Year in Review: Terry's Top 10 Films of 2013

For yet another year, it takes me halfway through the following year to publish my top 10 list of the year before.  I blame my busy schedule.  I could put out my list a little earlier, but I don't feel right about settling on a top 10 list without at least seeing all the Best Picture nominees.  Sometimes I get grief for fixating a little too much on the Best Picture nominees, especially last year when eight of the nine nominees found their way into my top ten.  (That is not the case this year.)  There are still many top films from 2013 I haven't seen (viewed only 70% of Todd's Top 10, 40% of Zach's Top 10), but if I wait to see them all you will never see my list.

Last year was a fairly strong year in film with many great films coming from many different genres.  In my top 10 alone (which only contains five Best Picture nominees this year, thank you very much), there are heart-warming inspirational stories, fun family films, dark psychological thrillers, intense sci-fi visual effects masterpieces, and futuristic ground-breaking original stories.  However, what ruled this year for me was the "based on a true story" genre.  Hollywood seemed to really take the perspective of Jack's future father-in-law to heart in that there are so many great non-fiction stories out there, why waste your time with fiction.  Half of the films on my top ten list (and one honorable mention) are based on true stories.  Whether it be a story focused on a high-profile public icon or an average guy faced with an impossible situation, Hollywood truly found some powerful stories and the real life people that made them possible.

Films seen: 46
"Thumbs Up" Percentage: 67%
Best Actor: Oscar Isaac - Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Actress: Emma Thompson - Saving Mr. Banks
Supporting Actor: Barkhad Abdi - Captain Phillips
Supporting Actress: June Squibb - Nebraska
Breakout Performances: Michael B. Jordan - Fruitvale Station, Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years a Slave
Most Overrated: American Hustle
Most Underrated: Side Effects
Biggest Surprise: The World's End
Biggest Disappointment: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Bottom Five: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, About 111 Girls, The Wolverine, Oz the Great and Powerful, Now You See Me

Top 10 List

Honorable Mention: Rush, Inside Llewyn Davis, Nebraska

10.  Before Midnight (dir. by Richard Linklater)

I am a recent fan of this series, but I can't help but be fascinated by the story of Jesse and Celine, portrayed by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.  We get a window into their relationship together every 9 years with this being the third installment.  I will say it was the weakest of the three "Before" films so far as it, for the first time, I felt produced some less than genuine, authentic moments.  However, this is being very picky as we should be allowed to be when it comes to such a beautiful and original franchise as this.  Once again the film is driven by wonderfully rich dialogue that truly allows us to see into these characters souls and, in this one especially, see how they have changed since they first met 18 years ago.  I hope we get the fourth installment in 2022.

9.  Her (dir. by Spike Jonze)

Every now and then a film comes along that is so original and groundbreaking in its premise that it's just fun to experience it.  Ever rarer are the times when these groundbreaking stories are so well executed that they become one of the best films of that year.  It's the difference between Synecdoche, New York and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.  Her belongs in that second category.  Looking ahead to, I'm sure, the not-too-distant future, it tells the story of a man falling in love with his computer that is designed to think and have a full range of emotions.  Joaquin Phoenix gives a brilliant performance as he appears to be talking to himself the majority of the time, but Scarlett Johansson makes the film work as she brings Samantha to life in a way that you forget you are watching a man interact with a computer.  It simply turns into one of the most unique love stories you will ever see.

8.  Philomena (dir. by Stephen Frears)

In the first of the true stories to come across my list, we have the tale of a sweet, endearing old Irish lady and a smug, sarcastic, self-righteous British reporter (basically, the perfect stereotype of a British reporter).  Martin Sixsmith (News at 10) has decided to write a human interest story about Philomena Lee who is looking for her son that was taken from her as a toddler.  Going into this movie, I thought I had a grasp on what it was going to be.  It really was so much more than I thought.  It really surprised me in its depth and emotion.  Judi Dench once again shows why she is one of the most decorated actresses of the last 20 years, but the real revelation was Steve Coogan.  Up until now, when I thought of Steve Coogan, I thought of things like Tropic Thunder and singing "Rock Me, Sexy Jesus" in Hamlet 2.  In this film, he reinvents himself and shows what he is truly capable of, both in his acting and screenwriting.  It is one of those films you never get tired of seeing.

