2013 Film Critics' Awards - Final

English-speaking critics seem to agree that 12 Years a Slave is the best film of the year as more than half the groups selected this film for their top award. As we know by now there is a high chance that AMPAS voters will disagree again this year as clearly happened last year. From the guilds that have announced their winners we know that race could be between three movies: American Hustle, Gravity and 12 Years a Slave, so let's hope that Oscar voters find clarity and vote for a great movie and not only for a "popular" film.

Completely different is what's happening with Best Actress, where Cate Blanchett is the critic's favorite by far, as well as in the guilds and any other another award that has already announced their winners. If you think that Cate will win the Oscar there is very high probabilities that you are right. Believe all the honors are extremely well-deserved as she is truly fantastic in Blue Jasmine, where she truly lost herself into that complex role.

More than half the critic's groups selected Chiweter Ejiofor for Best Actor followed a bit far by Matthew McConaughey. By now we know that guilds and other awards that have already announced winners tend to prefer McConaughey. If we think about those that vote in the Oscar race, then McConaughey has more probabilities than Ejiofor to win the Oscar. I saw first 12 Years a Slave and was sure that Ejiofor will win an Oscar but then saw Dallas Buyers Club and was extremely impressed with McConaughey performance, so much that told a friend: "I really don't mind if Ejiofor or McConaughey win the Oscar, both truly deserve high honors for their performance". But if I have to guess, think the American actor will win. The big surprise will be if Bruce Dern wins for "sentimental" reasons. Sigh.

If one top category is close for critic's groups is Best Director with Alfonso Cuarón having a slight advantage above Steve McQueen, an advantage that grows exponentially when we consider the guild and other awards that have announced their winners. My problem with this category is that both directors did an incredibly good job in two extremely different types of movies. Still have difficulties grasping the director work when there are too many visual effects (started to be kind to SyFy after Life of Pi) so it is not easy to say that Cuarón did a great job directing Gravity but is extremely easy to say that McQueen did an excellent job in 12 Years a Slave. Besides I have highly enjoyed Steve McQueen previous movies and is a director I follow closely. So yes, my award goes to McQueen but think that Cuarón will win an Oscar.

Last, critics are split with what they consider as the Best Documentary of the year, with half considering The Art of Killing and half considering other docs. I have no doubt that the best documentary I saw during 2013 is The Art of Killing, so good that you almost forget you are watching a documentary as seems like fiction. But unfortunately is reality. Before watching this doc, my favorite by far was great Stories We Tell and definitively is shocking that doc didn't got an Oscar nomination. I believe (and hope) that The Art of Killing will win the Oscar, but there is always a possibility that doc doesn't please the sensibilities of older AMPAS voters.

So that's it. Interesting will be to see how close or how far critics and AMPAS voters will be this year as last year the distance was HUGE.

12/4/13
As I really enjoy when I guess right almost all Oscar winners and knowing that guessing is done best by following awards buzz and not considering how good movies are, then this year have to do again the critics' post and today is a good day to start post that will be a work in progress until the last group announces their winner which happens around late January 2014.

Most critics' groups are American but you will also find groups in Canada, Ireland and UK. As in previous years' posts will publish link to read all winners and will list winners in the following categories: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Documentary. Before the list and to have ALL in one post first is the summary for the major film critics' groups.

Major Critics' Groups

Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: (tie) Gravity and Her
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: (tie) Adèle Exarchopoulos in Blue is the Warmest Color and Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Bruce Dern in Nebraska
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Nominations and Winners: Post
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
Best Documentary: 20 Feet from Stardom

Golden Globes
Nominations and Winners: Post
Best Film (Drama): 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress (Drama): Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor (Drama): Matthew McConaughey
Best Documentary: N/A

International Press Academy (Satellite Awards)
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: Blackfish

National Board of Review
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Her
Best Director: Spike Jonze for Her
Best Actress: Emma Thompson in Saving Mr. Banks
Best Actor: Bruce Dern in Nebraska
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

New York Film Critics Circle
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: American Hustle
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Robert Redford in All Is Lost
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

