Oscars 2016: Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Winners

Hello, Bloggers! The WAFCA (Washington DC Area Film Critics Association) has announced their winners this morning.


Best Film: Spotlight

Best Director: George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Best Supporting Actor: Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation

Best Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina

Best Youth Performance: Jacob Tremblay, Room

Best Original Screenplay: Inside Out

Best Adapted Screenplay: Room

Best Animated Film: Inside Out

Best Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul

Best Documentary: Amy

Best Cinematography: The Revenant

Best Production Design: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Editing: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Score: Sicario

So I think so far, Saoirse Ronan is officially the frontrunner for Best Actress. She won the NYFCC Award, the British Independent Film Award, and was even the runner-up at the LAFCA and BSFC. I don't think Brie Larson, who is on her heels, is in danger, though. Not as much of a sure thing for the win as I thought before. But she's still a threat thanks to her hardware with her NYFCO and NBR win. But Mad Max continues to blaze a fiery trail, winning more here than Best Film winner Spotlight. Another surprise is seeing Spotlight lose Best Original Screenplay to Inside Out since Spotlight won practically every Best Screenplay award yesterday. Also, despite Brie Larson not nabbing Best Actress here, Room still picked up Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Youth Performance for Jacob Tremblay. But one great surprise is seeing Alicia Vikander win Best Supporting Actress for Ex Machina and not for The Danish Girl which she was also nominated for. So far, this race is shaping up quite nicely, in my opinion.

For the full list of nominees, go to this link: http://wafca.com/awards/index.htm

Oscars 2016: British Independent Film Awards 2015 Winners

Hello, Bloggers, the British Independent Film Awards have just announced their winners and even if they might not have much influence in the awards race, they are still fun to discuss. Let's take a look:

Best British Independent Film: Ex Machina 

Best Director: Alex Garland, Ex Machina 

Best Actor: Tom Hardy, Legend

Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn 

Best Supporting Actor: Brendan Gleeson, Suffragette 

Best Supporting Actress: Olivia Colman, The Lobster 

Best Screenplay: Ex Machina 

Best Achievement in Production: Kajaki: The True Story

Best Technical Achievement: Ex Machina  (Andrew Whitehurst, Visual Effects)

Best Foreign Independent Film: Room

Douglas Hickox Award (Directorial debut): The Survivalist, Stephen Fingleton

Best Documentary: Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance

Ex Machina came out really strong, allowing Alex Garland to collect more hardware today besides a Debut Director Award at the New York Film Critics Online and being a runner-up at the Boston Society of Film Critics for the same award. He has also received nods from the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association for Director and Screenplay. So I think he's proven himself a definite dark horse in either Directing or Writing. Saoirse Ronan continues her dominance in the Best Actress category and even if he likely won't be in the Best Actor category, Tom Hardy has received positive ink for his work in Legend. If anything, it'll help his cause for The Revenant. 

Overall, I think this is a solid group of winners and I cross my fingers that, with the strong showing it has here, Ex Machina will gain more awards traction. Be sure to share your own thoughts in the comments section. You can also read the full list of nominees here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Independent_Film_Awards_2015

Oscars 2016: BSFC/LAFCA/NYFCO Winners

The winners of the Boston Society of Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and the New York Film Critics Online have all been announced. Let's take a look:

BSFC:

Best Use of Music: Love and Mercy 
(runner-up) Creed

Best Film Editing: Mad Max: Fury Road 
(runner-up) Spotlight

Best Cinematography: Carol
(runner-up) The Revenant 

Best New Filmmaker: Marielle Heller, Diary of a Teenage Girl
(runner-up) Alex Garland, Ex Machina 

Best Animated Film: (tie) Inside Out and Anomalisa 
(runner-up) Shaun the Sheep Movie 

Best Documentary: Amy 
(runner-up) The Look of Silence 

Best Screenplay: Spotlight 
(runner-up) Carol

Best Ensemble: Spotlight 
(runner-up) The Big Short 

Best Supporting Actress: Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria 
(runner-up) Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl, Ex Machina, etc.)