7.  Fruitvale Station (dir. by Ryan Coogler)

With the second true story of the top ten comes one of the independent darlings of the year.  This film tells of the last 24 hours in the life of Oscar Grant, a young Oakland man wrongfully gunned down by law enforcement officers.  Of all the characters created in 2013, Oscar might be the most well-rounded and complete of them all.  Michael B. Jordan brilliantly brings to life the spirit of Oscar, a young troubled ma trying to do what is right but often falling short.  It is a tragic story that breaks your heart knowing the eventual outcome and seeing the life that wasn't able to play its course.  Soon after it starts, you forget you are watching a drama with actors and start to think of it as a documentary with archival footage, which is the best a film like this can hope for.

6.  Saving Mr. Banks (dir. by John Lee Hancock)

In what became possibly the best feel-good movie of the year, we have the third true story of the top ten.  This tells the story of Walt Disney's attempts to woo author P.L. Travers to let him make her beloved Mary Poppins into a movie.  As we watch the struggle and debate progress, we also see why Travers holds this story so tightly as we learn about her childhood and the story of her father.  Emma Thompson is spot-on perfect as the tight-lipped, highly skeptical Travers, and Tom Hanks brings Walt Disney back to life in a way few others could.  This is one of those films that makes you laugh, makes you cry, and finds you finishing the movie with a smile on your face and the warm and fuzzies in your heart.  It's another film that I can't get enough of.

5.  Frozen (dir. by Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee)

This is not a true story (however it would be cool if Olaf were real).  Following the film about Walt Disney, we have a Disney animated film.  More times than not recently, an animated film has been making it into my top ten.  Usually it is the Pixar installment of the year, but Monsters University didn't quite reach the heights of the original.  Instead we have a return to old-school Disney with this movie musical that is the best Disney has put out since the days of Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.  Frozen is different though.  It has the feel of a classic Disney film with the princesses and the beautiful original music, but as the movie goes on you realize it is less about the princesses finding their Prince Charming and more about them finding each other.  It has all the magic that you expect out of one of Disney's best efforts and songs that you can't help but hum for days (or months) after.  It is a film that is impossible to not like and easy to love.

4.  Side Effects (dir. by Stephen Soderbergh)

With one of the biggest surprises of the year comes this very underrated film.  I'm always a sucker for a good psychological thriller; one that loops a story around to the point that you are constantly questioning what is real and what isn't until the final twist at the end that makes sense (or doesn't) of the last two hours.  The best in this category 2013 had to offer was Side Effects, the story of a young woman who is dealing with some life-altering side effects to her psychiatric medication.  As if The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo didn't prove enough just how talented and diverse of an actor Rooney Mara is, she proves it once again with this brilliant performance.  It's one of those films that forces you to say at the end, "Stop!  Rewind that!" because you want to experience the whole film again knowing how it all ends up just so you can make sense of it all.  Also, when a film is made with a good Jude Law performance, well that is an accomplishment in itself.

3.  Captain Phillips (dir. by Paul Greengrass)

An average ordinary day, all of a sudden, becomes a life-threatening ordeal.  This is the story of Captain Phillips, as Tom Hanks portrays the titular character who has his freighter ship boarded by Somali pirates.  This true story leaves you on the edge of your seat from start to finish as Paul Greengrass once again shows that he is the master of this type of film.  Much like he did in United 93, Greengrass finds unrecognizable young actors to portray his villains.  This time around, the leader of the group is played by Barkhad Abdi, who gives a truly landmark performance in his first acting role.  Much like how I described Fruitvale Station, this film forces you to forget you are watching a dramatization.  It becomes real.  Tom Hanks gives one of his best performances as he subtly explores the full range of emotions this experience takes his character through.  Between Hanks, Abdi, and the dramatic story portrayed, it is a film you won't soon forget.