The List

African-American Film Critics Association
Winners: Official Site - News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock in Gravity
Best Actor: Forest Whitaker in Lee Daniels' The Butler
Best Documentary: American Promise

Alliance of Women Film Journalists (EDA Awards)
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

Austin Film Critics Association
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Her
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Brie Larson in Short Term 12
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Black Film Critics Circle
Winners: News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Brie Larson in Short Term 12
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best documentary: 20 Feet from Stardom

Boston Society of Film Critics
Winners at Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Art of Killing

Boston Online Film Critics Association
Winners at Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Central Ohio Film Critics Association
Nominations: News Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Gravity
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Adèle Exarchopoulos in Blue is the Warmest Color
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Chicago Film Critics Association
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association
Winners: Official Site - News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: 20 Feet From Stardom

Denver Film Critics Society
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: News Official Site
Best Film: Gravity
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Detroit Film Critics Society
Nominations: Official Site News
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Her
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Brie Larson in Short Term 12
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

Dublin Film Critics Circle
Winners: News
Best Film: Gravity
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Bruce Dern in Nebraska
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Florida Film Critics Circle
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association ( Dorian Awards)
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: News Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: N/A
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: Bridegroom

Georgia Film Critics Association
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Her
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

The Guardian UK Top 10 films
Article with list: Official Site
Number 1 Film: The Act of Killing

The Houston Film Critics Society
Winners: Official Site - News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock in Gravity
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: 20 Feet From Stardom

Indiana Film Journalist Association
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Adèle Exarchopoulos in Blueis the Warmest Color
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Indiewire Annual Critics Survey
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Lead Performance: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Iowa Film Critics Association
Winners: News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: 20 Feet from Stardom

Kansas City Film Critics Circle
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: (tie) Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity and Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Salve
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock in Gravity
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Las Vegas Film Critics Society
Winners: Official Site - News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Emma Thompson in Saving Mr. Banks
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: Blackfish

London Film Critics Circle
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

National Society of Film Critics
Winners: News - Official Site
Best Film: Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Director: Joel and Ethan Coen for Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Oscar Isaac in Llewyn Davis
Best Documentary: (tie) The Act of Killing and At Berkeley

Nevada Film Critics Society
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Meryl Streep in August: Osage County
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: NA

New York Film Critics Online
Winners: Official Site News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

North Carolina Film Critics Association
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

North Texas Film Critics Association
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Gravity
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock in Gravity
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: 20 Feet From Stardom

Oklahoma Film Critics Circle
Winners: News
Best Film: Her
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Online Film Critics Society
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Phoenix Film Critics Society
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: 20 Feet from Stardom

St. Louis Film Critics
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: Blackfish

San Diego Film Critics Society
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Her
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

San Francisco Film Critics Circle
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Sight&Sound Film Magazine (100 International Critics)
Article in magazine here
Number 1 Film: The Act of Killing

Southeastern Film Critics Association
Winners: Official Site - News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwitel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Toronto Film Critics Association
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Utah Film Critics Association
Winners: News
Best Film: Gravity
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Adèle Exarchopoulos in Blue is the Warmest Color
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

UK Regional Film Awards (Richard Attenborough)
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: N/A

Vancouver Film Critics Circle
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

The Village Voice Critics Poll
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Adèle Exarchopoulos in Blue is the Warmest Color
Best Actor: Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

The Washington DC Area Film Critics
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: Blackfish

Women Film Critics Circle (Not added to tally)
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: News
Best Movie About Women: Philomena
Best Woman Storyteller (Screenwriting): Julie Delpy for Before Midnight
Best Actress: Judi Dench in Philomena
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary by or about Women: Stories We Tell

Tally

The following is a summary with winners in the five main categories. Tally will be update when each group makes their announcement.

