Top 10 Films of 2013

GAME OVER. Here is my list of top 10 films of 2013 along with 20 honorable mentions just like the previous year. I watched a loooot of films in 2013 and making a list like this proved to be a hectic yet entertaining task. Not really a task because I love the cinema. Anyway, below are my top 10 films with a little description and their respective IMDb links in the titles followed by the honorable mentions.

1. Her

2. Gravity

3. The Act of Killing

4. 12 Years a Slave

5. The Wolf of Wall Street

6. Before Midnight

7. Inside Llewyn Davis

8. Blue Is the Warmest Color

9. Short Term 12

10. Rush

Honorable Mentions [in no particular order]:

• The Wind Rises


• The Great Beauty


• The Spectacular Now


• Nebraska


• Wadjda


• The Hunt


• Prisoners


• Captain Phillips


• Stories We Tell


• Pacific Rim


• Fruitvale Station


• Frances Ha


• Frozen


• Man of Steel


• A Band Called Death


• The Conjuring


• Mud


• Much Ado About Nothing


• Dallas Buyers Club


• The World's End

66th Annual Directors Guild Awards

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) announced their 66th annual Guild Awards winners on January 25th, 2014 with giving away the top prize to Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity. This was predictable like anything as Cuaron has been most of the awards for his exceptional direction in Gravity and it is highly likely that he'll win the Oscar as well. The documentary category is messed up as compared to last year when Searching for Sugar Man won everything including the Oscar. This year, no one knows who'd be taking the Oscar home by I'd still bet on the Act of Killing. It deserves to win. Moreover, it deserves to be watched by the whole world. It's a haunting piece of work, one of the most terrifying documentaries I've ever seen.

Here is the complete list of wins:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:

ALFONSO CUARÓN
Gravity
(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Cuarón’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: David Siegel (Arizona Unit)
First Assistant Directors: Josh Robertson, Stephen Hagen (Arizona Unit)
Second Assistant Director: Ben Howard
This is Cuarón’s first DGA Award.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary:

JEHANE NOUJAIM
The Square
Netflix, Participant Media, Noujaim Films, Maktube Productions, Worldview Entertainment, Roast Beef Productions
This is Noujaim’s second DGA Award and third nomination. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for Startup.com in 2001 (together with Chris Hegedus) and was also nominated in this category in 2004 for Control Room.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series:

STEVEN SODERBERGH
Behind the Candelabra
(HBO)

Soderbergh’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Michael Polaire
First Assistant Director: Gregory Jacobs
Second Assistant Director: Jody Spilkoman
Second Second Assistant Director: Lynn Struiksma
This is Soderbergh’s first DGA Award and third nomination. He was previously nominated in 2000 for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for both Erin Brockovich and Traffic. He is also the recipient of this year’s Robert B. Aldrich Service Award for extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series:

VINCE GILLIGAN
Breaking Bad, “Felina”
(AMC)

Gilligan’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Stewart A. Lyons
Assistant Unit Production Manager: James Paul Hapsas
First Assistant Director: Nina Jack
Second Assistant Directors: Anna Ramey, Louis Lanni
Second Second Assistant Director: Joann Connolly
Additional Second Assistant Director: Marcia Woske
This is Gilligan’s first DGA Award and second nomination. He was previously nominated in the Dramatic Series category for the “Face Off” episode of Breaking Bad in 2011.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series:

BETH McCARTHY-MILLER
30 Rock, “Hogcock!/Last Lunch”
(NBC)

McCarthy-Miller’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Diana Schmidt
First Assistant Director: Stephen Lee Davis
Second Assistant Director: Vanessa Hoffman
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Bill Sell
Location Manager: Suk Yi Mar
This is McCarthy-Miller’s third DGA Award and tenth nomination. She was also nominated this year, together with Rob Ashford, in the Movies for Television and Mini-Series category for The Sound of Music Live! She was previously nominated in the Comedy Series category for 30 Rock episodes “Live from Studio 6H” in 2012, “Live Show” in 2010, “The Reunion Episode #304” in 2008 and “Somebody to Love” in 2007. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety twice, in 2001 for America: A Tribute to Heroes (co-directed with Joel Gallen) and in 2000 for the “Val Kilmer/U2” episode of Saturday Night Live. She was also twice nominated in that category for Saturday Night Live episodes “Christopher Walken & The Foo Fighters” in 2003 and the 25th Anniversary episode in 1999.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Series:

DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live, “Saturday Night Live with Host Justin Timberlake”
(NBC)

King’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Matt Yonks, Bob Caminiti
Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly
This is King’s first DGA Award and seventh nomination. He was previously nominated for Saturday Night Live episodes in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials:

GLENN WEISS
The 67th Annual Tony Awards
(CBS)

Weiss’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Robin Abrams, Stefani Cohen, Ricky Kirshner
Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Lynn Finkel, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Arthur Lewis, Jeffrey M. Markowitz, Joey Meade, Seth Mellman, Tony Mirante, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Elise Reaves, Lauren Class Schneider
This is Weiss’s fifth DGA Award and tenth nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012 for the 61st, 64th, 65th and 66th Annual Tony Awards. He was previously nominated in the same category in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008 for the 55th, 56th, 59th, 60th, and 62nd Annual Tony Awards.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs: 

NEIL P. DeGROOT
72 Hours, “The Lost Coast”
(TNT)

This is Mr. DeGroot’s second DGA Award. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs in 2011 for “Episode 1115” of The Biggest Loser.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs:

AMY SCHATZ
An Apology to Elephants
(HBO)

This is Schatz’s fifth DGA Award and eighth nomination. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs four times for A Child’s Garden of Poetry in 2011, Classical Baby (I'm Grown Up Now) “The Poetry Show” in 2008, 'Twas the Night in 2001 and Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepy Time Tales in 1999. She was also nominated an additional three times in this category for Don’t Divorce Me! Kids’ Rules for Parents on Divorce in 2012, Hard Times for an American Girl: The Great Depression in 2009 and Through a Child's Eyes: September 11, 2001 in 2002.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials:

MARTIN de THURAH
Epoch Films

The Man Who Couldn't Slow Down, Hennessy VS – Droga5
First Assistant Director: Shawn Thomas

