest of his crew must fight for their lives.
This movie was very good…in the same sense that I’d tell you Die Hard is a very good movie. Captain Phillips was an awesome action film. I have to admit I was a little surprised when it was nominated for Best Picture. Like Philomena, I felt like Captain Phillips was great, but I didn’t necessarily see it as a viable choice for the gold statue. It’s ranked in the top five because I am a sucker for action films. I just love them and this movie was no exception. It’s terrifying to think that pirates are a real threat in this century. I will definitely avoid being on a boat in any waters that are at risk for pirate activity after seeing this film (as if that would ever be a possibility in my life…just had to say it). As the captain and his crew’s fight unfolded, I was on the edge of my seat. Those pesky pirates refused to give up on their plan to hijack millions of dollars of cargo, no matter how wrong things went for them. Tom Hanks was, well, Tom Hanks (though his New England accent was at times a little over the top). Spoiler alert (but it’s a true story, so is it really a spoiler?): the scene when Captain Phillips is finally rescued is absolutely gut-wrenching. As we know, Tom Hanks is a master at his craft. Barkhad Abdi is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Muse, the leader of the clan of pirates, and he was great, too. You gotta love a movie that makes you sing this (NSFW) song when you’re watching it. If you haven’t seen this one yet, go. It doesn’t have a chance of winning, but it was a great ride.
4. Dallas Buyers Club
In a sentence (or two): In 1985, ladies man Ron Woodruff (Matthew McConaughey) is diagnosed with HIV. As he tries to find the best treatment for his disease, he opens a club for other HIV/AIDS patients to get access to drugs they can’t otherwise get.
You go to this picture for the acting. It showed the two best male performances of the year, in McConaughey as Woodruff, and in Jared Leto, as a transsexual named Rayon. Both men took extreme measures to alter their appearances for the roles, and they dove into them wholeheartedly. McConaughey’s was one of many stellar performances of the “McConaissance” this year and he will more than likely take home his first Oscar for this performance. He’s already taken home a Golden Globe and SAG Award for the role (I’ll also add that if you’re on the McConaughey train right now – I was never off it – check out his new series on HBO, True Detective…more amazing work from him there). He flawlessly plays the role of a redneck straight cowboy coming to terms with having a disease that was nearly always associated with gay men, having to seek support from gay men, and having to fight a health care system that was failing him. Leto delivers a performance as a drug addicted transsexual who just can’t quite seem to get anything right despite having the support of Ron. Leto’s also already nabbed both the Golden Globe and the SAG Award. He’s likely going to be holding an Oscar in a few weeks as well. Jennifer Garner was nice in a supporting role as a doctor on the periphery of Woodruff’s quest to help those with AIDS, but it’s really about the men in this movie. They were great.
3. American Hustle
In a sentence: Con man Irv Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) are caught in the act by FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), and are forced to work with the FBI to bring down politicians and the mafia in order to escape prosecution.
I really enjoyed this film, though I caveat that what I enjoyed most was the last half hour. The plot was rather slow leading up to the denouement, but when it hit, it delivered. I found myself sitting in the theater wondering if anything was actually going to happen in this film. Don’t worry, something does happen, and I thought it was worth the wait. Despite the plot moving at a snail’s pace, I loved all the characters, especially Jennifer Lawrence as Irv’s wife, Rosalyn. In comparison to the other big names in the film, she had a relatively small role, but she stole the show in every scene she was in. She’s nominated for Best Supporting Actress for the role and she’s already won a Golden Globe for the performance, but she’s got some stiff competition for the Oscar. I think Best Supporting Actress is toughest category this year, with equally amazing performances coming from all of the nominees. Christian Bale is nominated for Best Actor, and like McConaughey and Leto, he drastically changed his appearance for the role, gaining a ton of weight to play Irv. He also rocks one of the best comb overs I’ve ever seen. He was good, but I don’t think he has a chance to take home the Oscar. You’ve got to see this film for the costumes, make-up, and styling. Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Renner both have amazing hair. And you’ll never get enough of Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence’s boobs. They exemplify late 70s glamour. There was a time when I couldn’t stand Amy Adams in anything. I can’t really tell you why…something about her just rubbed me the wrong way. But in the last couple of years, I’ve come to love her. She’s great as Sydney. She’s already taken home a Golden Globe for the performance and she’s nominated for the Best Actress Oscar (she’s up against Meryl, though). The entire ensemble cast was great to watch, but I think I loved Louis C.K. as Richie’s boss most…he was awesome. Though this film won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, it’s only #3 on my list of Oscar nominees. I don’t think it should win the Oscar, but I think David O. Russell was shafted last year when his film didn’t win Best Picture for Silver Linings Playbook, so maybe the Academy will take pity on him this year and award it to his less deserving film. I wouldn’t be shocked if American Hustle won the big award in a few weeks, I just don’t think it should.
2. Nebraska
In a sentence: Bruce Dern plays an alcoholic old man with dementia named Woody Grant on a quest to redeem a million dollar sweepstakes prize in Nebraska.