Best Film
29 - 12 Years a Slave (BSFC, NYFCO, WAFCA, BOFCA, AAFCA, SFFCC, KCFCC, IFJA, HFCS, SEFCA, DFWFCA, OFCS, CFCA, PFCS, SLFC, IW, LVFC, FFCC, BFCC, NFCS, AWFJ, IFCA, GG, NCFCA, VFCC, CCMA, GALECA, CCFA, UKRFA, IPA)
7 - Her (NBR, LAFCA, SDFCS, DFCS, AFCA, OFCC, GFCA )
6 - Gravity (LAFCA, DFCC, UFCA, COFCA, NTFCA, DFCS)
3 - Inside Llewyn Davis (TFCA, TVVC, NSFC)
1 - American Hustle (NYFCC)

Best Director
26- Alfonso Cuarón (NYFCO, LAFCA, WAFCA, SDFCS, DFCS, SFFCC, KCFCC, HFCS, DFWFCA, OFCS, TFCA, PFCS, AFCA, DFCC, UFCA, NFCS, COFCA, NTFCA, OFCC, GFCA, GG, VFCC, DFCS, CCMA, CCFA, UKRFA)
18 - Steve McQueen (NYFCC, BSFC, BOFCA, AAFCA, KCFCC, IFJA, SEFCA, CFCA, SLFC, IW LVFC, FFCC, TVVC, BFCC, AWFJ, IFCA, NCFCA, IPA)
1 - Spike Jonze (NBR)
1 - Joel and Ethan Coen (NSFC)

Best Actress
31 - Cate Blanchett (NYFCC, BSFC, NYFCO, LAFCA, WAFCA, SDFCS, BOFCA, SFFCC, SEFCA, DFWFCA, OFCS, TFCA, CFCA, PFCS, SLFC, DFFC, FFCC, AWFJ, NSFC. OFCC, GFCA, IFCA, GG, NCFCA, VFCC, DFCS, CCMA, GALECA, CCFA, UKRFA, IPA)
5 - Adèle Exarchopoulos (LAFCA, IFJA, TVVC, UFCA, COFCA)
4 - Sandra Bullock (AAFCA, KCFCC, HFCS, NTFCA)
3 - Brie Larson (DFCS, AFCA, BFCC)
2 - Emma Thompson (NBR, LVFC)
1 - Meryl Streep (NFCS)

Best Actor
25- Chiwetel Ejiofor (BSFC, NYFCO, WAFCA, BOFCA, SFFCC, KCFCC, IFJA, HFCS, SEFCA, OFCS, CFCA, AFCA, SLFC, IW, BFCC, UFCA, COFCA, NTFCA, OFCC, GFCA, IFCA, NCFCA, CCFA, UKRFA)
11 - Matthew McConaughey (DFCS, DFWFCA, PFCS, LVFC, FFCC, NFCS, AWFJ, GG, DFCS, CCMA, GALECA, IPA)
5 - Oscar Isaac (SDFCS, TFCA, TVVC, NFSC, VFCC)
3 - Bruce Dern (NBR, LAFCA, DFCC)
1 - Robert Redford (NYFCC)
1 - Forest Whitaker (AAFCA)

Best Documentary
23 - The Art of Killing (BSFC, NYFCO, SDFCS, BOFCA, SFFCC, KCFCC, IFJA, SEFCA, OFCS, TFCA, CFCA, AFCA, IW, DFCC, FFCC, TVVC, UFCA, COFCA, NFSC, OFCC, VFCC, DFCS, CCFA)
7 - Stories We Tell (NYFCC, NBR, LAFCA, DFCS, AWFJ, GFCA, NCFCA)
7 - 20 Feet From Stardom (HFCS, DFWFCA, PFCS, BFCC, NTFCA, IFCA, CCMA)
4 - Blackfish (WAFCA, SLFC, LVFC, IPA)
1 - American Promise (AAFCA)
1 - At Berkley (NFSC)
1 - Bridegroom (GALECA)

10th Annual Irish Film Awards Winners

Yesterday winners were revealed at a Gala Awards Ceremony hosted by Simon Delaney and What Richard Did was the top winner with five awards. Winners are in *BLUE.

Was most interested in learning the winner of the International Actress category and is a great good surprise to find that the award went to Marion Cotillard in Jacques Audiard's Rust and Bone.  Very well deserved. 

To check winners in television categories go here.

1/9/13
The Irish Film & Television Academy announced today the nominations for this year and for a welcome change films are different to what most awards have been honoring. Award ceremony will take place in Dublin on February 9.