Best Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies 
(runner-up) Sylvester Stallone, Creed 

Best Actress: Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years 
(runner-up) Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn 

Best Actor: (TIE) Paul Dano, Love and Mercy and Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant 
(runner-up)

Best Director: Todd Haynes, Carol 
(runner-up) Thomas McCarthy, Spotlight 

Best Film: Spotlight 
(runner-up) Mad Max: Fury Road 

Best Foreign Language Film: The Look of Silence
(runners-up) Son of Saul and White God

Spotlight winning Best Picture isn't surprising because I mean, it's Boston journalists honoring a film about Boston journalists. But it shows that it has solid legs in this race as well as Mad Max. You know who else has developed strong legs? Kristen Stewart! After fearing her New York Film Critics win would be the farthest she'd go, here she is again. Inside Out also continues its dominance in the Animated Feature category which is awesome.

LAFCA:

Best Cinematography: Mad Max: Fury Road 
(runner-up) Carol

Best Music Score: Anomalisa and Carol (TIE)
(runner-up) The Hateful Eight 

Best Supporting Actor: Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
(runner-up) Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies 

Best Production Design: Mad Max: Fury Road 
(runner-up) Carol 

Best Editing: The Big Short 
(runner-up) Mad Max: Fury Road 

Best Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina 
(runner-up) Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria 

Best Documentary: Amy 
(runner-up) The Look of Silence 

Best Screenplay: Spotlight 
(runner-up) Anomalisa 

Best Actor: Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs 
(runner-up) Geza Rohrig, Son of Saul 

Best Animation: Anomalisa
(runner-up) Inside Out 

Best Director: George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road 
(runner-up) Todd Haynes, Carol 

Best Actress: Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years 
(runner-up) Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn 

Best Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul 
(runner-up) The Tribe

New Generation Award: Ryan Coogler, Creed

Best Picture: Spotlight 
(runner-up) Mad Max: Fury Road 

YES! Michael Fassbender wins Best Actor. I feared that he was losing a bit of steam due to the film's bad box office buzz and Fassbender's lack of campaigning. But this was a much needed win. Another major highlight was seeing Alicia Vikander win Best Supporting Actress for Ex Machina rather than The Danish Girl since Vikander's work in the former film is likely more supporting than the latter. Also, her work in Ex Machina is one of my favorite supporting turns of the year. But so far, with how Saoirse Ronan has become at least a runner-up in the critical Best Actress awards, she's now a definite threat to win the Oscar along with Brie Larson and even Charlotte Rampling who won Boston and Los Angeles.


NYFCO:

Top 10 Films:

45 Years 
The Big Short 
Bridge of Spies 
Brooklyn 
Carol 
Mad Max: Fury Road 
Sicario 
Spotlight 
Steve Jobs 
Trumbo

Breakthrough Performance: Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl and Ex Machina 

Best Supporting Actress: Rooney Mara, Carol 

Best Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies 

Best Screenplay: Spotlight 

Best Cinematography: Mad Max: Fury Road 

Best Use of Music: Love and Mercy 

Debut Director: Alex Garland, Ex Machina 

Best Director: Thomas McCarthy, Spotlight 

Best Actress: Brie Larson, Room 

Best Actor: Paul Dano, Love and Mercy 

Best Ensemble: Spotlight 

Best Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul 

Best Documentary: Amy 

Best Animated Feature: Inside Out 

Best Film: Spotlight 

Brie Larson still managed to pick up some hardware today by winning Best Actress here. Even if she isn't THE frontrunner, it's likely because Best Actress is so competitive this year. Relievingly competitive. Mark Rylance has also maintained some heat in the Supporting Actor category by winning BSFC, NYFCC, and here. But rightfully so because his performance is so good. I also love seeing both Boston and the NYFCO correct the category fraud of Paul Dano by awarding him Best Actor despite him being pushed in Supporting. Also, Spotlight has won Best Screenplay at each of these critics groups which seems quite telling of what is out in front to win Best Original Screenplay since it is competing there. Lastly, I love seeing Alex Garland set sighted here in the Debut Director category. Wasn't the first time he got cited today and I'll get to that later.

