THE ANNUAL BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION ARTS AWARDS WINNERS

THE ANNUAL BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION ARTS AWARDS WINNERS

The countdown to the Oscars continue as the winners of The BAFTAs were announced Sunday night. There were not too many surprises here, but the equal love for 12 Years a Slave and Gravity still makes your Oscar ballot a bit tricky to fill out.  Despite the win for Jennifer Lawrence, I still think Lupita Nyong'o will take home the Oscar.

 Let's take a take at the BAFTA winners...

BEST FILM
12 Years a Slave

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
Gravity

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
Kieran Evans (Director/Writer) Kelly + Victor

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
The Great Beauty

DOCUMENTARY
The Act of Killing

ANIMATED FILM
Frozen

DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell, American Hustle

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, Philomena

LEADING ACTOR
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave

LEADING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle

ORIGINAL MUSIC
Steven Price, Gravity

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Emmanuel Lubezki, Gravity

EDITING
Dan Hanley and Mike Hill, Rush

PRODUCTION DESIGN
Catherine Martin and Beverley Dunn, The Great Gatsby

COSTUME DESIGN
Catherine Martin, The Great Gatsby

MAKE UP AND HAIR
Evelyne Noraz and Lori McCoy-Bell, American Hustle

SOUND
Glenn Freemantle, Skip Lievsay, Christopher Benstead, Niv Adiri, and Chris Munro, Gravity

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, David Shirk, Neil Corbould, and Nikki Penny, Gravity

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
Sleeping with the Fishes

BRITISH SHORT FILM
Room 8

THE EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
Will Poulter

PAUL'S YEAR AT THE MOVIES: 2013 EDITION

PAUL'S YEAR AT THE MOVIES: 2013 EDITION

It has come to that time where I look back at my trip to the movies in 2013. Every year, I track all of the movies I saw for the first time. Whether they were the new 2013 releases or older films I was just discovering for the first time, I like to jot them down to see how I fare year to year. Before I go any further, I must give a special acknowledgment to my friend and fellow cinephile Max who I stole this idea from many years ago. I looked back at the 2012 Edition in this series where I noted that I had seen 113 new movies in that year. I am surprised to say that I beat that number with 119 new films under my belt in 2013, 81 of which were 2013 releases. As many of you know I got married in June, so my movie going went on the back burner the first half of the year as wedding planning and counting down to that special day was my priority in the first half of 2013. Each year I try to see more and more films, so I am pleasantly surprised to see I beat last year's numbers despite the slow start. I would love to get to every movie out there, but time and money plays a big factor into it.

As far as the blog is concerned, I created some new content including "The Snapshot Trivia of the Day", the "Halloween" Retrospective, Oscar Watch 2014, The Archives plus the traditional trailers, reviews, rewinds, and other articles. I have some new ideas and exciting things coming in 2014 so keep checking back! It has been an exciting year in the networking front as I got to interact with new readers and followers of the blog. In June, I was honored to become LAMB #1588 when I joined the Large Association of Movie Blogs. 2013 also marked my first trip to the Twin Cities Film Festival where I met some other bloggers and critics in the Minneapolis film scene. I love getting to know new people and discussing the films we either loved or hated.

Here is the list, plus My Top 10 of 2013 and the Worst of 2013, some noteworthy performances, and some other tidbits:

The List

The Sessions
Promised Land
Broken City
Side Effects
Amour
Take This Waltz
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Oz, The Great and Powerful
Side By Side
A Separation
Wreck-It Ralph
Compliance
Admission
The Silence
The Prodigal Son
Evil Dead
Flashdance
Days of Heaven
Jurassic Park 3D
Double Indemnity
Room 237
To the Wonder
The Place Beyond the Pines
ParaNorman
Iron Man 3
The Paperboy
The Great Gatsby
Bernie
Star Trek Into Darkness
Oblivion
Now You Seen Me
All Good Things
End of Watch
Lars and the Real Girl
The Way Way Back
Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil
Behind the Candelabra
Man of Steel
Beautiful Creatures
Stoker
Not Fade Away
Identity Thief
Mama
This is the End
V/H/S
The Heat
White House Down
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
World War Z
The Blue Umbrella
Monsters University
Despicable Me
Modern Times
The Conjuring
Red
Pacific Rim
The Wolverine
We're the Millers
Fruitvale Station
Lee Daniels' The Butler
Seven Psychopaths
Bachelorette
Blue Jasmine
Chronicle
Like Crazy
The Spectacular Now
Austenland
Hot Fuzz
The World's End
Best Worst Movie
The Possession
Isidious: Chapter 2
Prisoners
Anna Karenina
Don Jon
Enough Said
V/H/S/2
The Ward
Gravity
Captain Phillips
Nebraska
Honeymoon Suite
We Are What We Are
Winter in the Blood
Truth or Blood
The Search for Simon
Ghost Light
They Will Outlive Us All
Hot 'n Bothered
Casual Encounters
A Better Life
Mud
12 Years a Slave
Much Ado About Nothing (2013)
About Time
Thor: The Dark World
Only God Forgives
Frances Ha
Salinger
Dallas Buyers Club
JFK
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Frozen
Philomena
Parkland
Delivery Man
Prince Avalanche
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Upstream Color
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
What Maisie Knew
The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza)
Lovelace
Saving Mr. Banks
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
August: Osage County
The Wolf of Wall Street
American Hustle

Paul's Top 10 of 2013

These are the films that had the biggest impact on me. There may be some different choices on here than you may find on other Top 10 lists out there, but that is what makes each film critic a little different. Please note I have not seen Inside Llewyn Davis (seeing it today!), Her , All is Lost, or Labor Day at this time, so those unfortunately will not be found here.