These are the nominations for Film categories.

Film
Death of a Superhero, Ian Fitzgibbon
Good Vibrations, Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn
Grabbers, Jon Wright
Shadow Dancer, James Marsh
*What Richard Did, Lenny Abrahamson

Director
*Lenny Abrahamson for What Richard Did
Pat Collins for Silence
Ian Fitzgibbon for Death of a Super Hero
Martin McDonagh for Seven Psychopaths

Script
*Malcom Campbell for What Richard Did
Kevin Lehane for Grabbers
Martin McDonagh for Seven Psychopaths
Kieron J Walsh for Jump

Actress
*Ruth Bradley in Grabbers
Anne Marie Duff in Sanctuary
Roisin Murphy in What Richard Did
Seana Kerslake in Dollhouse

Supporting Actress
*Brid Brennan in Shadow Dancer
Bronagh Gallagher in Grabbers
Charlene McKenna in Jump
Gabrielle Reidy in What Richard Did

Actor
Richard Dormer in Good Vibrations
Colin Farrell in Seven Psychopaths
Martin McCann in Jump
*Jack Reynor in What Richard Did

Supporting Actor
*Domhnall Gleeson in Anna Karenina
Ciaran Hinds in The Woman in Black
Michael McElhatton in Dead of a Superhero
David Wilmot in Shadow Dancer

George Morrison Feature Documentary
Barbaric Genius, Paul Duane
John Ford: Dreaming the Quiet Man, Sé Merry Doyle
*Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, Alex Gibney
Skin in the Game, Donald Taylor Black

Short Film
The Girl with the Mechanical Maiden, Andrew Legge
Fear of Flying, Conor Finnegan
*Morning, Cathy Brady
Rhinos, Shimmy Marcus

Short Film Animation
After You, Damien O’Connor
Fear of Flying, Conor Finnegan
*Macropolis, Joel Simon
Peter Rabbit’s Christmas Tale

International Film
Amour
*Argo
Life of Pi
Lincoln

International Actress
*Marion Cotillard in Rust and Bone
Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
Andrea Riseborough in Shadow Dancer
Emmanuelle Riva in Amour

International Actor
Ben Affleck in Argo
*Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook
Joaquin Phoenix in The Master

To check other film plus television categories go here.

2012 Winter Movie Bits

Here are some bits about movies that didn’t touch me enough, at least enough to write something about them.

This Must Be The Place. I have no clear idea of what was I expecting from this movie but Paolo Sorrentino credentials gave me expectations of an intense cinematic experience. Can’t say movie is bad as it’s not, much less that Sean Penn is bad as he gives an excellent performance but there is something that bothered me. I saw two styles, thus two movies; one I liked, happened in Europe, the other I didn’t, set in USA. Not as intense as I was hoping and wish film styles blended better; hope next Sorrentino film stays in Europe only. Enjoy! Italy, France and Ireland.

Drive. With all the awful marketing promotion I delayed watching as much as possible as imagined movie was going to be very violent. It is not and end up enjoying the story, the performances and fabulous Nicolas Winding Refn style. If you don’t care about violent movies do not skip this one as not only is not that violent but you will be missing a great movie with great actors’ performances and an acceptable story. Enjoy!!! USA.

Martha Marcy May Marlene. Actually I liked movie and as I said after watching if it wasn’t for them talking English I would have say that this is an European movie, maybe German, good German cinema and Elizabeth Olsen has a great performance, should have gotten an Oscar nod as she does world class acting. If you haven’t seen it, do not skip it worth watching no matter how story is. Enjoy!!! USA.

Young Adult. I believe I’m a Diablo Cody fan and really are looking forward to her directorial debut. In a nutshell this Jason Reitman film has outstanding –and very sharp- dialogues and an amazing performance by Charlize Theron, so good that the classic drunk scene made me feel very awkward, so much that had to “close” my ears and really close my eyes. Do not skip this movie as is a fantastic movie about those really dysfunctional individuals that never grow up. Enjoy!!! USA.