So those are my thoughts on the winners of the different circles. Please feel free to write your own thoughts in the comments section and how you think the Oscar race is shaping up. Thanks for reading!

Review: Creed (2015)

                             
                             

           
                                   'Creed' Is A Real Knockout
     
       Much like how the film deals with the theme of legacy, because of how the main character deals with living with his father's family name, Sylvester Stallone becomes able to pass on the legacy of his own character to a new and exciting batch of talent.

        Story:
       Creed follows the story of the son of one of Rocky Balboa's most famous opponents, Apollo Creed, named Adonnis (Michael B. Jordan), who has never met his father yet still has his boxing running in his blood. Looking to become a professional fighter while struggling to build his own legacy apart from his father, Adonnis turns to Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) for training and they form a bond along the way.

        Ups:
      First, I'll get into the direction by Ryan Coogler. When he and star Michael B. Jordan did Fruitvale Station a few years ago, they both created filmmaking magic and here it is no different. Even though this film is a studio pic, what Coogler is able to accomplish is giving it the spirit of an independent filmmaker. In the hands of a lesser director, it would've just been a stock boxing movie with the director simply pointing the camera and getting the movie filmed. But Coogler puts great focus on the aesthetics of the filmmaking process like, for example, how the film's boxing matches are different from one another because he films each one differently. One match is done in a long tracking shot and the final one involves other editing techniques. Also, because he wrote the screenplay, since it depicts blacks as main characters, he relievingly leaves out racial politics typically incorporated in studio films with blacks at the center. They're not reduced to being stereotypes or portrayed as martyrs and I loved that.

     The characters are also amazingly brought to life by the actors portraying them. Michael B. Jordan proves a strong case as to why he deserves to be one of the biggest stars in the game. The genius of his performance is that not only does he exude star charisma, but he captures the furious lost soul that his character is through not just his eyes, but also his punches. It's a subtle yet three-dimensional mix of physicality, charm, and depth. Tessa Thompson is given the "Adrian" role as Adonnis' love interest Bianca, who is a singer that (*spoiler alert*) is slowly succumbing to going deaf. But Thompson gives a very grounded performance as she doesn't play the character as a martyr, but rather someone with the mindset of "might as well do what I love while I can."

   But one standout I have to mention is of course, Sly Stallone as Rocky. Even though the franchise, and character, is his, Stallone was very complimentary to not only pass the reigns onto a new director, but not to upstage Jordan. Stallone still possesses the same charm associated with Rocky, yet this time around, he is not afraid to incorporate a layer of darkness. He had me in chuckles yet at one serious point in the film, I thought he was going to make me cry.

   Downs:
   NIL.

   Consensus:
   Overall, Creed is a real knockout that not only reinvigorates a beloved franchise, but captures the magic of the moviegoing experience while showing how inventive the filmmaking experience can be.

Grade: A+
 



 

 

Oscars 2016: WAFCA Nominees

The Washington DC Area Film Critics Association has announced their list of nominees and I must say, they are a very eclectic, and interesting, bunch of nominees. Let's take a look:

Best Film:
Brooklyn 
Mad Max: Fury Road 
The Revenant
Sicario 
Spotlight 

Best Director:
Alex Garland, Ex Machina 
Todd Haynes, Carol 
Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, The Revenant 
George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road 
Ridley Scott, The Martian 

Best Actor:
Matt Damon, The Martian 
Johnny Depp, Black Mass 
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant 
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs 
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl 

Best Actress:
Cate Blanchett, Carol 
Brie Larson, Room 
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn 
Sarah Silverman, I Smile Back 
Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road 