1. The Way Way Back

This indie hit from the summer just hit that part of my inner soul that spoke to so many of the feelings and emotions I went through when I was the age of the main character. Nat Faxon and Jim Rash wrote a hilarious and touching script that garnered fantastic performances from Sam Rockwell, Allison Janney, Steve Carell, and Toni Collette.

2. Gravity

Alfonso Cuarón's epic 3D masterpiece was an intense, breathtaking, and magical ride. It is one of those movies that is the true definition of why people go to the movies. As years and decades pass, I hope it is remembered as one of the genre's great films like 2001: A Space Odyssey.

3. Fruitvale Station

Fruitvale Station did not get the audience response it deserved. It hit theaters, but did not seem to last long which is quite unfortunate as it is one of the most important films audiences should have seen this year. It was an emotional kick to the gut with Michael B. Jordan giving one of my favorite performances of the year.

4. Nebraska

Alexander Payne's latest took me by surprise and is another film that touches numerous parts of the soul. Bruce Dern gives one hell of a performance as an cantankerous old man who is determined that he won a sweepstakes in the mail. The scenes between Dern and June Squibb as his feisty wife are hysterical. Payne perfectly captures that small Midwestern town vibe that is all too familiar.

5. American Hustle

David O. Russell has another hit on his hands with this con story somewhat based on the ABSCAM operation in the 1970s. It should come has no surprise that he as created some over-the-top characters brought to life by frequent collaborations Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and Bradley Cooper.

6. 12 Years a Slave

Not since Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List has a film so vividly captured a horrifying chapter in history. Steve McQueen’s latest left me quite speechless afterwards as I tried to process everything that was thrown at me. Lupita Nyong’o is a revelation who was vulnerable and heartbreaking in every way. Chiwetel Ejiofor is another standout actor of the year who conveys so much emotion and range without it being a flashy or showy performance.

7. Philomena

Dame Judi Dench gives another stellar performance to add to her long resume. She proves yet again why she is one of the greats. Director Stephen Frears precisely executes this film that is based on a true story with the right tone without ever gearing toward Lifetime Movie of the Week status.

8. The Conjuring

I LOVE horror films, so it was refreshing to see James Wan's latest completely hit it out of the ballpark. It was suspenseful and scary without using copious amounts of gore and body parts. The Conjuring is an homage to the horror films of the 1970s that had the slow burn leading up to an insane edge of your seat finale. I think it is one of the genre's best in years.

9. Prisoners

This twisty ethical child abduction mystery thriller left audiences pretty divided. I can tell you that I was engrossed from the very first frame and did not check the watch in the entire two and a half hour run-time. Hugh Jackman was a bit over lauded for his work in Les Miserables, but I think his best performance comes here as a father who will stop at nothing as he searches for his missing daughter. Another high point is the work of ten time Oscar nominee Roger Deakins for his cinematography . He works his magic by framing so many of the shots into stunning visuals that tell their own stories as well as shape the story we are watching before us.

10. Saving Mr. Banks

Emma Thompson is practically perfect in every way as P.L. Travers who had no interest in bringing her novel "Mary Poppins" to the big screen. The supporting cast, including Jason Schwartzman, Paul Giamatti, and Colin Farrell, should be noted for their work in the story. If you grew up watching Mary Poppins like I did, it will be hard to think back to your childhood and the memories you have of that film. Don't be surprised if you start humming along the songs in your seat.

**HONORABLE MENTIONS: Blue Jasmine, Frances Ha, Much Ado About Nothing, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Place Beyond the Pines

The Worst of 2013

Truth be told, I do not end up seeing a lot of bad movies throughout the year. I do not mean for that to come out snobbish as I really do love a good bad movie that is just dreadful. Frankly, it can be easier to write about those God awful movies over a film that is just middle of the road average. It is just hard for me to justify spending money at the theater and wasting my free time on a movie that I know will be bad. Four of the movies below I did see in theaters and wasted some money on them. I had such hopes to only to be highly disappointed.

