Noms are Futile Devices

Ah, the annual pilgrimmage back to these dusty plains, lighting candles for deserving fare while lamenting the large pile of as-yet-unseens. It was a good year for cinematic output for a change, and I'm looking forward to the catch-up for once. But there is one title that stands alone, billowing above the rest, and is unlikely to be challenged by anything else I see in the near future, as it's the best thing I've seen in years and years and will remain so for many more. Raising an overflowing glass of apricot juice to its much, much-deserved recognition in a few hours' time.

Best Picture

THE BIG SICK

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

 

THE FLORIDA PROJECT

 

JIM & ANDY: THE GREAT BEYOND - FEATURING A VERY SPECIAL, CONTRACTUALLY
OBLIGATED MENTION OF TONY CLIFTON

 

LADY BIRD

Best Director



Michael Showalter - THE BIG SICK



Luca Guadagnino - CALL ME BY YOUR NAME



Sean Baker - THE FLORIDA PROJECT

Greta Gerwig - LADY BIRD

Best Actor



Kumail Nanjiani - THE BIG SICK

 

Timothée Chalamet - CALL ME BY YOUR NAME


Best Actress

 

Diane Kruger - IN THE FADE

Sally Hawkins - THE SHAPE OF WATER

(the rest after the jump)

The Riddle of the Noms

Each year, the list of as-yet-unseens-before-Oscar-nom-morning grows, with each precursor added to the season making the whole exercise more of a chore (you can only watch your not-favs clean up while your favs look on from the sidelines so many times before you stop investing in the whole affair). But there are still things I saw, and loved, this year and seeing any of these names pop up tomorrow morning would reel me, foolishly, back in once more. Onwards!

Best Picture

THE LOBSTER

LOVE & FRIENDSHIP

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
MOONLIGHT
MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI
O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA
SING STREET


Best Director

Yorgos Lanthimos - THE LOBSTER
Kenneth Lonergan - MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Barry Jenkins - MOONLIGHT
Ezra Edelman - O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA
John Carney - SING STREET


Best Actor

Colin Farrell - THE LOBSTER
Casey Affleck - MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Mads Mikkelsen - MEN & CHICKEN
Trevante Rhodes - MOONLIGHT


Best Actress

Rachel Weisz - THE LOBSTER

(the rest after the jump)

The Noms are on the Wall

Five short hours away, so let's not waste any time! (Except to say that, as evident by the list below, I have a shamefully long list of to-sees remaining, so I will be revisiting and revising this ballot as I get my act together within the next four to six weeks, weather permitting.)

Best Picture

'71
45 YEARS
ANOMALISA
INSIDE OUT
 MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
SON OF SAUL
SPOTLIGHT
TOM AT THE FARM

Special mentions:

THE HATEFUL EIGHT

SPY

Best Director

Andrew Haigh - 45 YEARS
Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson - ANOMALISA
Quentin Tarantino - THE HATEFUL EIGHT
George Miller - MAD MAX: FURY ROAD  
Laszlo Nemes - SON OF SAUL

Special mentions:

Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen - INSIDE OUT

David Robert Mitchell - IT FOLLOWS

Paul Feig - SPY

Xavier Dolan - TOM AT THE FARM


Best Actor

Jack O'Connell - '71
Tom Courtenay - 45 YEARS
Kurt Russell - THE HATEFUL EIGHT
Géza Röhrig - SON OF SAUL
Bill Hader - TRAINWRECK 

Special mentions:

Ed Oxenbould - THE VISIT


Best Actress

Charlotte Rampling - 45 YEARS

Juliette Binoche - CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA

Jennifer Jason Leigh - THE HATEFUL EIGHT

Amy Poehler - INSIDE OUT

Charlize Theron - MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

(the rest after the jump)

Ballothood - 12 months in the making

Less than four hours until the 2015 Oscar nominations are announced! Dream ballot, pour forth:

Best Picture

BOYHOOD
FOXCATCHER
GONE GIRL
NIGHTCRAWLER

SELMA
STRANGER BY THE LAKE
UNDER THE SKIN
WHIPLASH

Special mentions:

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: THEM
OBVIOUS CHILD


Best Director

Richard Linklater – BOYHOOD
Bennett Miller – FOXCATCHER
David Fincher – GONE GIRL
Jonathan Glazer – UNDER THE SKIN
Damien Chazelle - WHIPLASH

Special mentions:

Ava DuVernay – SELMA
Alain Guiraudie – STRANGER BY THE LAKE
Dan Gilroy – NIGHTCRAWLER


Best Actor

Channing Tatum – FOXCATCHER
Steve Carell – FOXCATCHER
Jake Gyllenhaal – NIGHTCRAWLER
David Oyelowo – SELMA
Miles Teller - WHIPLASH