2.  Gravity (dir. by Alfonso Cuaron)

Not knowing what I was getting myself into, I went to the theatre one day to experience a double feature of Captain Phillips and Gravity.  I was so emotionally exhausted the rest of the day that I couldn't useless for anything else.  I love movies about space (Apollo 13 is my favorite movie of all time) which made this film even more anticipated than it already should have been.  In what became the most intense 91 minutes of the year, I sat on the edge of my seat with my jaw dropped as I watched George Clooney and Sandra Bullock find to stay alive after an unforeseen catastrophe strikes their spaceship.  The story is great, the performances are top notch, but the real story here is the amazing achievement of Cuaron's directing.  The visuals are beautiful and haunting at the same time.  It is a movie worth watching just to look at, but the story  and struggle of the main characters make it truly special.  Oh yeah, and it's in space!  I thought for sure this would be my top movie of the year.

1.  12 Years a Slave (dir. by Steve McQueen)

For the third year in a row, my top film of the year was the winner of the Best Picture Oscar.  It's good to know the Academy has been getting it right.  This is the true story of Solomon Northup, a 19th century Black man that is kidnapped from his home in the north and enslaved for 12 years.  It's a star-studded affair along the lines of Saving Private Ryan where every supporting character is played by a recognizable face.  Like I said, it was going to take something special for Gravity to not be my top movie of 2013, and this was that good.  The moving and inspiring story portrayed is one of the most powerful stories put to film in recent years.  Every performance is spot on, from Chiwetel Ejiofor's Solomon to slavemasters Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Fassbender to fellow slave Lupita Nyong'o, and help bring to life the incredible vision of director Steve McQueen.  This is a movie that will be remembered for years to come as a film that brought an era to life much like Schindler's List brought the Holocaust to life.  This movie will go down as a landmark achievement as one of the greatest and most important movies of our generation.

So there's my top 10 list.  Hopefully, my top 10 list of 2014 can come out before we are too far into 2015...

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Year in Review: Top 10 Films of 2013

2013 was a year that had very few (if any) masterpieces, but there were many films that I would consider great. I have no issues with the films nominated by the Academy, but they missed out on some of the truly remarkable independent movies that are represented in my top films. Check out my breakdown of the year below, followed by my current top 10 of 2013:

Films seen: 85

Thumbs up percentage: 54.12%

Actor of the year: Matthew McConaughey, 2^nd consecutive year (Dallas Buyer’s Club, Mud, The Wolf of Wall Street)

Actress of the year: Rooney Mara (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, Her, Side Effects)

Best Actor: Michael Jordan – Fruitvale Station, Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street, Joaquin Phoenix – Her, Ethan Hawke – Before Midnight, Robert Redford – All Is Lost

Best Actress: Elle Fanning – Ginger & Rosa, Julie Delpy – Before Midnight, Brie Larson – Short Term 12, Sandra Bullock – Gravity, Greta Gerwig – Frances Ha

Best Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck – Out of the Furnace, James Franco – Spring Breakers, Jonah Hill – The Wolf of Wall Street, Michael Cera – Magic Magic, Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave

Best Supporting Actress: Annika Wedderkopp – The Hunt, Scarlett Johansson – Her, Rachel Boston – It’s a Disaster, Kristin Scott Thomas – Only God Forgives, Mary Elizabeth Winstead – The Spectacular Now

Best Original Screenplay: Her, Nebraska, The Place Beyond the Pines, Inside Llewyn Davis, Drinking Buddies

Best Adapted Screenplay: Before Midnight, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Spectacular Now, Short Term 12, 12 Years a Slave
Most underrated film: The Place Beyond the Pines

Most overrated film: Saving Mr. Banks

Biggest surprise: Side Effects

Biggest disappointment: Out of the Furnace

Best ensemble casts: Her, Drinking Buddies, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Place Beyond the Pines, Prisoners

Bottom five of the year (from bad to worst): 42, Quartet, Now You See Me, Man of Steel, A Good Day to Die Hard

Most anticipated unseen films: Blue Is the Warmest Color, Dallas Buyers Club, The Great Beauty, In a World…, Philomena, Snowpiercer, The Wind Rises