Human Race, Acura MDX 2014 – Mullen
First Assistant Director: Jey Wada
Second Assistant Director: Dillon Neaman
Second Second Assistant Director: Erin Stern
This is de Thurah’s first DGA Award.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Special Awards:

In a surprise announcement, DGA President Paris Barclay called former National Vice President Steven Soderbergh to the stage to accept the Robert B. Aldrich Award in honor of Soderbergh’s extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership. Joined by former DGA President/current Secretary-Treasurer Michael Apted and former DGA President Taylor Hackford, Barclay thanked Soderbergh for his devotion to the Guild, especially his work to protect and extend the creative rights of directors. Soderbergh, who was first elected to the National Board in 2001, served for nine years as National Vice President before stepping down last June. Soderbergh was also a founding member of the Guild’s Independent Directors Committee, a chair of the Eastern Directors Council, a member of the Western Directors Council, and he chaired DGA Honors three times. Soderbergh currently serves on the PAC Leadership Council and the DGA Foundation, and he is co-chair of the Guild’s Theatrical Creative Rights Committee, a position he has held since 2002.

The recipients of the Directors Guild of America Service and Achievement Awards for 2014 are:

• STEVEN SODERBERGH - Robert B. Aldrich Service Award (given in in recognition of extraordinary service to the Directors Guild of America and to its membership)


• SHONDA RHIMES & BETSY BEERS - DGA Diversity Award (given in recognition of commitment to diversity hiring and providing jobs and opportunities to women and minorities in DGA-covered categories)


• LEE BLAINE - Frank Capra Achievement Award (given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of their career and service to the industry and the DGA)


• VINCENT DeDARIO - Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award (given to an Associate Director or Stage Manager in recognition of their service to the industry and DGA)

5th Annual Dorian Awards

The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA) announced the 5th Dorian awards on January 21st, 2014 with giving away the Film of the Year award to 12 Years a Slave, directed and co-produced by Steve McQueen. 

Here is the complete list of winners:

FILM

Film of the Year: 12 Years a Slave

Film Performance of the Year - Actor: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

Film Performance of the Year - Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

LGBT Film of the Year: Blue Is the Warmest Color

Foreign Language Film of the Year: Blue Is the Warmest Color

Documentary of the Year: Bridegroom

Campy Flick of the Year: I'm So Excited!

Unsung Film of the Year (tie): Short Term 12 and Kill Your Darlings

Visually Striking Film of the Year: Gravity

TELEVISION

TV Drama of the Year (tie): Behind the Candelabra and Orange Is the New Black

TV Comedy of the Year: Girls

TV Performance of the Year - Actor: Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra

TV Performance of the Year - Actress: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven

TV Musical Performance of the Year: Shirley Bassey, “Goldfinger,” 82nd Academy Awards

LGBT TV Show of the Year: Orange Is the New Black

Campy TV Show of the Year: American Horror Story: Coven

Unsung TV Show of the Year: Getting On

The “We're Wilde About You” Rising Star Award: Laverne Cox

Wilde Wit of the Year: Rachel Maddow

Wilde Artist of the Year: James Franco

Timeless Award (to an actor or performer whose exemplary career is marked by character, wisdom and wit): Lily Tomlin

25th Annual Producers Guild Awards

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced their winners on January 19th, 2014 with the best thing, i.e. Gravity and 12 years a Slave both winning the top prize. It's really amazing to see that and I couldn't stop jumping for joy when I saw the PGA results. Now, the interesting thing is that a few days ago American Hustle won the Screen Actors Guild but the PGA went to Gravity and 12 Years a Slave. So, it's safe to say that 12 Years a Slave is still the frontrunner for the Best Picture Oscar. Let's see what happens!

Here is the complete list of winners alnog with nominations:

The theatrical motion picture winners and nominees are:

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures (TIE):

• American Hustle (Columbia Pictures); Producers: Megan Ellison, Jon Gordon, Charles Roven, Richard Suckle


• Blue Jasmine (Sony Pictures Classics); Producers: Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum


• Captain Phillips (Columbia Pictures); Producers: Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, Scott Rudin


• Dallas Buyers Club (Focus Features); Producers: Robbie Brenner, Rachel Winter


• WINNER: Gravity (Warner Bros. Pictures); Producers: Alfonso Cuarón, David Heyman


• Her (Warner Bros. Pictures); Producers: Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze, Vincent Landay


• Nebraska (Paramount Pictures); Producers: Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa


• Saving Mr. Banks (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures); Producers: Ian Collie, Alison Owen, Philip Steuer


• WINNER: 12 Years a Slave (Fox Searchlight Pictures); Producers: Anthony Katagas, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen, Brad Pitt & Dede Gardner


• Wolf of Wall Street (Paramount Pictures); Producers: Riza Aziz, Emma Koskoff, Joey McFarland

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:

• The Croods (DreamWorks Animation); Producers: Kristine Belson, Jane Hartwell


• Despicable Me 2 (Universal Pictures); Producers: Janet Healy, Chris Meledandri


• Epic (Twentieth Century Fox); Producers: Jerry Davis, Lori Forte


• WINNER: Frozen (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures); Producer: Peter Del Vecho


• Monsters University (Pixar Animation); Producer: Kori Rae

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:

• A Place At The Table (Magnolia Pictures); Producers: Julie Goldman, Ryan Harrington, Kristi Jacobson, Lori Silverbush


• Far Out Isn’t Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story (First Run Features); Producers: Brad Bernstein, Rick Cikowski


• Life According To Sam (HBO Documentary Films); Producers: Andrea Nix Fine, Sean Fine, Miriam Weintraub


• WINNER: We Steal Secrets: The Story Of Wikileaks (Focus Features); Producers: Alexis Bloom, Alex Gibney, Marc Shmuger


• Which Way Is The Front Line From Here? The Life And Time Of Tim Hetherington (HBO Documentary Films); Producers: James Brabazon, Nick Quested

Stanley Kramer Award: Fruitvale Station

The television winners and nominees are:

The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television:

• American Horror Story: Asylum (FX); Producers: Brad Buecker, Dante Di Loreto, Brad Falchuk, Alexis Martin Woodall, Ryan Murphy, Chip Vucelich


• WINNER: Behind the Candelabra (HBO); Producers: Susan Ekins, Gregory Jacobs, Michael Polaire, Jerry Weintraub


• Killing Kennedy (National Geographic Channel); Producers: Mary Lisio, Larry Rapaport, Ridley Scott, Teri Weinberg, David W. Zucker


• Phil Spector (HBO); Producers: Michael Hausman, Barry Levinson


• Top of the Lake (Sundance Channel); Producers: Philippa Campbell, Jane Campion, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman

The Long-Form Television category encompasses both movies of the week and mini-series.