The Iron Lady. Meryl Streep does an outstanding performance that in my opinion does not save the movie that should have been more a made for TV movie, unlike the famous The Queen. I really HATED the story as was a not-kind and very unpleasant to watch portrait of a famous woman. There was NO need to tell the story from this point-of-view even when intention was to humanize Mrs. Thatcher. Can you think about an alive male statesman that was an object of a “humanizing” portrait such as this one? I can’t. Anyway even when Streep deserves Oscar I wish the American Academy wouldn’t celebrate her greatness in such a poor movie. Sigh. UK and France.

J. Edgar. Talking about humanizing famous man this Clint Eastwood film does that with perhaps one of the must “larger-than-life” American infamous law iconic figure and in this sense Eastwood absolutely succeeds as Hoover is seen more like a person than a not-so-positive legend. But film has something that makes the end product not outstanding and not relatable. I believe is the screenplay and yes, performances, the later is hard for me say as I believe Eastwood is a master filmmaker, but I know that once in a while he does movies that leave me wondering why he did them and these films have big stars as leads –remember Angelina Jolie movie? Anyway, watch it without expectations and maybe you will learn that Hoover actually did something good. Enjoy. USA

A Dangerous Method. Complex movie, too much psychoanalysis (as it should be) not much entertaining as is very brainy, thus “dry”; but then what was there to expect from a movie about the founders of modern psychology? (lol!) Indeed most of what I heard already knew and had to pay to learn it! Didn’t enjoy much actors’ performances especially Keira Knightley was not good and at times very unpleasant to watch. Watch at your own risk. Enjoy. Canada, UK, Germany, and Switzerland.

Octubre (October). Been waiting a long time to watch this Vega brothers film and no, I was not really impressed with their much praised film. Peruvian cinema has so much evolved and leaped into the international arena that I was hoping for a world class cinema experience. It was not. Movie has more the regular Latin American style and well, has an entertaining story good enough for an entertainment escape moment. Watch at your own risk. Enjoy. Peru.

Un Cuento Chino (Chinese Take-Away). What do you think of a story that starts with a cow falling from the sky into a small boat and killing the woman that was about to get a marriage proposal? That’s exactly how this sometimes comedy sometimes drama starts plus sets the tone and manner to everything that follows. Is an entertaining movie quite well done with the always outstanding and reliable performance by Ricardo Darin. Enjoy!! Argentina and Spain.

Violeta se fue a los Cielos (Violeta Went to Heaven). For me Violeta Parra is an icon and watching her bio was not easy as tells –and made me recall- about turbulent times in the Latin American region not only Chile. Still, I believe Andres Wood does a good job as she was portrayed as what –everyone says- she was, a not pleasant woman. I like her songs and this movie will not change that, but maybe I liked better the idea I had of her in my head than the one portrayed here. Watch at your own risk, especially if you know who Violeta Parra is and her outstanding poetry in her lyrics. Enjoy. Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

Apflickorna (She Monkeys). Lisa Aschan much honored debut film is a very interesting essay on very young and young women –or should I say children?- behavior as story is strong and yes, not easy to watch. But what makes film quite outstanding is Aschan magnificent visual and narrative storytelling style. Looking forward to her next film and suggest you do not skip this movie, but be prepared as story is not light. Yes has some lesbian interest but in my opinion film transcends the label both because story as because the superb filmmaking style, so wider audiences should be able to enjoy this very European movie. Enjoy!!! Sweden. Lesbian interest.

Poulet aux Prunes (Chicken with Plums). After Persepolis I was really hoping for an outstanding story and was looking forward to see how directors move from animation into live filmmaking; then Mathieu Amalric is a very special performer that either you love him in a particular role or you don’t. Here Amalric is the don’t-like kind and live film does not reach the same great levels of their animation film. For me story is not that interesting –at least as much as was Persepolis- even when I recognize that’s magical. Some say is a very French movie, I don’t agree, film does not look or feel French or European at all. But I hope next film by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi regains the magic that Persepolis had. Enjoy! France, Germany and Belgium.