Best Supporting Actor:
Paul Dano, Love and Mercy 
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation 
Tom Hardy, The Revenant 
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies 
Sylvester Stallone, Creed 

Best Supporting Actress:
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight 
Rooney Mara, Carol 
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl 
Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina 
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs 

Best Acting Ensemble:
The Big Short 
The Hateful Eight 
Spotlight 
Steve Jobs 
Straight Outta Compton

Best Youth Performance:
Abraham Attah (Beasts of No Nation)
Raffey Cassidy  (Tomorrowland)
Oona Laurence  (Southpaw)
Güneş Şensoy (Mustang)
Jacob Tremblay  (Room)

Best Original Screenplay:
Bridge of Spies 
Ex Machina 
Inside Out 
Spotlight 
Trainwreck 

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Brooklyn 
Carol
The Martian 
Room
Steve Jobs 

Best Documentary:
Amy
Best of Enemies
Cartel Land
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief 
The Look of Silence 

Best Foreign Language Film:
The Assassin 
Goodnight Mommy 
Mustang
The Second Mother 
Son of Saul 

Best Animated Feature:
Anomalisa 
The Good Dinosaur 
Inside Out 
The Peanuts Movie 
Shaun the Sheep Movie 

Best Cinematography:
Brooklyn
Carol 
Mad Max: Fury Road 
The Revenant 
Sicario 

Best Production Design:
Brooklyn 
Carol 
Cinderella 
Crimson Peak 
Mad Max: Fury Road 

Best Editing:
Mad Max: Fury Road 
The Martian 
The Revenant 
Sicario
Spotlight 

Best Score:
Brooklyn
Carol
The Hateful Eight 
Mad Max: Fury Road 
Sicario

Some very interesting scenarios here: Spotlight getting in Best Picture and Screenplay, but no individual acting nods or anything for its director. Also, Carol got citations for its director, acting, and crafts, but not Best Film. But one major highlight was seeing Ex Machina score major love even if it missed the Best Film category. Amy Schumer scoring a Screenplay nod for Trainwreck was also very nice! But so far, I would say that because it hasn't been sided by the critics yet, Joy is still a big question mark in this race.

Today, the LAFCA, BSFC, and NYFCO announce their winners. Also, the British Independent Film Awards announce and present their winners and I'll likely cover those too.

Oscars 2016: Boston Online Film Critics Association Winners

Hello, Bloggers, the Boston Online Film Critics Association  (BOFCA) have recently announced their winners. It is another lovely, lovely day for Mad Max: Fury Road as it emerged the top winner with five awards:

Best Film: Mad Max: Fury Road 

Best Director: George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road 

Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan, Creed

Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn 

Best Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Best Supporting Actress: Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria 

Best Screenplay: Spotlight

Best Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul 

Best Documentary: Amy 

Best Animated Feature: Inside Out 

Best Cinematography: Mad Max: Fury Road 

Best Editing: Mad Max: Fury Road 

Best Score: Mad Max: Fury Road 

Top 10 Films:

1. Mad Max: Fury Road 
2. Creed
3. Brooklyn
4. Carol
5. Spotlight
6. Clouds of Sils Maria 
7. Bridge of Spies 
8. The Martian 
9. Anomalisa
10. Tangerine

I'm loving that Mad Max is continuing to show some traction, slowly becoming a legitimate threat to get in for Best Picture and Best Director. Creed getting some love is also nice. I went and saw that yesterday and I was pretty blown away by the performances of both Jordan and Stallone and think their wins here are deserving. But Saoirse Ronan winning Best Actress here proves that Best Actress look to be between her and Brie Larson for Room. Kristen Stewart is also slowly proving herself as a dark horse in the Best Supporting Actress race. If she can at least get in the Globes, then she's a definite threat to get in the Oscars. So far, Inside Out is 3-0 in the critics circle wins for Best Animated Feature, winning at the BOFCA, NYFCC, and the NBR. Although, I would watch out for Anomalisa which made the top 10 and could steal Inside Out's thunder.