In late 2013, the Producers Guild of America announced the Documentary Theatrical Motion Picture, Television Series and Non-Fiction Television Nominations; the following list includes complete producer credits.

The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama:

• WINNER: Breaking Bad (AMC); Producers: Melissa Bernstein, Sam Catlin, Bryan Cranston, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Mark Johnson, Stewart Lyons, Michelle MacLaren, George Mastras, Diane Mercer, Thomas Schnauz, Moira Walley-Beckett


• Downton Abbey (ITV – United Kingdom; PBS – United States); Producers: Julian Fellowes, Nigel Marchant, Gareth Neame, Liz Trubridge


• Game of Thrones (HBO); Producers: David Benioff, Bernadette Caulfield, Frank Doelger, D.B. Weiss, Christopher Newman, Greg Spence, Carolyn Strauss


• Homeland (Showtime); Producers: Henry Bromell, Alexander Cary, Michael Cuesta, Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Chip Johannessen, Michael Klick, Meredith Stiehm


• House of Cards (Netflix); Producers: Joshua Donen, David Fincher, Karyn McCarthy, John Melfi, Eric Roth, Kevin Spacey, Beau Willimon

The Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy:

• 30 Rock (NBC); Producers: Jack Burditt, Robert Carlock, Luke Del Tredici , Tina Fey, Matt Hubbard , Marci Klein, Jerry Kupfer , Colleen McGuinness, Lorne Michaels, David Miner, Dylan Morgan , Jeff Richmond , Josh Siegal, Tracey Wigfield


• Arrested Development (Netflix); Producers: John Foy, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Mitchell Hurwitz, Dean Lorey, Troy Miller, Richard Rosenstock, Jim Vallely


• The Big Bang Theory (CBS); Producers: Bill Prady, Chucke Lorre, Steve Molaro, Faye Oshima Belyeu


• WINNER: Modern Family (ABC); Producers: Paul Corrigan, Abraham Higginbotham, Ben Karlin, Elaine Ko, Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd, Jeffrey Morton, Dan O’Shannon, Jeffrey Richman, Chris Smirnoff, Brad Walsh, Bill Wrubel, Danny Zuker


• VEEP (HBO); Producers: Simon Blackwell, Christopher Godsick, Armando Iannucci, Stephanie Laing, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Frank Rich, Tony Roche

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television:

• 30 for 30 (ESPN); Producers: Bill Simmons, John Dahl, Erin Leyden, Connor Schell


• WINNER: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (CNN); Producers: Anthony Bourdain, Christopher Collins, Lydia Tenaglia, Sandra Zweig


• Duck Dynasty (A&E Networks); Producers: Deirdre Gurney, Scott Gurney, Mike Odair, Hugh Peterson, Adam Saltzberg, Charlie Van Vleet


• Inside The Actors Studio (Bravo); Producers: James Lipton, Shawn Tesser, Jeff Wurtz


• Shark Tank (ABC); Producers: Mark Burnett, Becky Blitz, Bill Gaudsmith, Yun Lingner, Clay Newbill, Jim Roush, Laura Skowlund, Max Swedlow

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television:

• WINNER: The Colbert Report (Comedy Central); Producers: Meredith Bennett, Stephen T. Colbert, Richard Dahm, Paul Dinello, Barry Julien, Matt Lappin, Emily Lazar, Tanya Michnevich Bracco, Tom Purcell, Jon Stewart


• Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC); Producers: David Craig, Ken Crosby, Doug DeLuca, Gary Greenberg, Erin Irwin, Jimmy Kimmel, Jill Leiderman, Molly McNearney, Tony Romero, Jason Shrift, Jennifer Sharron, Josh Weintraub


• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC); Producers: Hillary Hunn, Lorne Michaels, Gavin Purcell, Michael Shoemaker


• Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO); Producers: Scott Carter, Sheila Griffiths, Marc Gurvitz, Dean Johnsen, Bill Maher, Billy Martin, Matt Wood


• Saturday Night Live (NBC); Producers: Ken Aymong, Erin Doyle, Steve Higgins, Erik Kenward, Lorne Michaels, Lindsay Shookus

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Competition Television:

• The Amazing Race, (CBS); Producers: Jerry Bruckheimer, Elise Doganieri, Jonathan Littman, Bertram van Munster, Mark Vertullo


• Dancing With The Stars, (ABC); Producers: Ashley Edens-Shaffer, Conrad Green, Joe Sungkur


• Project Runway, (Lifetime); Producers: Jane Cha Cutler, Desiree Gruber, Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, Jonathan Murray, Sara Rea, Colleen Sands


• Top Chef, (Bravo); Producers: Tom Colicchio, Daniel Cutforth, Casey Kriley, Jane Lipsitz, Erica Ross, Nan Strait, Andrew Wallace


• WINNER: The Voice, (NBC); Producers: Stijn Bakkers, Mark Burnett, John de Mol, Chad Hines, Lee Metzger, Audrey Morrissey, Jim Roush, Kyra Thompson, Nicolle Yaron, Mike Yurchuk, Amanda Zucker

The following programs were not vetted for producer eligibility this year, but winners in these categories will be announced at the official ceremony on January 19:

The Award for Outstanding Sports Program:

• 24/7 (HBO)


• Hard Knocks (HBO)


• Monday Night Football (ESPN)


• Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel (HBO)


• WINNER: SportsCenter (ESPN)

The Award for Outstanding Children’s Program:

• Dora the Explorer (Nickelodeon)


• iCarly (Nickelodeon)


• Phineas and Ferb (Disney Channel)