La Source des Femmes (The Source). I was really looking forward to watch this Radu Mihaileanu film with a story that revolves around women. I really like Leïla Bekhti performances as well as excellent Hiam Abbass and good Hafsia Herzi; can’t complain as it was good watching them here but didn’t enjoy much the story as I believe is one I have seen before told in many more compelling ways. Still, visually this film is a true beauty that will feast your eyes. Enjoy! Belgium, Italy and France.

Les Géants. Bouli Lanners films are not easy to watch for me as was unable to watch Eldorado, but wanted to try to watch this Cannes honored movie. I couldn’t, had to stop watching as was feeling physical sick and very uncomfortable. A story of three kids that never imagined could be portrayed so not easy to watch for the most non-sense simple situations. Watch at your own risk. Sigh. Belgium.

Polisse. Not sure what was going to watch here as Maïwenn movies are always not very easy to watch or enjoy. Well, definitively this one has not her usual style and style becomes maybe more commercial as film looks and feels like mainstream cinema –and could extend it to being like a movie made for the small screen. Still film tells a compelling story about children and actors give very good performances, which makes film worth watching. Do not skip it, even if you don’t particularly like French cinema, you will enjoy this movie. Enjoy!! France.

Les Femmes du 6e étage (The Women on the 6th Floor). Watched because Carmen Maura got a Cesar nomination –which she won- but I’m no fan of French comedies as no, I don’t particularly enjoy their humor. Still film is a lot more a drama than a comedy and was a true pleasure to watch Fabrice Luchini performance. Movie is quite watchable and yes I do recommend it for an escape moment, French style of course. Enjoy!! France.

وهلّأ لوين؟ Wo Hallah La Wen? (Where Do We Go Now?) Nadine Labaki mesmerizes me as an actress and most of all as a director. I really LOVED Sukkar Banat (Caramel) so can deny that had HUGE expectations for her next movie. In my opinion her second movie is VERY different to her first and yes, I did enjoy a lot more her first than her second. Story here is very relevant plus her visual and narrative filmmaking style are interesting, but I have seen this story told before in more compelling and emotional ways. Still it was a true pleasure to watch Nadine Labaki in the screen, which makes movie worth watching. I’m really looking forward to her third movie that hope has a more universal story developed with her particular style. Enjoy. France, Lebanon, Egypt, and Italy.

Café de Flore. A very pretentious movie by Jean-Marc Vallée that many say is about love, me I say is an anatomy of a separation told by mirrored stories that happen in the past (Paris) and the present (Montreal) but thanks to pretentious editing –yes editing is what makes this film pretentious- time is senseless crisscrossed, rewind, and forwarded. Better editing could have made mirrored stories more flawlessly intertwined and movie more enjoyable. I really enjoyed Hélène Florent performance and believe she stole the movie. If you don’t mind to watch a movie that moves (too much) in time to tell a story that somehow is predictable (was for me) and journey is not that enjoyable, then watch this film for the love story that many people see in it. Enjoy. Canada and France.

Oslo, 31. August (Oslo, August 31st). Loved Reprise and yes had expectations. Second Joachim Trier film has the same great filmmaking style as his first film but tells a simple story that with his style becomes quite disturbing. So much disturbing that yes, I do suggest you avoid this film as you could get really depressed by Trier’s interpretation of Pierre Drieu La Rochelle’s 1931 Le Feu Follet. Here is not an alcoholic but a drug addict, yet drama is SO well developed that will hurt you inside –where hurts more. Okay, is a very good movie, but find a good state of mind to watch it or you will get very depressed. Enjoy! Norway.

The Artist. Just realized that I didn’t wrote about this movie that in my opinion glorifies Hollywood cinema like no American film has ever done, so it’s no surprise that film became a favorite of critics and the American industry. I enjoyed movie, it was entertaining but as I mentioned elsewhere, if I wanted to honor American silent cinema I could watch so many good films with many excellent silent actors that this film will absolutely pale in the comparison. Obviously film doesn’t look or feel like French cinema and wonder if the honor of being the most honored French movie of all times really celebrates this cinema and not the American one. Watch movie just because won Oscar and if you have to watch all Oscar wining movies. Enjoy! France and Belgium.

I’m sure I forgot many more movies but this is it for today.

Cheers.