Special mentions:

Michael Keaton – BIRDMAN
James McAvoy – THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: THEM
Joaquin Phoenix – THE IMMIGRANT
Joaquin Phoenix – INHERENT VICE

Nicolas Cage – JOE
Alfred Molina – LOVE IS STRANGE
John Lithgow - LOVE IS STRANGE
Jesse Eisenberg – NIGHT MOVES


Best Actress

Jessica Chastain – THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: THEM
Marion Cottilard – THE IMMIGRANT
Jenny Slate – OBVIOUS CHILD
Scarlett Johansson – UNDER THE SKIN
Reese Witherspoon - WILD

(the rest after the jump)

A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES OF SUGGESTIONS

The Nostalgia for the Present/21st Century Love Edition 

Watch: Frances Ha

If You Like: Clever, awkward and quirky films, Greenberg or The Squid and the Whale, Woody Allen, Wes Anderson, Whit Stillman 

Watch: Take This Waltz

If You Like: Touching romdramedies, Last Night, 500 Days of Summer

Hooka Dooka, Soda Cracker, Does Your Mama Chew Tobacker

Dave Van Ronk as sung by Oscar Isaac. Which can only mean it's that time of year again: Oscar Nominations Eve. My dream ballot is below, chosen from AMPAS' list of eligible films. There are some titles still outstanding that I'd like to get around to (OUT OF THE FURNACE, SPECTACULAR NOW, FRUITVALE, BLING RING, FROZEN, WALTER MITTY, WAY WAY BACK) and some that I may or may not bother with, depending on which names are read in a few hours' time (PHILOMENA, SAVING MR. BANKS, RUSH). Onwards!

Best Picture

AMERICAN HUSTLE
BEFORE MIDNIGHT

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

FRANCES HA 

GRAVITY

HER

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

MUD

NEBRASKA

SHORT TERM 12

Special mentions:

ENOUGH SAID

THE HEAT 

Best Director

Joel and Ethan Coen - INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

Alfonso Cuaron - GRAVITY

Spike Jonze - HER

Alexander Payne - NEBRASKA

David O. Russell - AMERICAN HUSTLE

Special mentions:

Noah Baumbach - FRANCES HA

Destin Cretton - SHORT TERM 12

Paul Greengrass - CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

Richard Linklater - BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Jeff Nichols - MUD 

Best Actor

Christian Bale - AMERICAN HUSTLE

Matthew McConaughey - DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
Bruce Dern - NEBRASKA

Oscar Isaac - INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

Joaquin Phoenix - HER

Special mentions:

Tye Sheridan - MUD

Leonardo DiCaprio - THE WOLF OF WALL STREET

Tom Hanks - CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
Ethan Hawke - BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Simon Pegg - THE WORLD'S END

Mark Wahlberg - PAIN & GAIN

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett - BLUE JASMINE

Sandra Bullock - GRAVITY

Julie Delpy - BEFORE MIDNIGHT 

Greta Gerwig - FRANCES HA

Brie Larson - SHORT TERM 12

Special mentions:

 

Sandra Bullock - THE HEAT

Julia Louis-Dreyfus - ENOUGH SAID

Melissa McCarthy - THE HEAT

(the rest after the jump)

Hold your breath and count to ten...

Mere hours away from the big announcement! Which means it's dream ballot time. Unfortunately this year I do this having yet to see ZERO DARK THIRTY (opening tomorrow here in Tarannah). Also LES MIZ, though not so unfortunately. Could not be bothered. On to the categories!

Best Picture

Amour

Argo

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Bernie

Damsels in Distress

Holy Motors

Magic Mike

The Master

Rust and Bone

Silver Linings Playbook

Best Director

Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master

Leos Carax, Holy Motors

Michael Haneke, Amour

Ang Lee, Life of Pi

David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook

Special mentions:

Ben Affleck, Argo

Jacques Audiard, Rust and Bone

Richard Linklater, Bernie

Steven Soderbergh, Magic Mike

Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained

Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Actor

Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook

Denis Lavant, Holy Motors

Joaquin Phoenix, The Master

Matthias Schoenaerts, Rust and Bone
Jean-Louis Trintignant, Amour

Special mentions:

Jack Black, Bernie

Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln

Mark Duplass, Your Sister's Sister

Richard Gere, Arbitrage

John Hawkes, The Sessions

Channing Tatum, 21 Jump Street

Best Actress

Linda Cardellini, Return

Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone

Nina Hoss, Barbara

Emmanuelle Riva, Amour

Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild

Special mentions:

Emily Blunt, Your Sister's Sister

Rosemarie DeWitt, Your Sister's Sister

Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

(the rest after the jump)

Cajun Style!