• WINNER: Sesame Street (PBS)


• SpongeBob Squarepants (Nickelodeon)

The Award for Outstanding Digital Series:

• Burning Love (http://screen.yahoo.com/burning-love/)


• Epic Rap Battles of History (www.epicrapbattlesofhistory.com)


• The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, (www.youtube.com/lizziebennet)


• Video Game High School (http://www.rocketjump.com/category/vghs)


• WINNER: Wired: What’s Inside (http://video.wired.com/series/what-s-inside)

20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) announced the winners of 20th annual Screen Actors Guild awards on January 18th, 2014 with giving away the top prize to AMERICAN HUSTLE co-written and directed by David O. Russell. This is as surprising as one could imagine because with 12 YEARS A SLAVE recently winning the Golden Globe for Best Picture and a shitload of critics awards, everyone was sure that the SAG award would also go to 12 YEARS A SLAVE. But, as AMERICAN HUSTLE also won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) and it has such fine performances by great actors, then it's kinda justified but it doesn't increase its chance of winning the Oscar. Not yet. Let's see who wins the Producers Guild Award because it would make things clear.

Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto keep winning the awards wherever they go. They both won Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively. Plus, Leto has been a critic favorite throughout this season and it's so nice to see him winning because he really gave excellent performance in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB.

BREAKING BAD won the top prize for TV category and Bryan Cranston won the Best Actor prize and he said, "what a way to go," while accepting the awards. Really. What a way to go!

Last year, 4 top prize winners won the Oscars, i.e. Outstanding Performance by Cast, Male Actor, Female Actor and Female Actor in a Supporting Role. Let's see if the same happens this year.

Here is the complete list of winners:

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: AMERICAN HUSTLE

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Matthew McConaughey, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Cate Blanchett, BLUE JASMINE

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Jared Leto, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Lupita Nyong'o, 12 YEARS A SLAVE

TELEVISION PROGRAMS

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: BREAKING BAD

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: MODERN FAMILY

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: Michael Douglas, BEHIND THE CANDELABRA

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: Helen Mirren, PHIL SPECTOR

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, BREAKING BAD

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Maggie Smith, DOWNTON ABBEY

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Ty Burrell, MODERN FAMILY

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, VEEP

SAG AWARDS® HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture: LONE SURVIVOR

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series: GAME OF THRONES

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Screen Actors Guild 50th Annual Life Achievement Award: RITA MORENO

19th Annual Critics' Choice Awards

The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) announced the winners of 19th Critics’ Choice Awards on January 16th, 2013 with giving away the top prize to to 12 Years a Slave, directed and co-produced by Steve McQueen whereas Best Director award went to Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity. Gravity was the biggest winner of the night with winning 7 awards in total, followed by American Hustle which won 4 awards and 12 Years a Slave which won 3 awards.

This is getting much clearer now that the same pattern would be seen at the Oscars, i.e. Best Picture would be won by 12 Years a Slave whereas Alfonso Cuarón would win the Best Director award. But anything could happen and it can also be surprising like anything. Matthew McConaughey, Cate Blanchett and Jared Leto keep on winning the awards and it's highly likely that all of them will win the Oscars on March 2nd.

Last year, 10 BFCA winners won the Oscars (you can view the previous year's winners here: 18th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards) and it's probably going to same the similar number this year. Well, hopefully.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Picture – “12 Years a Slave”

Best Director – Alfonso Cuarón, “Gravity”

Best Actor – Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Best Actress – Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”

Best Supporting Actor – Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Best Supporting Actress – Lupita Nyong'o, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Young Actor/Actress – Adele Exarchopoulos, “Blue Is The Warmest Color”

Best Acting Ensemble – “American Hustle”

Best Original Screenplay – Spike Jonze, “Her”

Best Adapted Screenplay – John Ridley, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Cinematography – Emmanuel Lubezki, “Gravity”

Best Art Direction – Catherine Martin (Production Designer), Beverley Dunn (Set Decorator), “The Great Gatsby”

Best Editing – Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger, “Gravity”

Best Costume Design – Catherine Martin, “The Great Gatsby”

Best Hair & Makeup – “American Hustle”

Best Visual Effects – “Gravity”

Best Animated Feature – “Frozen”

Best Action Movie – “Lone Survivor”

Best Actor in an Action Movie – Mark Wahlberg, “Lone Survivor”

Best Actress in an Action Movie – Sandra Bullock, “Gravity”

Best Comedy – “American Hustle”

Best Actor in a Comedy – Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street”

Best Actress in a Comedy – Amy Adams, “American Hustle”

Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie – “Gravity”

Best Foreign Language Film – “Blue Is the Warmest Color”

Best Documentary Feature – “20 Feet From Stardom”

Best Song – “Let It Go” Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, “Frozen”

Best Score – Steven Price, “Gravity”

5th Annual Denver Film Critics Society Awards

The Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) announced their awards on January 13th, 2014 with giving away the Best Picture award to Gravity, co-written, directed and co-produced by Alfonso Cuarón who also won the Best Director award.

Last year,  6 DFCS winners won the Oscars, i.e. Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Song and Best Foreign Language Film. Let's see how it goes this year.

Best Picture:

• American Hustle


• Captain Phillips


• WINNER: Gravity


• 12 Years a Slave


• The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Director:

• WINNER: Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity”


• Paul Greengrass, “Captain Phillips”


• Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave”


• David O. Russell, “American Hustle”


• Martin Scorsese, “The Wolf of Wall Street”

Best Actor:

• WINNER: Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”


• Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”


• Tom Hanks, “Captain Phillips”


• Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street”


• Christian Bale, “American Hustle”

Best Actress:

• WINNER: Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”


• Sandra Bullock, “Gravity”


• Brie Larson, “Short Term 12“


• Emma Thompson, “Saving Mr. Banks”


• Amy Adams, “American Hustle”

Best Supporting Actor:

• James Franco, “Spring Breakers”


• Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave”


• Barkhad Abdi, “Captain Phillips”


• WINNER: Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”


• Woody Harrelson, “Out of the Furnace”

Best Supporting Actress:

• WINNER: Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”


• Octavia Spencer, “Fruitvale Station”


• June Squibb, “Nebraska”