I think this was one of the more underrated films of the year. That may be an exaggeration since it’s been nominated for a ton of awards, but I feel like no one’s seen it. And I’m telling you right now to go see it. I kinda saw it serendipitously. Two girl friends invited me to the movies after work one evening and because it was playing at a convenient time for us, we went to Nebraska. The trailer made it look hilarious, so I was more than happy to see it. But the trailer was cut poorly. This film is actually a lot more dramatic than I expected, dealing with a very common real-life issue that everyone can relate to – getting old really sucks. That being said, the film is peppered with moments of hilarity, so if you’re into dark comedies, you’ll love this film. While it’s heartbreaking to see Woody’s mind slipping as he enters his golden years, the mood is lightened by family’s means of dealing with the dementia. June Squibb plays Kate, Woody’s wife and is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role. If there was just a single reason to see the movie (in actuality, there are many), it’s to see her performance. She had me and my companions laughing hysterically. Oddly, our fellow moviegoers didn’t have the same reaction. This always seems to be the case at the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas (the nearest indie film theater to my office) where the clientele is generally composed of the senior citizen set. I’m not sure if the film hit too close to home for them or if they just don’t have a sense of humor, but the old folks in the room didn’t seem to laugh as much as us youngsters in our mid-thirties. Will Forte, who we’re used to seeing in sophomoric humor roles plays a son trying to connect with a father he feels he’s losing. While he’s having trouble of his own in life, he drops everything to try to help his father through the situation of trying to get him to understand that he really did not win a million dollars…that the sweepstakes is just trying to get him to subscribe to magazines. It was a side of Forte’s range that was nice to see. For you Breaking Bad fans out there, you’ll get to see Bob Odenkirk in a small role as Woody’s other son. The entire cast of characters that make up Woody’s family in Nebraska is a hoot, including Devin Ratray, who many in my generation know very well. My only criticism of the film is that it being black and white really didn’t add any value to the film in my opinion. It would have been equally good, or perhaps more hyper real if it was in color. Aside from that criticism, watching Woody and David’s road trip to Nebraska is one that everyone should see. I loved this film.
1. 12 Years A Slave
In a sentence: This film is the true story of Solomon Northup (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from New York, who was kidnapped and enslaved for 12 years before being found and freed.
So this was the second to the last of the nine nominees that I saw. I initially held back from seeing this film because a friend told me it was “just okay.” This film was far from “just okay.” Despite the sickening circumstances Solomon faced, he maintained hope that he would regain his freedom and would see his family again. The film was incredibly inspirational on that front. However, the film graphically depicted the horrors of slavery in this country’s history and I often found myself having to avert my eyes from the screen because I just couldn’t watch. The performances were all fantastic, especially Lupita Nyong’o’s performance as Patsey, a woman who is brutally abused by a plantation master, played by Michael Fassbender. She’s nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. I frankly don’t know how actors are able to play such disturbing roles without permanent damage to their psyches. I imagine they must be in therapy during filming to stay sane. The pure evil depicted by Fassbender especially made me wonder how the actors can play these roles. I am finally a Benedict Cumberbatch fan after seeing his performance in this film as a “nice” plantation master (as nice as someone who calls human beings property can be). This ensemble cast was all excellent, though I had to laugh a little at producer Brad Pitt’s self-indulgent role. See the film…you’ll know what I mean. This film was all I expected a Best Picture winner to be…an epic story that moved me to tears, portrayed by stellar actors. It’s the movie I think will take home the gold statue this year.
While I think 12 Years A Slave should win Best Picture this year, it’s not my favorite film of the year, or even my second favorite, for that matter. There were two movies that were completely snubbed this award season and I can’t fathom why that’s the case. Mud is hands down my favorite film of the year. It’s the story of a man named Mud evading the law by hiding out on a huge sandbar in the Mississippi, waiting for his true love. He’s discovered by two boys who proceed to help him restore a boat that Mud will use to escape with. Mud and the boys learn a lot about life and love from each other in this film that stars none other than man of the year, Matthew McConaughey. You’ll also love Tye Sheridan’s performance as Ellis, one of the boys helping Mud – great work coming from a kid. This coming of age movie was so good. If you haven’t seen it yet, put it at the top of your to-see list. The other film snubbed this awards season was Fruitvale Station. It stars Michael B. Jordan as Oscar Grant, III, a man who was killed by BART police on New Year’s Eve in 2008. The entire film takes place over the course of a single day in Oscar’s life leading to his death. Oscar is expertly played by Jordan and I don’t understand why he wasn’t nominated for Best Actor for the role. This movie going experience was unlike any other I’ve ever had. I’ve never experienced collective sobbing (not just crying, but audible, wind-sucking, sniveling physical crying) with a few hundred people, but that’s what happened for the last thirty minutes of the movie. That’s how real and raw the film was. The film was especially resonant with current events, as it premiered just two weeks after the Trayvon Martin verdict, further raising awareness of the problems we face with race and justice in this country. If you haven’t seen these two films, please do.
Enjoy The Oscars! Watch them live on March 2nd at 7PM/ET on ABC, hosted by the wonderful Ellen DeGeneres.