Others receiving votes: The Act of Killing, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, All Is Lost, The Hunt, It’s a Disaster

10. Short Term 12 (directed by Destin Cretton)

 

One of the great under-the-radar movies of the year was Destin Cretton’s expansion of his terrific short film. Short Term 12 follows Grace (breakout star Brie Larson), a worker at a foster care facility that watches and guides troubled underprivileged kids. There is a deep heartache and pain in the story, especially as more of Grace’s past gets revealed and shows why she is such a committed and caring worker. It features some of the truly elite scenes of the year, chief among them the “So You Know What It’s Like” original song by young actor Keith Stanfield, which clearly was the best song of 2013. Short Term 12is not a movie that will sit well with a lot of audiences since it is so understated and sad, but there is a sense of warmth that we feel following the movie that makes it very rewarding, and in a way, beautiful.

9. The Spectacular Now (directed by James Ponsoldt)

This is a very personal inclusion on this list. I love movies that ooze nostalgia, and this is the best one its kind in several years. James Ponsoldt, who also directed last year’s indie gem Smashed, has become a go-to director for independent comedy-dramas. All of his movies thus far have been in some way about alcoholics, but none of them have been as perceptive and meaningful as this one. It is about Sutter (the excellent Miles Teller) and Aimee (Shailene Woodley). They form the most endearing movie couple of the year. Ponsoldt has a knack for creating characters with flaws that we cannot help but care for. Sutter is the hard-partying high schooler, and Aimee is the outcast. They begin an unlikely friendship and form a bond that no one expected, least of all the two of them. In the end of this little movie, we feel undeniably bittersweet, satisfied, and melancholic. It puts sentimentality away and leaves the audience to view this rich and realistic story in all its nostalgia and ordinary beauty. Ponsoldt could be the next Alexander Payne.

8. Inside Llewyn Davis (directed by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen)

This is the best American music film since 2007’s indie masterwork Once. The Coen brothers have outdone themselves with this brilliantly detailed and darkly hilarious little film. At no point does the movie try to be popular. It features some of the most unlikable characters the Coens have created, yet, we care all too much. Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is a struggling folk singer in the 1961 New York, and he lives for his music. He lives his life in the way described in his lyrics. There is no glamour in this story, no happy ending. It is all realism. We drop in on Llewyn’s life and watch him navigate the folk scene for a period of time, and we could not be more grateful after the movie is over. It is a remarkable movie and one that only gets better as time goes by. You will be humming the extraordinary soundtrack for the foreseeable future. I was aching to see it again in the days following.

7. Gravity (directed by Alfonso Cuaron)

There was no greater movie miracle in 2013 than Gravity. There were basically just two cast members, and one of them is gone for the majority of the film. We are essentially watching Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) floating through space and trying to find any way to survive without any real working communication. It sounds like a short film’s premise, but it is edited in a way that creates the most intense movie-going experience of the year. It is also the best use of 3D maybe ever (if not, then #2 behind Avatar). The creativity and imagination that this movie took, as well as the attention to detail makes a movie that would otherwise seem ridiculous feel absolutely involving and realistic. It is one of the truly magical films of 2013.

6. 12 Years a Slave (directed by Steve McQueen)

This is perhaps the only instant classic 2013 film. While watching the long, inspiring struggle of the human spirit in Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free man who was drugged and enslaved for 12 years, the audience just feels like they are watching an already polished film classic. Each and every scene is vital to the tone of the story. It is difficult to watch, to be sure. However, there is no more rewarding experience that one can have from a 2013 film. 12 Years a Slave is an important piece of cinema and one that will undoubtedly be looked back on as a crowning achievement of this era.

5. The Place Beyond the Pines (directed by Derek Cianfrance)

This was the biggest surprise masterpiece of 2013. The movie is separated into three segments, and there is a passing of the torch between them. The segments are of course intertwined, but unlike several other movies with this layout, the bridges are not predictable. Each segment sports an astonishing leading performance (Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Dane DeHaan) and by a seemingly different genre (crime drama via Drive, cop drama via Copland, indie drama via In the Bedroom). The further along the story rolls, the more we get into it and become aware of the fate of the characters. When the end credits start, we realize that 140 minutes have gone by and we still want more.