• Oprah Winfrey, “Lee Daniels’ The Butler”


• Lupita Nyong'o, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Animated Film:

• WINNER: Frozen


• Despicable Me 2


• The Wind Rises


• Monsters University


• The Croods

Best Science Fiction/Horror Film:

• The Conjuring


• WINNER: Gravity


• Pacific Rim


• Star Trek into Darkness


• Man of Steel

Best Comedy:

• WINNER: This Is the End


• The World’s End


• Don Jon


• Much Ado About Nothing


• The Way, Way Back

Best Original Screenplay:

• WINNER: American Hustle


• Enough Said


• Inside Llewyn Davis


• Blue Jasmine


• Gravity

Best Adapted Screenplay:

• 12 Years a Slave


• WINNER: The Wolf of Wall Street


• Captain Phillips


• Philomena


• Before Midnight

Best Documentary:

• Blackfish


• WINNER: The Act of Killing


• 20 Feet from Stardom


• Cutie and the Boxer


• Stories We Tell

Best Original Song:

• WINNER: “Let It Go,” Frozen


• “Young & Beautiful,” The Great Gatsby


• “Ordinary Love,” Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom


• “Atlas,” The Hunger Games: Catching Fire


• “Please Mr. Kennedy,” Inside Llewyn Davis

Best Score:

• 12 Years a Slave, Hans Zimmer


• WINNER: Gravity, Steven Price


• Man of Steel, Hans Zimmer


• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Howard Shore


• Frozen, Christophe Beck

Best Foreign Language Film:

• The Great Beauty


• The Hunt


• WINNER: The Grandmaster


• Blue is the Warmest Color


• The Broken Circle Breakdown

71st Annual Golden Globe Awards

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association® (HFPA) announced the winners for 71st Golden Globes Awards on January 12th, 2014 with many surprises and shocks in many categories. The ceremony was hosted by Tina Fey and  Amy Poehler once again.

Nomination Snubs:

• No Martin Scorsese in Best Director nomination.


• PRISONERS didn't get a single nomination. (no love for Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman's powerful performances)


• Best Screenplay race is kinda stupid. Meh.


• Completely ignored films: Fruitvale Station, Short Term 12, Mud, the Butler, the Secret Life of Walter Mitty (when will they realize that Ben Stiller can do something good, too. This film is included on so many well known critics' top ten lists).


• ONLY 3 nominees in the Animated Feature category even though so many animated films were released this year.


• No nomination for Claire Danes for her amazing performance in HOMELAND.


• Not a single nomination for NBC's serial killer, psychological horror drama HANNIBAL. (completely unfair!)


• Where is MAD MEN?! Not even an acting nomination for Jon Hamm. Dammit!


• Idris Elba?!?! This is a good kind of shock. I didn't know he'd be nominated since he hasn't won a single critic award for his role as Nelson Mandela yet.


• Anna Gunn not getting nominated in Best Supporting Actress category for her performance in BREAKING BAD. Just like Jeff Daniels, who won an Emmy award for Best Actor earlier this year.


• Lana Del Rey not getting nominated in the Best Original Song category. WHAT!


• BOARDWALK EMPIRE completely left out and I'm not even going to talk about JUSTIFIED. I'm used to not seeing its name in awards now.


• GIRLS shouldn't have been nominated for Best TV Series, Comedy or Musical. Its second season did everything except making me laugh.


• 
  

  NO LOVE FOR GAME OF THRONES!!!

  
  

Completely Shut Out:

• Nebraska - It had FIVE nominations, including the Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical.


• Captain Phillips - FOUR nominations, including Best Motion Picture, Drama.


• Inside Llewyn Davis - THREE nominations, including Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical.


• Philomena - THREE nominations, including Best Motion Picture, Drama.


• Rush - TWO nominations, including Best Motion Picture, Drama.

12 Years a Slave was leading with SEVEN nominations and only ended up winning the Best Motion Picture, Drama. Best Director went to Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity. It's highly likely that the similar scenario would be seen at the Oscars in March. The most surprising wins of the night were Andy Samberg winning Best Actor in a TV series, Comedy or Musical for Brooklyn Nine-Nine and the show winning the Best TV series, Comedy or Musical. I personally think that the Big Bang Theory should've won this award. It's been going so great this season. Modern Family has't been that good this year, so I wouldn't want it to win anything yet.

Best Wins:

• Alfonso Cuarón winning the Best Director for Gravity.


• Matthew McConaughey winning the Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama for Dallas Buyers Club.


• Leonardo DiCaprio winning the Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical for the Wolf of Wall Street.


• Jared Leto winning the Best Supporting Actor for Dallas Buyers Club.


• Jennifer Lawrence winning the Best Supporting Actress for American Hustle.


• Spike Jonze winning the Best Screenplay for Her.


• The Great Beauty winning the Best Foreign Language Film.


• Breaking Bad winning the Best Drama Series.


• Bryan Cranston winning the Best Actor in a TV series, Drama.

"Meh" Wins:

• Alex Ebert winning the Best Original Score for All Is Lost.


• Bono and the Edge winning the Best Original Song for Ordinary Love from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (should've went to Frozen's Let It Go)


• Jacqueline Bisset winning the Best Supporting Role in a TV series, Mini-Series or a TV Movie.

Sad That They Didn't Win:

• Gravity, for Best Motion Picture, Drama.


• Her, for Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical.


• Steven Price for Gravity or Hans Zimmer for 12 Years a Slave in Best Original Score category.


• Tatiana Maslany for Orphan Black or Kerry Washington for Scandal in Best Actress in a TV series, Drama category.


• The Big Bang Theory, for Best TV series, Comedy or Musical.


• Jim Parsons, for Best Actor in a TV series, Comedy or Musical.


• Aaron Paul, for Best Supporting Actor in a TV series.

...But that's what makes these award ceremonies exciting; the snubs, the surprises, the shocks, the profanities, the awkward things, the winning moments and last but not the least, seeing your favorite stars win.