1. Truth or Dare
2. Evil Dead
3. Oz, The Great and Powerful
4. Only God Forgives
5. The Wolverine
**honorable mention--Pacific Rim

Noteworthy Performances
Barkhad Abdi- Captain Phillips
Amy Adams- American Hustle
Christian Bale- American Hustle
Cate Blanchett- Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock- Gravity
Bruce Dern- Nebraska
Judi Dench- Philomena
Leonardo DiCaprio- The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor- 12 Years a Slave
Greta Gerwig- Frances Ha
Ryan Gosling- The Place Beyond the Pines
Jake Gyllenhaal- Prisoners
Tom Hanks- Captain Phillips, Saving Mr. Banks
Sally Hawkins- Blue Jasmine
Hugh Jackman- Prisoners
Michael B. Jordan- Fruitvale Station
Jennifer Lawrence- American Hustle
Lili Taylor- The Conjuring
Jared Leto- Dallas Buyers Club
Matthew McConaughey- Dallas Buyers Club, Mud, The Wolf of Wall Street
Lupita Nyong'o- 12 Years a Slave
Simon Pegg- The World's End
Sam Rockwell- The Way Way Back
June Squibb- Nebraska
Meryl Streep- August: Osage County

2013 has been a terrific year at the movies, and there are still a few high profile films I have not seen yet. I am really looking forward to a big 2014 and I have some exciting things coming for the blog, so stay tuned! As always, thank you so much for reading, commenting, and sharing the movies that you love. A big thank you to all of those following me on Twitter. Feel free to comment below on all of your favorites from 2013. What films touched your inner soul? What films did you want to run away from? Here's to a great 2013!

Movie Review: 12 YEARS A SLAVE

12 YEARS A SLAVE
Director: Steve McQueen
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Alfre Woodard, Lupita Nyong'o, Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Brad Pitt

Not since Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List has a film so vividly captured a horrifying chapter in history. Steve McQueen’s (Shame, Hunger) latest film is an adaptation of the memoir of the same name by Solomon Northup. In 1841, Solomon (Ejiofor) was a free black man with a wife and two children. Being an accomplished violinist, he is targeted by two men (Scoot McNairy and Taran Killam) posing as artists offering him a chance to be a part of a touring music gig. He is bound and kidnapped after he passes out after a night of heavy libations.

He is sold into slavery and given the new name “Platt”. For twelve years, he is sold off to various plantations. His first owner, William Ford (Cumberbatch) is a preacher and seems to treat him a bit better than future owner Edwin Epps (Fassbender). Solomon and fellow slave Patsey (Nyong’o) spend the majority of their time under the cruel and vicious hands of Epps and his mistress (Paulson). He holds onto enough hope that someday he will be rescued.

The film is getting a lot of buzz about how brutal the depiction of slavery is. I have even read some articles stating that movies goers, even members of the Academy, are walking out or cannot take too much of it due to the violence and graphic nature. I would like to know what these people were expecting. A light walk in the park? This is a tragic period of American history and I applaud director Steve McQueen for going all in by depicting the violence, hatred, and brutality that went into it. I do not feel like we see enough directors that are willing to tackle such dark and horrific moments in history. If they do, they end up sugar coating the truth or adding in some sort of love story or fictitious subplot to lighten the tone.

The story gets right into the nitty gritty early on as Solomon is sold into slavery within the first fifteen minutes. For the next two hours, you may feel a tight wad of anxiety and intensity inside of you as it never lets up. It compels you to watch Solomon’s journey that hopefully challenges you as an individual and demands your attention. There are numerous moments where I could hear the others around me squirm and writhe in their seats.

McQueen has assembled a big cast of heavy hitters, many of whom have very small parts. Pitt and Cumberbatch appear for about fifteen minutes or so. Paul Giamatti, Alfre Woodard, and Bryan Batt are all on screen for about five minutes each. Paul Dano gives another strong performance this year after his turn in Prisoners. Fassbender’s character is truly heinous in every possible way. There are very few redeeming qualities about him. At times I wanted more out of him than just a monster. As Patsey, Nyong’o is a revelation who is vulnerable and heartbreaking in every way. I expect an Oscar nomination to come her way. We now come to Chiwetel Ejiofor who is the heart and core of this film. He carries so much weight and determination in his eyes the whole film. You just look into his eyes and see layers behind them. You never see Solomon give up. Ejiofor conveys so much emotion and range without it being a flashy or showy performance. The simple yet effective cinematography by frequent McQueen collaborator Sean Bobbitt oftentimes is a still shot focusing on Ejiofor hoping, praying, and waiting for help to come his way. In so many movies these days, the camera is zipping by so fast that it can be hard to keep up. The exact opposite is happening here it where keeping the camera still gets these images and actions ingrained in your head.

How do you walk away saying this is great film when it is about such horrific events? You are not left with that feel good type feeling like you do after say The Way Way Back. Instead, you are left with this pit in your stomach. You have to go back and judge it off how well did McQueen do his job as a storyteller. Did it affect you in another way? Did it teach you something? Does it leave you in deep discussion afterwards? Did it shake something inside of you? McQueen has created a film that is sure to be talked about for quite some time. There are certain scenes and images that I cannot stop thinking about that I would love to discuss here, but it is better to just experience them firsthand without me spoiling them.

RATING: ***** (5 out of 5 stars)