THE WAR ROOM (1993)
Criterion Collection
Dir. Chris Hegedus and D. A. Pennebaker

At a brisk 95 minutes, ‘The War Room’ is an engaging and informative behind-the-scenes look at the 1992 presidential campaign of then-governor Bill Clinton, from his shaky beginnings in the democratic primaries to his landslide victory against incumbent George H. W. Bush on election night. The events that unfold throughout out the campaign are seen primarily from the perspective of Clinton’s Director of Communications, George Stephanopoulos, and a fiery Lead Strategist by the name of James Carville, introduced as the Ragin’ Cajun. Both men have since become household names in the American political sphere, but the documentary affords the audience the opportunity to get a first-hand glimpse of the incredibly bright, ambitious, charismatic and visionary minds behind the very successful campaign that reminded the voters that “It’s the economy, stupid” and circumvented the attacks from the Bush campaign on Clinton’s character, including numerous allusions to the draft.

In stark contrast to most contemporary documentaries, no names appear onscreen to guide the audience through the numerous cast of characters on either side of the political spectrum, but dedicated CNN viewers and other political enthusiasts will recognize less well-known personalities such as Paul Begala and John King. The film also focuses briefly on Mary Matalin, the Deputy Campaign Manager for the Bush/Quayle ticket and Carville’s significant other. The relationship between the two has always been the subject of much interest, due to their vast political differences, and the film shows both in peak form attacking the other side in their professional roles, while keeping their personal relationship intact. There is ample footage of the politicians themselves, including Clinton and his family, but the hub of activity and excitement is the War Room itself, where the campaign strategy sessions occur, not to mention the campaign offices, where the many unnamed staff and volunteers work tirelessly alongside Stephanopoulos and Carville towards the common goal. ‘The War Room’ is a feat, not least of all because it shows the audience how campaigns were run before the advent of the 24-hour news cycle. American politics has changed significantly since the events of this film, and Hegedus and Pennebaker have created a piece of work that perfectly encapsulates the state of American political discourse at a crucial point in recent history. It is valuable viewing for all.

It's That Time of Year Again...

Less than 12 hours to go, which means it's dream ballot time!

Best Picture


The Artist
Drive
Jane Eyre
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Moneyball


A Separation
Submarine
Take Shelter
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Weekend


Best Director


Tomas Alfredson, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Bennett Miller, Moneyball
Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive


Best Actor


Demián Bichir, A Better Life
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Peyman Moaadi, A Separation
Michael Shannon, Take Shelter


Special mentions:


Tom Cullen, Weekend
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Ryan Gosling, Drive
Woody Harrelson, Rampart
Peter Mullan, Tyrannosaur
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball


Best Actress


Olivia Colman, Tyrannosaur
Adepero Oduye, Pariah
Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids


Special mentions:

Viola Davis, The Help
Kirsten Dunst, Melancholia
Keira Knightley, A Dangerous Method
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin


Best Supporting Actor


Albert Brooks, Drive
Patton Oswalt, Young Adult
Brad Pitt, The Tree of Life
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Special mentions:


Benedict Cumberbatch, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Armie Hammer, J. Edgar
Tom Hardy, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method
Mark Strong, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy


Best Supporting Actress


Jessica Chastain, The Help
Elle Fanning, Super 8
Anna Kendrick, 50/50
Carey Mulligan, Shame
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Special mentions:


Bryce Dallas Howard, The Help
Amy Ryan, Win Win


Adapted Screenplay


Jane Eyre - Moira Buffini
Moneyball - Story by Stan Chervin; Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin, Steve Zaillian
The Muppets - Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller
Submarine - Richard Ayoade
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan


Original Screenplay


Bridesmaids - Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig
A Separation - Asghar Farhadi
Take Shelter - Jeff Nichols
Weekend - Andrew Haigh
Win Win - Thomas McCarthy, Joe Tibani


Special mentions:

50/50 - Will Reiser
Pariah - Dee Rees
Rango - Story by James Ward Byrkit, John Logan, Gore Verbinski; Screenplay by John Logan
Young Adult - Diablo Cody


Cinematography


Drive - Newton Thomas Sigel
Jane Eyre - Adriano Goldman
Melancholia - Manuel Alberto Claro
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Hoyte Van Hoytema
The Tree of Life - Emmanuel Lubezki


Special mentions:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Jeff Cronenweth
Moneyball - Wally Pfister
Rampart - Bobby Bukowski


Original Score

A Better Life - Alexandre Desplat
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
Jane Eyre - Dario Marianelli
Moneyball - Mychael Danna
The Skin I Live in - Alberto Iglesias


Animated Feature

Rango


Documentary Feature

Bill Cunningham New York
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Project Nim


Foreign Language Film

A Separation


Until tomorrow!