Here is the complete list of winners along with nominations:

Cecile B. DeMille Award: Woody Allen

FILM

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA:

• WINNER: 12 YEARS A SLAVE - Plan B Entertainment, New Regency Productions and River Road Entertainment; Fox Searchlight Pictures


• CAPTAIN PHILLIPS - Columbia Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing


• GRAVITY - Warner Bros. Pictures / Esperanto Filmoj / Heyday Films; Warner Bros. Pictures


• PHILOMENA - Pathe, BBC Films, BFI, Canal+, Cine+, Baby Cow/Magnolia Mae; The Weinstein Company


• RUSH - Universal Pictures, Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media, Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Revolution Films; Universal Pictures

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL:

• WINNER: AMERICAN HUSTLE - Columbia Pictures and Annapurna Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing


• HER - Warner Bros. Pictures / Annapurna Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures


• INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS - Mike Zoss Productions, Scott Rudin Productions, Studio Canal; CBS Films


• NEBRASKA - Paramount Vantage; Paramount Pictures


• THE WOLF OF WALL STREET - Paramount Pictures and Red Granite Pictures; Paramount Pictures

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE:

• WINNER: Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity


• Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips


• Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave


• Alexander Payne, Nebraska


• David O. Russell, American Hustle

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA:

• WINNER: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine


• Sandra Bullock, Gravity


• Judi Dench, Philomena


• Emma Thompson, Saving Mr Banks


• Kate Winslet, Labor Day

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA:

• Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years A Slave


• Idris Elba, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom


• Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips


• WINNER: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club


• Robert Redford, All Is Lost

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL:

• WINNER: Amy Adams, American Hustle


• Julie Delpy, Before Midnight


• Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha


• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Enough Said


• Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL:

• Christian Bale, American Hustle


• Bruce Dern, Nebraska


• WINNER: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf Of Wall Street


• Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis


• Joaquin Phoenix, Her

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE:

• Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine


• WINNER: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle


• Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave


• Julia Roberts, August: Osage County


• June Squibb, Nebraska

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE:

• Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips


• Daniel Brühl, Rush


• Bradley Cooper, American Hustle


• Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave


• WINNER: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE:

• WINNER: Spike Jonze, Her


• Bob Nelson, Nebraska


• Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, Philomena


• John Ridley, 12 Years A Slave


• David O. Russell and Eric Singer, American Hustle

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:

• THE CROODS - DreamWorks Animation LLC; Twentieth Century Fox


• DESPICABLE ME 2 - Universal Pictures, A Chris Meledandri Production; Universal Pictures


• WINNER: FROZEN - Walt Disney Animation Studios; Walt Disney Pictures

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:

• BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR (France) - Quat’sous Films; IFC Films


• WINNER: THE GREAT BEAUTY (Italy) - Indigo Film, Medusa Film, BABE Films; Janus Films


• THE HUNT (Denmark) - Zentropa Entertainment; Magnolia Pictures


• THE PAST (Iran) - Memento Films Production, France 3 Cinema, BIM Distribuzione; Sony Pictures Classics


• THE WIND RISES (Japan) - Studio Ghibli; Touchstone Pictures

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE:

• WINNER: Alex Ebert, All Is Lost


• Alex Heffes, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom


• John Williams, The Book Thief


• Steven Price, Gravity


• Hans Zimmer, 12 Years A Slave

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE:

• Atlas, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire -  Music and lyrics by: Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion


• Let It Go, Frozen - Music and lyrics by: Kristen Anderson Lopez, Robert Lopez


• WINNER: Ordinary Love, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom - Music by: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Jr., Brian Burton; Lyrics by: Bono


• Please Mr Kennedy, Inside Llewyn Davis - Music and lyrics by: Ed Rush, George Cromarty, T Bone Burnett, Justin Timberlake, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen


• Sweeter Than Fiction, One Chance - Music and lyrics by: Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff

TELEVISION

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA:

• WINNER: BREAKING BAD - AMC, Sony Pictures Television


• DOWNTON ABBEY - PBS, Carnival Films


• THE GOOD WIFE - CBS, CBS Television Studios in Association with Scott Free Productions and King Size Productions


• HOUSE OF CARDS - Netflix, Donen/Fincher/Roth and Trigger Street Productions, Inc. in association with Media Rights Capital for Netflix


• MASTERS OF SEX - Showtime, Showtime, Sony Pictures Television, Round Two Productions, Timberman/Beverly Productions

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA:

• Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife


• Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black


• Taylor Schilling, Orange Is The New Black


• Kerry Washington, Scandal


• WINNER: Robin Wright, House Of Cards

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA:

• WINNER: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad


• Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan


• Michael Sheen, Masters Of Sex


• Kevin Spacey, House Of Cards


• James Spader, The Blacklist

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL:

• THE BIG BANG THEORY - CBS, Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television


• WINNER: BROOKLYN NINE-NINE - Fox, Universal Television


• GIRLS - HBO, HBO Entertainment in association with Apatow Productions and I am Jenni Konner Productions


• MODERN FAMILY - ABC, Twentieth Century Fox Television


• PARKS & RECREATION - NBC, Universal Television

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL:

• Zooey Deschanel, New Girl


• Lena Dunham, Girls


• Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie


• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep


• WINNER: Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

• Jason Bateman, Arrested Development


• Don Cheadle, House of Lies


• Michael J. Fox, The Michael J. Fox Show


• Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory


• WINNER: Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:

• AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN - FX Networks, Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television


• WINNER: BEHIND THE CANDELABRA - HBO, HBO Films in association with Jerry Weintraub Productions


• DANCING ON THE EDGE - Starz, Starz Entertainment


• TOP OF THE LAKE - Sundance Channel, See-Saw Films


• THE WHITE QUEEN - Starz, Starz Entertainment

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:

• Helena Bonham Carter, Burton & Taylor


• Rebecca Ferguson, The White Queen


• Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven


• Helen Mirren, Phil Spector


• WINNER: Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:

• Matt Damon, Behind the Candelabra


• WINNER: Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra


• Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge


• Idris Elba, Luther


• Al Pacino, Phil Spector

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:

• WINNER: Jacqueline Bisset, Dancing on the Edge


• Janet McTeer, The White Queen


• Hayden Panettiere , Nashville


• Monica Potter, Parenthood


• Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:

• Josh Charles, The Good Wife


• Rob Lowe, Behind the Candelabra


• Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad


• Corey Stoll, House of Cards


• WINNER: Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

3rd Annual Georgia Film Critics Association Awards

The Georgia Film Critics Association (GFCA) announced their awards on January 11th, 2014 with giving away the Best Picture award to Her, written, directed and co-produced by Spike Jonze whereas the Best Director award went to Alfonso Cuarón for his wonderful direction in space drama Gravity. Some notable wins include Short Term 12 winning the Best Adapted Screenplay and No winning the Best Foreign Language Film.

