I haven't seen all
the films yet and I'm certain I will have a lot more to say on the subject, but
here are my initial thoughts reading the list of nominations:
Best Picture:
I’ve been
underwhelmed with many of these films including “American Hustle”. I don't
think most of them deserve to win best picture of the year. Is "12 Years a
Slave" really original enough to be the winner? It's a great film but kind
of by the numbers (though I'm voting for it for Best Ensemble for the SAG awards -- all great performances!). I did like "The Wolf of Wall Street" a lot
(though bothered by its misogyny and its herofication of DiCaprio's character).
I'm seeing "Philomena" and "Nebraska" today or tomorrow
before voting for the SAG awards, and I'm yet to see "Her", but out
of this bunch I think I will have to pick "Gravity." It certainly was
original, and though it’s an action film it's also quite moving.
 |
| "12 Years a Slave" |
Best Actor:
I always love
Leonardo DiCaprio and he was amazing in this role. But should he win for this?
Leo was not nominated for the SAG awards (if the film hadn’t come out so late
I'm sure that he would have been), so for the SAG awards I'm voting for Matthew
McConaughey -- who did an amazing job. But I'm kind of hoping Leo will take
home the Oscar. He was pretty incredible in this role. And he’s been snubbed so
many times.
 |
| "Dallas Buyer's Club" |
Best
Actress:
I really liked
Meryl Streep in "August: Osage County," but since she is kind of
expected to always be excellent I think I'm voting Sandra Bullock for the SAG
awards. It’s a really touching performance, and considering that she acted mostly
by herself in a green room! I don't think Amy Adams performance was that special. I did like Cate Blanchett a lot in "Blue Jasmine" also though.
 |
| "Gravity" |
Best Supporting
Actor:
I was really
touched by Barkhad Abdi’s performance. Jared Leto's performance too but not as
much as I had hoped. I think they could have done so much more with that
character. The scene when she coughs blood and says that she doesn't want to
die had me though. Bradley Cooper and Michael Fassbender both did outstanding
work, and for the first time I actually liked Jonah Hill. But I think I’m
voting Jared.
Best Supporting
Actress:
Sally Hawkins for
this performance? Really? Why? And Oprah Winfrey was snubbed! She is really
good in "The Butler!" I didn't see "Nebraska" yet, so I’m
going with the excellent Lupita Nyong.
Best Director
Alfonso
Cuaron.
Best Documentary:
"Blackfish" was
snubbed.
Best
Editing:
Why is not
"Wolf of Wall Street" nominated? Great use of editing to tell that
story! "Dallas Buyers Club" so does not deserve to be here and
"Gravity" was mostly done digitally, so no.
Hair and Makeup:
The hair and
makeup (and the costumes!) were the best parts of "American Hustle" – why was it not nominated?
 |
| "American Hustle" |
Original
Screenplay:
"Dallas
Buyers Club" has so many problems in the storytelling. It does not deserve
to be here. Watching this film
one would think millions could have been saved if McConaughey's character had
gotten it his way (Watch the excellent doc "How to Survive a Plague" for a different take on that). "Blue Jasmine" – really? The overall idea for the story was good but so not original as
it was completely stolen from "A Streetcar Named Desire".
Thoughts?
