Ugh, so at this point I either get them all out now or don't get them out at all. So, without any ceremony whatsoever, in a move akin to that of the 2007 Golden Globes, here are the winners of the 2013 Hollmann Awards:
Showing posts with label 12 Years a Slave. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 12 Years a Slave. Show all posts
Saturday, March 1, 2014
The Gold Rush: A Conversation About Oscars, Part One
Growing up, my group of friends saw every movie we could together; as we got older, we followed the Oscar race as one unit, mapping out routes to the various art-houses we needed to visit, comparing notes, choosing sides. Ten years later, we're still at it -- and thus, the Gold Rush series, an annual conversation between myself and The March King, who I've known since I was nine.
The conversation is in two parts; check out part two over at Who is the March King.
March King: So the Oscars are almost here. Are you ready?
Silver Screener: You are so much more ready than I am. I think Picture, Director, the Actors and Original Screenplay are the only ones where I've seen every nominee.
MK: Oh? What are you missing from Adapted Screenplay?
SS: Before Midnight. I've never seen any of the other ones, and I kept telling myself, "Oh, I'll double feature them, my friends have them, I'll just borrow them, and then I'll watch Before Midnight."
MK: Oops. (Laughs.) It was really good. I'm sorry you haven't caught it yet.
SS: It's just one of those things. Like, everything I missed was just one of those things. "Oh I CAN'T see The Grandmaster, I simply MUST see Last Vegas." (Laughs.) So when I say "just one of those things", I mean odd prioritizing, but at the same time, come on -- who knew The Grandmaster was going to be a player in TWO categories, neither of them Foreign Film?
MK: Dude, The Grandmaster may not have been amazing, but I can't deny its innate beauty. Totally accepting of its nods. It really could run away with cinematography.
Though Gravity is...well let's just say it holds a very dear place in my heart.
SS: Yeah, I don't think any other movie has a shot in that category. It'll be nice to see Lubezki FINALLY get an Oscar.
Gravity was your favorite of the year, right? I know it was in your Top Ten.
MK: Actually, it gets trumped by two others. Her; and Rush, which sadly didn't even get a Best Picture nominee but that's kind of the story of the year... a lot of weird snubs.
SS: I'm actually VERY shocked by the absence of Rush from a lot of categories: Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Supporting Actor -- even the lack of a SAG Ensemble nod!
MK: Yeah, Supporting Actor is my biggest with this movie. Sure, Her was ignored for Best Actor with Joaquin Phoenix, but almost more importantly to me was the absence of Daniel Brühl. He WAS Rush.
SS: And should have been campaigned as lead!
MK: That is the truth. Daniel Brühl was a confoundedly second-billed main character.
But while we're on that subject, who do you have taking Supporting Actor?
SS: As in who do I think or who do I wish?
MK: Let's try both.
SS: I THINK Jared Leto's unstoppable. I WANT Michael Fassbender to stop him.
MK: Glad to see we're on the same page there. I just want Michael Fassbender to win for everything and get some credit. But Jared Leto's been around for a while and while his story is not as impressive as Matthew McConaughey's... by that I mean I actually really like Matthew McConaughey as an actor now... I do think Leto gave a quality performance for once.
SS: Ehhhhhhh
You know, I think Leto's good, and I like Matthew McConaughey, but I'm just not seeing it for these roles. I think both actors are more effective as screen presences than as completely immersive performers.
MK: Understandable. I want Chiwetel Ejiofor over McConaughey as well actually, so I suppose you have a point.
SS: Fassbender is a performer that *is* completely immersive, meanwhile. And I agree with you on Ejiofor. Especially since the two of them work opposite ends of the spectrum brilliantly: Fassbender, the master, drunken and drooling; Ejiofor, the slave, quiet and dignified.
God I love that movie.
MK: So damn good!
SS: Absolutely!
Which makes it a shame that it's probably going to lose all but Adapted Screenplay.
MK: What what what?? You don't think 12 Years a Slave wins Best Picture?
SS: I actually do think it takes Best Picture, but I also think it's going to be a real battle in that category
MK: Gotcha. Who in your mind are the heavy weights?
SS: 12 Years a Slave, Gravity, and American Hustle.
Though I am ready for a Philomena upset.
(Laughs.)
MK: That would be so awesome! Philomena deserves some serious credit. I don't think anybody saw Steve Coogan coming this far, but I really enjoyed his film.
SS: Oh, it's FINE. I know you had it in your top ten, and I guess I see what people like about it, but it just wasn't registering for me.
Although I do think it deserves to win Original Score.
MK: Hmmm... Yes.