As the various critics groups announce their nominees and winners, I will also cover those as they roll out. The Washington DC Film Critics Association should be announcing their nominees later today and the Boston Film Critics, New York Film Critics Online, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association will announce their winners tomorrow. So be on the lookout for my coverage of the critics groups. Here is to a great awards season!

Oscars 2016: Gotham/NBR/NYFCC Winners

Hello, Bloggers, awards season has really started to kick in since some of the key critical circles, the Gotham Awards, the National Board of Review, and New York Film Critics Circle awards have announced their winners. Let's see how they've affected the race:

Gothams:

Best Film: Spotlight
Best Actor: Paul Dano, Love & Mercy
Best Actress: Bel Powley, Diary of a Teenage Girl
Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award: Jonas Carpigano, Mediterranea
Best Documentary: The Look of Silence
Best Screenplay: Spotlight
Breakthrough Actor: Mya Taylor, Tangerine
Audience Award: Tangerine

Spotlight hardly needed this boost since it is already a frontrunner. But Tangerine has started to get some traction within the indie circuit and I'm thrilled to see Paul Dano take this. Even if he is being pushed in the wrong category for the Oscars (Supporting), this is a much needed boost for his chances. Bel Powley is also a nice surprise, considering how she beat competition like Cate Blanchett, Brie Larson, Lily Tomlin, and even Kristen Wiig, who plays her mother in Diary of a Teenage Girl. Very exciting, though.

National Board of Review:

Best Film: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Director: Ridley Scott, The Martian
Best Actor: Matt Damon, The Martian
Best Actress: Brie Larson, Room
Best Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Best Original Screenplay: The Hateful Eight
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Martian
Best Ensemble: The Big Short
Breakthrough Award: Abraham Attah, Beasts of No Nation and Jacob Tremblay, Room
Best Animated Film: Inside Out
Best Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul
Best Documentary: Amy
Best Directorial Debut: Jonas Carpigano, Mediterranea
Spotlight Award: Sicario for its outstanding collaborative vision
Freedom of Expression Award: Beasts of No Nation and Mustang

I'm loving the Martian love and I especially love that Mad Max took Best Film. Slightly suspicious that it didn't grab awards in other areas. But if you're going to win one award, just nabbing Best Film is nothing to scoff at. Brie Larson has showcased her staying power in the Best Actress race and Inside Out has maintained its frontrunner status in the Best Animated Film category. Absolutely divine! Also, if you look at the rest of their top 10 list, as well as their other lists, it gets even better: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/national-board-review-2015-winners-844862

New York Film Critics Circle:

Best Film: Carol
Best Director: Todd Haynes, Carol
Best Actor: Michael Keaton, Spotlight
Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Best Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Best Supporting Actress: Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria
Best Screenplay: Carol
Best Cinematography: Carol
Best Animated Film: Inside Out
Best Foreign Language Film: Timbuktu
Best First Film: Son of Saul
Best Nonfiction Film: In Jackson Heights

Carol got a major boost after getting shut out at the Gotham Awards. Also, Saoirse Ronan has demonstrated her staying power in the Best Actress race. As of now, I think it is between her and Brie Larson in that race. I would say Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Lawrence are hot on their heels, but I think they both will be hurt by the fact that they just won. But one major highlight from these winners is seeing Kristen Stewart win Best Supporting Actress! With her key win for this as well as her history-making Cesar win, she has really proven herself as a dark horse in the Best Supporting Actress race.

Overall, I am pretty satisfied with how the race is going so far. I love that genre films like Mad Max: Fury Road and The Martian are showing some staying power. Although I do have Carol, Brooklyn, and Spotlight on my to-do list at this point. Between those three, I might see Brooklyn first. Although if Carol comes out next week, that might complicate things.

What do you guys think? How do you think the race has shaken up? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for reading and I look forward to continuing to covering the Oscar race up until February 28th!