9th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards Winners

Awards ceremony is happening right now; winners are in *BLUE. To check winners in all categories go here that eventually will be there.

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1/10

Today the Irish Academy announced the nominations and here they are for some categories.

Best Film
Albert Nobbs
Stella Days
*The Guard

Director Film
Rebecca Daly for The Other Side of Sleep
*John Michael McDonagh for The Guard
Terry McMahon for Charlie Casanova
Thaddeus O’Sullivan for Stella Days

Actress in a Lead Role in a Feature Film
Aoife Duffin in Behold The Lamb
Antonia Campbell Hughes in The Other Side of Sleep
Marcella Plunkett in Stella Days
*Saorise Ronan in Hanna

Actor in a Lead Role in a Feature Film
*Michael Fassbender in Shame
Brendan Gleeson in The Guard
Ciarán Hinds in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Martin Sheen in Stella Days

International Film
Bridesmaids
Drive
Senna
*Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

International Actress
*Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs
Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin
Kirsten Wiig in Bridesmaids

International Actor
Don Cheadle in The Guard
Leonardo DiCaprio in J Edgar
*Ryan Gosling in Drive
Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

To check nominees in all categories including TV go here. Awards ceremony will be on February 11. Have seen almost all the movies but there's one that have not and definitively will watch ASAP, The Other Side of Sleep.

Autumn Movie Bites #1

Here are some bites about lesbian interest movies. Enjoy.

Circumstance by Maryam Keshavarz. France, USA, and Iran. Bit confused about film as found stays like in the middle not going in depth with something. As a genre film tells a known story –set in the Middle East too- with love scenes that are more sex scenes filmed from a male-point-of-view than with female eyes. Not the best lesbian interest film with similar theme that I have seen. Then as a political statement is not strong as there are other female centered stories that have more successfully shown how Middle Eastern cultures/traditions/religion converts women to almost non-existence within their society. Maybe if film had no lesbian interest content political message could have been developed more; likewise if had no political message then the lesbian interest story could have been developed more and more appropriately. Still, film is watchable. Enjoy.

You and I by Roland Joffé. Russia and USA. Not pleasant to watch thanks to a terrible script with absurd dialogues and lack of clear focus in a story that pretends to show youth decadence in contemporary Russia by telling the “falling in love” story of Janie (Shantel VanSanten) and Lana (Mischa Barton). If you skip movie you will be missing absolutely nothing. Sigh.

Sour Sorriso (Sister Smile) by Roger Deutsch. Italy. This 2001 film is more a fictitious account of what infamous Belgian nun surely didn’t live; but not like the more recent version, clearly presents a woman that loved women. The problem is that the director to tell a 60’s set story used a 60’s cinema style that today makes story and film not easy-to-watch plus hard to be related to. Sigh.

80 Egunean (For 80 Days) by Jon Garaño and José María Goenaga. Spain. Film tells about “Axun and Maite meeting at secondary school during a repressive that never allowed their relationship to go beyond friendship” and when they meet 50 years after they can’t really become a couple as seems is too late. Not particularly liked message as I do believe that NEVER is too late, but how writers decided to end story makes message “more politically correct” but less human as we have to end up doing what others want and not what we really want. Film has very good production values and performances that will entertain you. Enjoy!!

Die Konkurrentin by Dagmar Hirtz. Germany. This 1997 German TV movie has a very nice love story between two women as only –I believe- German television can do SO good, which makes it absolutely must be seen for those that enjoy the genre and have seen before (great) German lesbian interest TV movies. The last is because whatever else happens in story (here is Business Corporation drama) is secondary to their typical seductive way of making their protagonists fall in love and have a happy ending. Still surprises me that German audiences were able to watch lesbian interest movies in that decade, when still today -40 years after- many countries TV will never show them. Enjoy!!

Break My Fall by Kanchi Wichmann. UK. Can’t deny that film has an interesting style that makes it look and feel quite realistic. For a 40,000 UK pounds production, have to say that film is really great. Story is raw and like in all stories about a relationship last days we will not see romantic moments; if performances are good then story will be felt a lot more and this is the case with this film. It’s a lesbian story about something that hasn’t been explored too much in the genre and suggest to many to watch it with no romance expectations and maybe you will enjoy it as much as I did. Enjoy!!