But then, that category is ridiculously confusing. It's hard to really call the Gravity score a "score"... it's really more a massive composite of sound effects that coexist with the movie. And I'm surprised Saving Mr. Banks is technically eligible.
SS: Oh, I disagree re: Gravity. There's a lot of violin and brass work, if memory serves. And a wailing woman. I think it's the frontrunner, actually. I don't care much for it, but there it is. And there's more original scoring in Saving Mr. Banks than it seems. It's just very... unnoteworthy?
I'm not crazy about that category this year.
MK: Music is usually one of the more intriguing things about the Oscars, but not so much this year.
SS: For the first time in a while, Song is a better category!
MK: Agreed, but with an awkward asterisk in the form of a dismissed nominee.
It's not that I think Alone Yet Not Alone had a chance in hell at winning this thing... it's just, the Academy acted with literally no class in this situation.
SS: Yeah, that was bullshit. I smell a Weinstein-ian rat.
God forbid we get a nominee that wasn't pre-approved by the Globes and a million FYC ads.
MK: Not for another year I guess. But then we do have some really interesting candidates still standing.
SS: We do! And commercially successful ones, too!
MK: "The Moon Song" from Her was very cool...an honestly quite an important cog in that movie.
SS: YES -- narratively-based music FTW!
MK: And "Let It Go" from Frozen was a show stopper; in the poppiest possible way.
(Laughs.)
SS: And the BEST way possible. I think it wins in a walk.
MK: I keep assuming it's already won, but there's still a full day to go. You never know.
SS: I would DIE.
WOULD I? YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE MARCH KING HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT TO FIND OUT!
You May Also Enjoy:
Like us on Facebook
The conversation is in two parts; check out part two over at Who is the March King.
March King: So the Oscars are almost here. Are you ready?
Silver Screener: You are so much more ready than I am. I think Picture, Director, the Actors and Original Screenplay are the only ones where I've seen every nominee.
MK: Oh? What are you missing from Adapted Screenplay?
SS: Before Midnight. I've never seen any of the other ones, and I kept telling myself, "Oh, I'll double feature them, my friends have them, I'll just borrow them, and then I'll watch Before Midnight."
 |
| For all I know, they're spies. |
SS: It's just one of those things. Like, everything I missed was just one of those things. "Oh I CAN'T see The Grandmaster, I simply MUST see Last Vegas." (Laughs.) So when I say "just one of those things", I mean odd prioritizing, but at the same time, come on -- who knew The Grandmaster was going to be a player in TWO categories, neither of them Foreign Film?
MK: Dude, The Grandmaster may not have been amazing, but I can't deny its innate beauty. Totally accepting of its nods. It really could run away with cinematography.
Though Gravity is...well let's just say it holds a very dear place in my heart.
SS: Yeah, I don't think any other movie has a shot in that category. It'll be nice to see Lubezki FINALLY get an Oscar.
Gravity was your favorite of the year, right? I know it was in your Top Ten.
 |
| Ugh, you and me both, Daniel |
SS: I'm actually VERY shocked by the absence of Rush from a lot of categories: Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Supporting Actor -- even the lack of a SAG Ensemble nod!
MK: Yeah, Supporting Actor is my biggest with this movie. Sure, Her was ignored for Best Actor with Joaquin Phoenix, but almost more importantly to me was the absence of Daniel Brühl. He WAS Rush.
SS: And should have been campaigned as lead!
MK: That is the truth. Daniel Brühl was a confoundedly second-billed main character.
But while we're on that subject, who do you have taking Supporting Actor?
SS: As in who do I think or who do I wish?
MK: Let's try both.
SS: I THINK Jared Leto's unstoppable. I WANT Michael Fassbender to stop him.
MK: Glad to see we're on the same page there. I just want Michael Fassbender to win for everything and get some credit. But Jared Leto's been around for a while and while his story is not as impressive as Matthew McConaughey's... by that I mean I actually really like Matthew McConaughey as an actor now... I do think Leto gave a quality performance for once.
SS: Ehhhhhhh
You know, I think Leto's good, and I like Matthew McConaughey, but I'm just not seeing it for these roles. I think both actors are more effective as screen presences than as completely immersive performers.
MK: Understandable. I want Chiwetel Ejiofor over McConaughey as well actually, so I suppose you have a point.
 |
| DREAM TEAM |
God I love that movie.
MK: So damn good!
SS: Absolutely!
Which makes it a shame that it's probably going to lose all but Adapted Screenplay.
MK: What what what?? You don't think 12 Years a Slave wins Best Picture?
SS: I actually do think it takes Best Picture, but I also think it's going to be a real battle in that category
MK: Gotcha. Who in your mind are the heavy weights?
