Thursday, January 16, 2014

The 2013 Oscar Nominees!

Like Benedict Cumberbatch in August: Osage County, I am broken up over missing the Oscar nominees. It's the first time I've missed the announcement since 2006, so it's a terrible, terrible feeling to have. But then I remember, "Molly, you in Sundance, girl." Ah, yes. That's fine, then. It's okay.

The nominees are....

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Lucky Guess?: Oscar Predix, 2013

I didn't mean to predict every Oscar category, but boy, once I got going, I just could not stop!

Hopefully I'll be able to watch the actual announcement Thursday morning, but if I don't, it'll be because I'm busy setting up BiteSize TV for success at the Sundance Film Festival. Yes, we will be streaming live content from Park City, Utah, and it is going to be a damn good time! So, worthy reason to miss out on the noms. Though I probably won't -- it's news, after all.

Anyway, my predictions are....after the jump, of course. Take a look.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Crystal Ball for the Globes

The Golden Globes air tomorrow night, and while I did not post about the nominees, I may as well speculate on who I think will win. It's always a fun, loose event, enjoyable to watch - and that was before they got Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host. Twice.

So! Predictions! If I haven't followed a category with "should win", it means the win I predict is also the one I want. And, of course, movies only, since I know next to nothing about what goes on in the TV world...

DRAMA 
PICTURE: Gravity
should win: 12 Years a Slave
ACTOR: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
should win: Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) or Robert Redford (All is Lost)
ACTRESS: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

COMEDY/MUSICAL 
PICTURE: American Hustle
ACTOR: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
should win: Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis) or Joaquin Phoenix (Her)
ACTRESS: Amy Adams, American Hustle

IN GENERAL 
DIRECTOR: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
should win: Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
SCREENPLAY: Eric Warren Singer/David O. Russell, American Hustle
should win: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
should win: Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
should win: Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
SCORE: Steven Price, Gravity
should win: Alexander Ebert, All is Lost
SONG: "Let It Go", Frozen
ANIMATED: Frozen
FOREIGN FILM: Blue is the Warmest Color

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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

The 2013 Hollmann Award Nominees!

Not to steal the DGA's thunder, but for some reason I decided today would be the perfect day to announce the nominees for the Eighth Annual Hollmann Awards! You've seen the Top 24, you've stewed over the Longlists -- now, prepare to be scandalized (or not -- I'm not the most unpredictable).

Like last year, the categories are presented in the order in which I figured them out, with the exception of Best Picture, which of course is all the way at the end. And, of course, this is a graphics-heavy post, so get ready.

The nominees are...after the jump.

Friday, January 3, 2014

The Longlists of 2013!

Clearly, I'm the kind of guy who functions best when he's making lists of film stuff. Yesterday, the Top 24 of the year; today, the Longlists for the Hollmann Awards!

The idea for the longlists began with BAFTA, which did this for years, the last time being 2011. It was a fun way of winnowing the field, not just in Best Picture, but in every category -- in my case, 18. It helps you get your thoughts in order, gives you a smaller pool to think over, allows you to annoy others prematurely as they see their favorites already discounted.

So, following are the semi-finalists -- 15 in each category, unless otherwise specified. You of course know the Best Picture lineup, but let's give you a reminder, with the remainder after the jump:

BEST PICTURE
(10 semi-finalists)
12 Years a Slave
Ain't Them Bodies Saints
All is Lost
American Hustle
Blue Jasmine
Her
The Lords of Salem
Prisoners
Spring Breakers
Wadjda

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Top 24 of 2013


Most people do a Top 10. Many others stretch it to a Top 25. I do both, usually ranking 25 - 11 and teasing the semi-finalists for my own Best Picture award. 

But not this year. This year, The Silver Screening Room is stopping at 24. Why? The answer is simple: no film was worthy of taking that 25th slot. I know that sounds snotty, but it's true. I went through a number of titles in my head for the final slot, switching it out again and again not because of the quality of the other films, but because of the qualms I had with whatever fell into 25. And why make a list of what I consider to be the best if everything is asterisked with misgivings? No, in this case, less truly is more.

So, after the jump are my Top 24 of 2013. And if you're saying to yourself, "Oh, did he not see [whatever]?" you can see the full list of 91 films (plus the Top Ten of 1993!) right here. Meanwhile:

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

My Top Ten....of 1993

With 2013 behind us, it's time to look back at the year that's been. You know what that means: HOLLMANN AWARDS! Tomorrow, my Top 25; Friday, my longlists in all 18 categories.

But before we get to 2013....I have yet to share my Top Ten for 1993! So, that first; then, right below, the complete list of films I saw in 2013.

1. Six Degrees of Separation
dir: Fred Schepisi
scr: John Guare, from his play
cin: Ian Baker
Winner: Picture, Actor (Donald Sutherland), Actress (Stockard Channing)
Nominee: Production Design, Ensemble