Como Esquecer (So Hard to Forget) by Malu de Martino. Brazil. Nope is not about how the relationship ends, but how the one that didn’t want to break up abandons herself into depression, how she starts to overcome not being with Antonia anymore and finally meets someone that allows her to give herself another chance to care for someone. Gee, sounds kind of sad BUT honestly is NOT as this Brazilian movie has all over the Brazilian “joie de vivre” more in style than in story, plus acceptable to good performances by good-looking cast makes the ride really easier. Can be entertaining if you have no expectations and just enjoy the ride. Enjoy!!

Leading Ladies by Daniel Beahm and Erika Randal Beahm. USA. My big mistake was that I had expectations about this movie, “dancing expectations” lol! Honestly is not a good movie and there is not much dancing; but if you enjoy typical American comedy style (which I don’t) maybe you will enjoy this “zany” comedy a lot more than me. Sigh.

Tomboy by Céline Sciamma. France. An entertaining film that surely is more mainstream than Sciamma’s previous Naissance des pieuvres, which I simply loved. As you can imagine was expecting a film more in the style of Naissance des pieuvres and definitively Tomboy is different; still is an engaging story about a girl that sees her moving into a new neighborhood as the opportunity to be more what she really feels like: a boy. Okay I should explain myself so I will not confuse anyone, this film is NOT mainstream, is arty; but if you compare both Sciamma’s films then you will see that her second is more commercial than her first thanks to the story mainly. Not your regular genre film, but worth watching. Enjoy!!

Kyss Mig (With Every Heartbeat) by Alexandra-Therese Keining. Sweden. Has this film a predictable story? Yes. Indeed is true, very predictable BUT film is highly enjoyable, so it’s not about the destination is about the trip. You have no idea how good your trip into the lives of Mia and Frida will be as performances by complete cast is quite good, cinematography is super, production values are high and director is so good that I’ll watch her future films for sure. I loved this movie and if you have the patience to enjoy a great ride to a predictable destination, then this film is definitively for you. Enjoy!!!

Mein Freund Aus Faro (To Faro) by Nana Neul. Germany. This 2008 film has been labeled as the German version of Boys Don’t Cry and indeed has a similar story but fortunately fictional To Faro does not have the violence of the real story. Tells about Melanie that meets Jenny and falls in love; but Jenny think she’s met Miguel from Faro, Portugal. Film is nothing special, entertaining but not much more. If you been delaying watching because of violence (as I did) be assure that there is none here, so go ahead and watch. Enjoy.

Luan qing chun (Beatiful Crazy) by Chi Y. Lee. Taiwan. Couldn’t enjoy film even when I tried harder (lol!), yes is arty but unfortunately not really interesting. Not much lesbian interest, just what seems like a few seconds. If you skip it, won’t be missing much. Sigh.

Albert Nobbs by Rodrigo García. UK and Ireland. Honestly I had no lesbian interest expectations for this movie as I’m familiar with main character story, so finding that perhaps the most digestible/funny character the movie has is the one played by Janet McTeer (Page) who happens to be lesbian and lives with her wife was most refreshing. Glenn Close really gets lost into her male character and does a great performance but character is truly lame -and definitively not lesbian at all- as Albert Nobbs is a woman trapped in a man cover that resigned herself to live a life of loneliness, that’s it until she meets Page as sees an opportunity to change her destiny. Unfortunately she does not look for love, she looks for convenience and pursues Helen (Mia Wasikowska) that definitively doesn’t need “convenience” at that moment. Maybe if Nobbs had seduced Helen then things would have been different, but obviously that will happen later when Page starts to seduce Helen. I believe that Close does really good her character but character is so unappealing and is so well-done that some are saying that her performance made the character one-dimensional, flat, pan faced, etc; but I do believe that’s the way it was supposed to be. Anyway this is a movie to watch not because has lesbian interest moments but because is a story of women that had to dress like men to be able to earn a living when for whatever reason, there was no man to take care of them. Enjoy!!!