Last year, 5 GFCA winners won the Oscars, i.e. Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Foreign Film, Best Animated Film and Best Original Song. Let's see how it goes this year.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave

Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Best Supporting Actor: Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave

Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave

Best Adapted Screenplay: Short Term 12

Best Original Screenplay: Her

Best Cinematography: Gravity

Best Production Design: Gravity

Best Original Score: Her

Best Original Song: Please Mr. Kennedy, Inside Llewyn Davis

Best Ensemble: American Hustle

Breakthrough Award: Brie Larson ("Don Jon," "Short Term 12," "The Spectacular Now")

Best Foreign Film: No

Best Animated Film: Frozen

Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

Oglethorpe Award for Excellence in Georgia Cinema: The Spectacular Now - James Ponsoldt, Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber

11th Annual Iowa Film Critics Association Awards

The Iowa Film Critics Association (IFCA) announced their awards on January 10th, 2014 with giving away the Best Picture award to none other than 12 Years a Slave, directed and co-produced by Steve McQueen who also won the Best Director award. The rest of the wins were traditional.

Last year, only 3 IFCA winners won the Oscar, i.e. Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Animated Film. Let's see what happens this year.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave

Best Director: Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave

Best Documentary: 20 Feet from Stardom

Best Animated Film: Frozen

14th Annual Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards

The Vancouver Film Critics Circle (VFCC) announced their awards on January 8th, 2014 with giving away the Best Film award to Steve McQueen‘s 12 Years a Slave. Best Director award went to Alfonso Cuarón for his exceptional work in Gravity.

Last year, only 1 VFCC winner won the Oscar, i.e. Best Documentary for Searching for Sugar Man. Let's see how it goes this year.

INTERNATIONAL AWARS

BEST FILM: 12 Years a Slave

BEST DIRECTOR: Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity

BEST ACTOR: Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis

BEST ACTRESS: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle

BEST SCREENPLAY: Joel and Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis

BEST FOREIGN FILM: The Hunt

BEST DOCUMENTARY: The Act of Killing

CANADIAN AWARDS

BEST CANADIAN FILM The Dirties

BEST ACTOR IN A CANADIAN FILM: Matt Johnson, The Dirties

BEST ACTRESS IN A CANADIAN FILM: Sophie Desmarais, Sarah Prefers to Run

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A CANADIAN FILM: Alexandre Landry, Gabrielle

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A CANADIAN FILM: Lise Roy, Tom at the Farm

BEST DIRECTOR OF A CANADIAN FILM: Jeff Barnaby, Rhymes for Young Ghouls

BEST CANADIAN DOCUMENTARY: My Prairie Home

BEST FIRST FILM BY A CANADIAN DIRECTOR: The Dirties

BEST BRITISH COLUMBIA FILM: Down River

IAN CADDELL AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT: Al Sens

AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT: Corinne Lea

8th Annual Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Awards

The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) announced their awards on January 6th, 2014 with giving away the Best Picture award to Her, written, directed and co-produced by Spike Jonze, whereas the Best Director award went to Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity.

Last year, 6 OFCC winners won the Oscars, i.e. Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Documentary and Best Foreign Language Film. Let's see what happens this year.

Best Picture: "Her"

Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, "Gravity"

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave"

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine"

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, "Dallas Buyers Club"

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle"

Best Original Screenplay: "Her"

Best Adapted Screenplay: "12 Years a Slave"

Best Foreign Language Film: "The Hunt"

Best Documentary: "The Act of Killing"

Best Animated Film: "Frozen"

Best Debut Feature: Ryan Coogler, "Fruitvale Station"

Body of Work Award: Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club," "Mud" and "The Wolf of Wall Street"

Best Guilty Pleasure: "Iron Man 3"

Not-So-Obviously Worst Film: "August: Osage County"

Obviously Worst Film: "Grown Ups 2"

10 Best Films

1. Her


2. American Hustle


3. 12 Years a Slave


4. Gravity


5. Inside Llewyn Davis


6. Captain Phillips


7. The Wolf of Wall Street


8. All is Lost


9. Dallas Buyers Club


10. Prisoners

8th Annual Excellent Dynamic Activism Awards

The Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) announced its 8th Excellent Dynamic Activism (EDA) awards with giving away the Best Film award to 12 Years a Slave, directed and co-produced by Steve McQueen who also won the Best Director award.

Last year, only 6 EDA winners won the Oscars, i.e. Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Documentary and Best Cinematography award.

AWFJ EDA ‘BEST OF’ AWARDS

Best Film: 12 Years a Slave

Best Director (Female or Male): Steve McQueen - 12 Years a Slave

Best Screenplay, Original: Her – Spike Jonze

Best Screenplay, Adapted: John Ridley - 12 Years a Slave

Best Documentary: Stories We Tell – Sarah Polley

Best Animated Film: The Wind Rises - Hayao Miyazaki

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Lupita Nyong’o - 12 Years a Slave

Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyers Club

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Jared Leto - Dallas Buyers Club

Best Ensemble Cast: American Hustle

Best Editing: Gravity - Alfonso Cuaron and Mark Sanger

Best Cinematography: Gravity - Emmanuel Lubezki

Best Film Music Or Score: Inside Llewyn Davis – T-Bone Burnett

Best Non-English-Language Film: The Hunt – Thomas Vinterberg – Denmark

EDA FEMALE FOCUS AWARDS

Best Woman Director: Nicole Holofcener - Enough Said

Best Woman Screenwriter: Nicole Holofcener - Enough Said

Kick Ass Award For Best Female Action Star: Sandra Bullock – Gravity

Best Animated Female: Anna (Kristen Bell) in Frozen

Best Breakthrough Performance: Lupita Nyong’o - 12 Years A Slave

Actress Defying Age and Ageism: Sandra Bullock – Gravity

AWFJ EDA Female Icon Award (presented to an actress for the portrayal of the most positive female role model, or for a role in which she takes personal and/or career risks to plumb the female psyche and therefore gives us courage to plumb our own, and/or for putting forth the image of a woman who is heroic, accomplished, persistent, demands her rights and/or the rights of others.): Angelina Jolie for continued commitments to humanitarian causes, and for promoting awareness about breast cancer.

