Who Won: Cate Blanchett. Blue Jasmine is a shoddily constructed piece of uninteresting trash. Vile, anxious, poisonous rich woman isn't rich anymore. Boo-hoo. You could make the argument that Blanchett does bring the garbage script "to life" but being mean, shallow, and self-centered is not an acting feat.
Who Should Have Won: Amy Adams. This is the second time the Oscars have snubbed Amy Adams, the first when Melissa Leo's strident 2D overbearing mother beat out Adams more complex Boston tough taking control of her life. Adams in American Hustle gives an amazingly layered, exuberant, mesmerizing performance. Using different accents and characters to portray a woman in love, a woman in search of a better life, a woman on the verge of control.
Close Second: Judi Dench. The Dame put in an unusual performance in Philomena. The actress known better for playing sophisticated, vocal, and powerful women plays a reserved, working-class, sincere woman. Verging on naive. She conveys a poise and grace combined with a simplicity and vulnerability unique to her filmography. A performance overlooked, possibly, because the Dame's incredible acting prowess is taken for granted.
Best Actor
Who Won: Matthew Mcconaughey. It is impressive that Mcconaughey lost all that weight but other than that his performance was nothing out of the ordinary. He put in much more varied performances in this years Mud and HBO's True Detective. The subject matter of Dallas Buyers Club is compelling but the narrative structure is unsatisfying as is Mcconaughey's one note character and stagnant performance. There is no transformation, there is no self awareness, there is no growth.
Who Should Have Won: Chiwetel Ejiofor. A complex and brave performance. Conveying much with silence. A layered, sophisticated, tenuous portrayal of the suffering and perseverance of the human spirit.
Close Second: Christian Bale. A jubilant and joy filled performance. The chemistry between Adams and Bale is magnetic. Bale is hilarious with his most notable, if not first, comedic role to date. He also brings an incredible amount of nuance and heart to this small time grifter.
Best Supporting Actress
Who Won: Lupita Nyong'o. A raw, moving, tortured performance. Honest and pointed and powerful. Head and shoulders above the other nominees.
Who Should Have Won: Lupita Nyong'o. Jennifer Lawerence was good in American Hustle but easily the weakest of the four leads(her accent kept slipping). I'm shocked Lawerence was ever considered over the substantially more soul-bearing performance of Nyong'o.
Best Supporting Actor
Who Won: Jared Leto. A truly transformative performance with a lot of heart. Under utilized in the film, Leto electrifies the screen the short amount of time he is on. Worth the watch simply for Leto's performance.
Who Should Have Won: Jared Leto. Although his rambly, bumbling, preachy acceptance speeches have been a trial.
Best Picture
Who Won: 12 Years A Slave. Beautiful cinematography, wonderful score, impeccable script, incredible acting. A film with a clear, discerning, and biting point. Something in rare supply this year.
Who Should Have Won: 12 Years A Slave.
Close Second: American Hustle. A wonderful film. Certainly the most fun of this year with the most rewatchability. Funny and heartfelt. Interesting characters in interesting situations connecting to each other as fellow humans.
Close Second: American Hustle. A wonderful film. Certainly the most fun of this year with the most rewatchability. Funny and heartfelt. Interesting characters in interesting situations connecting to each other as fellow humans.
Best Documentary
Who Won: 20 Feet From Stardom. Eh. A decent film that follows provincial documentary formula to the T. Nothing innovative, nothing new, an interesting peak into the life and career of some back up singers. Very safe. Very standard documentary fare. The best thing about the film is that it may have rejuvenated Darlene Love's career.
Who Should Have Won: The Act Of Killing. An fascinating investigation into a dark and extremely troubling situation. The subjects of the film are encouraged to stage and reenact murders they committed which are filmed complete with stages and extensive make-up. Unique and innovative in its conceit and execution. Easily the most thought provoking and disturbing documentary of the year.
Close Second: Stories We Tell. An epic and unforgivable snub by the Oscars, Stories We Tell was not even nominated. A lyrical and haunting film by Sarah Polley about the mystery surrounding her birth. An investigation of family, truth, love, and storytelling itself.
Close Second: Stories We Tell. An epic and unforgivable snub by the Oscars, Stories We Tell was not even nominated. A lyrical and haunting film by Sarah Polley about the mystery surrounding her birth. An investigation of family, truth, love, and storytelling itself.
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