Chicago – Just like every year before it, there were no perfect films in 2014. I do not see this as a negative thing - reaching for greatness is far more electrifying than the plateau of achieving it, as presented in a hustler’s opus like ‘Whiplash,” which specifically eschews applause after a drum solo that just may have been perfection.
It’s all about genuine ambition - that’s the fuel that is going to keep cinematic storytelling arresting as it continues to jump, flip, retread, reboot, restore, subvert, invert, and stumble forward. The best films of 2014 are the ones that have this quality in front of or behind the camera, and sometimes both; the quality of pushing viewers along with them, of making polarizing choices that won’t land well for all, but yearn for something more.
This aspect was found in dollops throughout the film year. Separate highlights include...
It’s all about genuine ambition - that’s the fuel that is going to keep cinematic storytelling arresting as it continues to jump, flip, retread, reboot, restore, subvert, invert, and stumble forward. The best films of 2014 are the ones that have this quality in front of or behind the camera, and sometimes both; the quality of pushing viewers along with them, of making polarizing choices that won’t land well for all, but yearn for something more.
This aspect was found in dollops throughout the film year. Separate highlights include...
- 12/31/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
This column is a few days late this week, but then this was a particularly busy few days. The first three of the actual awards precursors finally arrived this week, including the New York Film Critics Circle, the National Board of Review and the Gotham Independent Film Awards.
What’s the verdict? This is still anyone’s race. 12 Years a Slave was already proclaimed the winner this time last year, even if there were grumblings that Gravity could pull off an upset. Past years have been two-horse races between Old Hollywood establishment storytelling and New Hollywood edginess. Right now it’s unclear whether we’ll still have nine Best Picture nominees by January, or which presumed frontrunner suddenly falls out altogether.
Boyhood and Birdman both seem strong, with The Imitation Game becoming the broad consensus choice should critics and audiences split on the first two. And yet The Theory of Everything...
What’s the verdict? This is still anyone’s race. 12 Years a Slave was already proclaimed the winner this time last year, even if there were grumblings that Gravity could pull off an upset. Past years have been two-horse races between Old Hollywood establishment storytelling and New Hollywood edginess. Right now it’s unclear whether we’ll still have nine Best Picture nominees by January, or which presumed frontrunner suddenly falls out altogether.
Boyhood and Birdman both seem strong, with The Imitation Game becoming the broad consensus choice should critics and audiences split on the first two. And yet The Theory of Everything...
- 12/6/2014
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
There were no "pure" CBMs in contention for any awards last night, but the likes of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug and Gravity did pretty well. Below you can check out Hugh Jackman's acceptance speech, along with the full list of winners (in bold) and nominees. Empire 25th Award: The Legend of Our Lifetime Tom Cruise Empire 25th Award: The Action Hero of Our Lifetime Arnold Schwarzenegger Empire Icon (presented by Jameson Irish Whiskey) Hugh Jackman Empire Hero Simon Pegg Empire Inspiration (presented by Mazda Motors UK) Paul Greengrass Best Male Newcomer (presented by Tresor Paris) Aidan Turner (The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug) Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) George MacKay (Sunshine On Leith) Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis) Tye Sheridan (Mud) Will Poulter (We’re The Millers) Best Female Newcomer Margot Robbie (The Wolf Of Wall Street) Adèle Exarchopoulos (Blue Is The Warmest Colour...
- 3/31/2014
- ComicBookMovie.com
The night before the 2014 Oscars was a big one for 12 Years a Slave as it took home five wins at the 2014 Independent Spirit Awards including Best Picture, Director (Steve McQueen), Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong'o), Screenplay (John Ridley) and Cinematography (Sean Bobbitt). However, don't take this to mean 12 Years is a lock at the Oscars as its strongest competition in categories such as Picture and Director, those being Gravity and American Hustle, weren't among the "independent" nominees. Some likely Oscar winners were among the list of winners as Dallas Buyers Club co-stars Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto took home Best Actor and Supporting Actor respectively. Cate Blanchett took home yet another Best Actress prize for her work in Blue Jasmine and 20 Feet from Stardom won Best Documentary, proving even the Spirit Awards weren't going for The Act of Killing, though that doesn't diminish the impact of Joshua Oppenheimer's film. Some...
- 3/2/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Two films that weren't exactly favorites of Oscar led the 11th annual International Cinephile Society Awards, with "Inside Llewyn Davis" and "Blue Is The Warmest Color" dominating the awards' main categories. The former took honors for best picture, best original screenplay, best ensemble and best actor (Oscar Isaac, who tied Leonardo DiCaprio), while the latter -- the runner-up for best picture -- won best film not in the English language, best adapted screenplay and both best actress and best supporting actress (for Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux). Other multiple winners included "Gravity" and "Her," while "Stories We Tell" and "Ernest & Celestine" won best documentary and best animated feature, respectively. Full list of winners below: Picture 01. Inside Llewyn Davis 02. Blue is the Warmest Color 03. Her 04. Frances Ha 05. The Great Beauty 06. Laurence Anyways 07. Gravity 08. Spring Breakers 09. The Wolf of Wall Street 10. 12 Years a Slave 11. Before...
- 2/25/2014
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
Forget the Oscars, and don't bother with the BAFTAs, because the Jameson Empire Awards 2014 are just around the corner, and the full list of nominees, as chosen by you, is now here. Have alook at the full shortlist below and then you can vote for the winners.Leading the reader-voted pack is The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug, with seven nominations, then 12 Years A Slave, with six. Close behind is Captain Phillips and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, both with five nominations, and after that Gravity, which has four. Captain Phillips director Paul Greengrass will receive this year's Empire Inspiration Award. The Jameson Empire Awards will be presented on March 30 in London at a wildly glamorous and only slightly anarchic ceremony. Here are this year's Jameson Empire Award nominees:best Male Newcomer (presented by Tresor Paris)Aidan Turner (The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug)Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)George MacKay (Sunshine On Leith...
- 2/24/2014
- EmpireOnline
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