This Year’s Outstanding Achievement By A Woman In The Film Industry (presented only when warranted to a female who has had a banner-making, record-breaking, industry-changing achievement during any given year.): Haaifa Al-Mansour for challenging the limitations placed on women within her culture by making the film Wadjda.

EDA SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS

AWFJ Hall Of Shame Award: The Counselor – Ridley Scott

Actress Most in Need Of A New Agent: Cameron Diaz for The Counselor

Movie You Wanted To Love But Just Couldn’t Award: The Counselor

Unforgettable Moment Award: 12 Years A Slave – Solomon Northrup hanging

Best Depiction Of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction Award: Her - Scarlett Johansson and Joaquin Phoenix for their digital lovemaking.

Sequel or Remake That Shouldn’t Have Been Made Award (Tie): Carrie and Oz, Great and Powerful

Most Egregious Age Difference Between The Leading Man and The Love Interest Award: Last Vegas – Michael Douglas and Bre Blair

48th Annual National Society of Film Critics Awards

The National Society of Film Critics (NSFC) announced their awards on January 4th, 2014 with giving away the Best Picture award to Inside Llewyn Davis, directed and co-produced by Coen Brothers, who also won the Best Director award.

Last year, only ONE NSFC winner won the Oscar, i.e. Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis. Let's see how it goes this year.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Picture: Inside Llewyn Davis

Best Director: Coen Brothers

Best Actor: Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis)

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

Best Supporting Actor: James Franco (Spring Breakers)

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)

Best Screenplay: Richard Linklaterm Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy (Before Midnight)

Best Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel (Inside Llewyn Davis)

Best Non-Fiction Film: The Act of Killing

Best Foreign Language Film: Blue Is the Warmest Color

Film Heritage

1. To the Museum of Modern Art, for its wide-ranging retrospective of the films of Allan Dwan.


2. Too Much Johnson: the surviving reels from Orson Welles’s first professional film. Discovered by Cinemazero (Pordenone) and Cineteca del Friuli; funded by the National Film Preservation Foundation; and restored by the George Eastman House.


3. British Film Institute for restorations of Alfred Hitchcock's nine silent features.


4. To the DVD American Treasures from the New Zealand Film Archive.

12th Annual Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards

The Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA) announced their awards on January 2nd, 2014 with giving away the Best Film award to Gravity, co-written, directed and co-produced by Alfonso Cuarón who also won the Best Director award.

Last year, only 4 COFCA winners won the Oscars, i.e. Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. Let's see how it goes this year.

Here is the complete list of winners along with runners-up:

Best Film:

1. Gravity


2. Her


3. American Hustle


4. Frances Ha


5. The Wolf of Wall Street


6. 12 Years a Slave


7. Inside Llewyn Davis


8. Before Midnight


9. Upstream Color


10. Nebraska

Best Director:

• Alfonso Cuarón - (Gravity)


• Runner-Up: Spike Jonze - (Her)

Best Actor:

• Chiwetel Ejiofor - (12 Years a Slave)


• Runner-Up: Matthew McConaughey - (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Actress:

• Adèle Exarchopoulos - (Blue is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adèle))


• Runner-Up: Brie Larson - (Short Term 12)

Best Supporting Actor:

• James Franco - (Spring Breakers)


• Runner-Up: Jared Leto - (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Supporting Actress:

• Jennifer Lawrence - (American Hustle)


• Runner-Up: Lupita Nyong’o - (12 Years a Slave)

Best Ensemble:

• American Hustle


• Runner-Up: The Wolf of Wall Street

Actor of the Year (for an exemplary body of work):

• Matthew McConaughey - (Dallas Buyers Club, Mud, and The Wolf of Wall Street)


• Runner-Up: Jennifer Lawrence - (American Hustle and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)

Breakthrough Film Artist:

• Adèle Exarchopoulos - (Blue is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adèle)) - (for acting)


• Runner-Up: Brie Larson - (Don Jon, Short Term 12, and The Spectacular Now) - (for acting)

Best Cinematography:

• Emmanuel Lubezki - (Gravity)


• Runner-Up: Hoyte Van Hoytema - (Her)

Best Adapted Screenplay:

• Terence Winter - (The Wolf of Wall Street)


• Runner-Up: John Ridley - (12 Years a Slave)

Best Original Screenplay:

• Spike Jonze - (Her)


• Runner-Up: Destin Daniel Cretton - (Short Term 12)

Best Score:

• Arcade Fire - (Her)


• Runner-Up: Steven Price - (Gravity)

Best Documentary:

• The Act of Killing


• Runner-Up: Stories We Tell

Best Foreign Language Film:

• The Wind Rises (Kaze tachinu)


• Runner-Up: Blue is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adèle)

Best Animated Film:

• The Wind Rises (Kaze tachinu)


• Runner-Up: Frozen

Best Overlooked Film:

• Short Term 12


• Runner-Up: Mud

9th Annual North Texas Film Critics Association Awards

The North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) announced their awards with giving away the Best Picture award to Gravity,  co-written, directed and co-produced by Alfonso Cuarón who also won the Best Director award.

Last year, only 4 NTFCA winners won the Oscars, i.e. Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Cinematography. Let's see how it goes this year.

BEST PICTURE: Gravity

BEST DIRECTOR: Alfonso Cuarón/Gravity

BEST ACTOR: Chiwetel Ejiofer/12 Years a Slave

BEST ACTRESS: Sandra Bullock/Gravity

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Jared Leto/Dallas Buyers Club

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Jennifer Lawrence/American Hustle

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Emmanuel Lubezki/Gravity

BEST ANIMATED: Frozen

BEST DOCUMENTARY: 20 Feet From Stardom

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM (TIE): The Grandmaster and Blue is the Warmest Color