SS: 12 Years a Slave, Gravity, and American Hustle.
Though I am ready for a Philomena upset.
(Laughs.)
 |
| Oh, you'd just love that, wouldn't you? |
SS: Oh, it's FINE. I know you had it in your top ten, and I guess I see what people like about it, but it just wasn't registering for me.
Although I do think it deserves to win Original Score.
MK: Hmmm... Yes.
But then, that category is ridiculously confusing. It's hard to really call the Gravity score a "score"... it's really more a massive composite of sound effects that coexist with the movie. And I'm surprised Saving Mr. Banks is technically eligible.
SS: Oh, I disagree re: Gravity. There's a lot of violin and brass work, if memory serves. And a wailing woman. I think it's the frontrunner, actually. I don't care much for it, but there it is. And there's more original scoring in Saving Mr. Banks than it seems. It's just very... unnoteworthy?
I'm not crazy about that category this year.
MK: Music is usually one of the more intriguing things about the Oscars, but not so much this year.
SS: For the first time in a while, Song is a better category!
MK: Agreed, but with an awkward asterisk in the form of a dismissed nominee.
It's not that I think Alone Yet Not Alone had a chance in hell at winning this thing... it's just, the Academy acted with literally no class in this situation.
SS: Yeah, that was bullshit. I smell a Weinstein-ian rat.
God forbid we get a nominee that wasn't pre-approved by the Globes and a million FYC ads.
MK: Not for another year I guess. But then we do have some really interesting candidates still standing.
SS: We do! And commercially successful ones, too!
MK: "The Moon Song" from Her was very cool...an honestly quite an important cog in that movie.
SS: YES -- narratively-based music FTW!
MK: And "Let It Go" from Frozen was a show stopper; in the poppiest possible way.
(Laughs.)
SS: And the BEST way possible. I think it wins in a walk.
MK: I keep assuming it's already won, but there's still a full day to go. You never know.
SS: I would DIE.
 |
| Some would say I'd be...FLOORED. |
WOULD I? YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE MARCH KING HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT TO FIND OUT!
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.
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.
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.
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, December 11, 2013
SAG Award Nominees
 |
| Simply the Best |
STUNT ENSEMBLE
All is Lost
Fast & Furious 6
Lone Survivor
Rush
The Wolverine
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Daniel Bruhl, Rush
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
James Gandolfini, Enough Said
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
High-fives all around. Perfect.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska
Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels' The Butler
Look, Squibb's fine in the movie, don't get me wrong, but who's voting this as Best of the Year? I don't think she fully succeeds in overcoming the inconsistencies Payne has her play.
ACTOR
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Forest Whitaker, Lee Daniels' The Butler
No Redford? Have we all gone mad? I figured Whitaker was getting in, but I had thought maybe McConaughey, maybe Hanks, would be swept out in favor of the Sundance Kid's effective solo performance. I'm glad they weren't, of course -- McConaughey's pretty good, and Hanks is giving one of the best performances in his career. But Redford, man....they should have kicked out Whitaker.
ACTRESS
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County
Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks
I've yet to see the Streep and the Thompson, and they're two of my favorite actresses, so I'm optimistic. That being said, I do not get the hosannas over Bullock's performance. She does a good job anchoring the film, I guess, but when I look at the quietly gutting Rooney Mara in Ain't Them Bodies Saints, the layered warmth and panic of Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Enough Said, the relatable cycle of renewal and defeat Greta Gerwig portrayed in Frances Ha; when I look at all that, I can't help but feel we can do a hell of a lot better than Sandra Bullock in Gravity.
ENSEMBLE
American Hustle
August: Osage County
Dallas Buyers Club
Lee Daniels' The Butler
Dallas Buyers Club! Now there's a surprise! Honestly, I was hoping they'd come through for Prisoners here, but I think I'm one of a handful of people who knows what that movie was all about -- and adores it. That's a true ensemble with across-the-board greatness -- and while I like an all-star cast as much as the next fella, Lee Daniels' The Butler is hardly across-the-board in its merits. I mean, Jesus, Forest Whitaker?
I don't want to sound like I'm beyond disappointed with these results. I'm just not exactly thrilled by them. Like, OK, bully for Lee Daniels' The Butler and 12 Years a Slave - I loved both of them. But other than Dallas Buyers Club in Ensemble, the omission of Redford, and All is Lost in Stunt, there was nothing thrilling about this lineup. I'm sure I'll have a better handle on these by Christmas -- by then, American Hustle and August: Osage County will be out. You know, for US MORTALS.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)