4. Nebraska (directed by Alexander Payne)

I have a fondness for Payne movies that cannot be overstated. His movies are so realistic and different. I felt like after Sideways that I would never be able to truly be blown away by one of his films, but I was wrong. This movie is one of the purest and painfully funny movies I have seen in years. Payne did not write this movie, but it is one of his movies at its core. It is his finest directed job as well. The black-and-white format takes away all outside factors and just lets the characters be. We are essentially just following Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) and his son David (Will Forte) on an ill-conceived cross-country trek. Road trip movies are common; this one is not. It is written as a sad, depressing drama, yet its flawlessness in developing relatable quirks in the characters is what causes the laughs and makes the movie tick. It may not have the ambition of other films on this list, but it is just about perfect.

3. The Wolf of Wall Street (directed by Martin Scorsese)

Zach and I clearly disagree on this one, but this movie really is a daring and hilarious piece of work. The story is about Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), the scamming leader of Stratton Oakmont, a firm who sells worthless stocks to unwitting consumers, scheming out millions every week. On paper, yes this movie is unappealing. Who wants a true story comedy (or sorts) about criminals who never really get caught or get what is coming to them? Well, that is exactly what Scorsese thought. He focuses in on Belfort, and lets him tell the story. It is frustrating, and it is only hilarious because we want it to. It doesn’t play for laughs, but the characters and situations are so outrageous that we can’t help but laugh at their expense. It is loaded with drugs, women, and greed. In format and subject, it is nearly identical to Goodfellas. Under normal circumstances, that would bother me. This is not a normal case. It is the most thrilling and unrelenting 3 hour movie I have ever seen.

2. Her (directed by Spike Jonze)

Spike Jonze has made himself an A-list director in just four films. He has a style and subtlety that no one else has. This movie has less Being John Malkovich and Adaptation in its visuals, but there is every bit as much quirkiness and sadness in their stories. Like his most recent masterwork Where the Wild Things Are, this is a passion piece. From the opening shots of the film, we are completely glued to a movie about a man (Joaquin Phoenix) falling in love with his computer operating system (Scarlett Johansson). It sounds strange until you actually see it happen. It could be the next The Truman Show in terms of creating an atmosphere and visionary look at where we are heading as a society. In its comedy, it is equal parts The 40 Year Old Virgin, Punch-Drunk Love, and Eternal Sunshine. There is also a fair amount of Lost in Translation in how the characters and story are treated. It is nothing like any of those, however. It is a complete original, and it just feels like a landmark piece of cinema.

1. Before Midnight (directed by Richard Linklater)

Unless something drastic happens in the next couple months of 2013 video releases, then this will remain my #1 of the year. Like the previous two installments in this series (1995’s Before Sunrise, 2004’s Before Sunset), this film is strictly dialogue. Even more so than its predecessors, Midnight could not exist without the previous ones. Every word of it is drawing from the bank of passion and commitment that we feel for Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), the two disarming main characters of this decades-long romantic saga. This film is not as much about broken hearts and charming romances; this one is relaxed. At least it feels that way right up until our two protagonists are alone. The entire third act is in a hotel room, and it contains the most brilliant, devastating, heated conversation I have ever seen in a movie in recent memory. It has all the makings of a title bout without a single punch thrown. The audience is left on edge and inevitably begging for more after it is over. Please, Mr. Hawke, Mr. Linklater, and Ms. Delpy…give us more in 2022. I am already making arrangements for seeing it on opening night.

Thoughts? Your top 10? Anyone else adore Jesse and Celine like I do? Comment below…

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Richard Linklater’s ‘Before’ series

There are very few times that I have felt this connected to film characters. Richard Linklater’s beautiful, heartfelt, two-decades and counting romantic saga has taken a generation of filmgoers and swept them off their feet. At no point do Jesse and Celine overstay their welcome with the audience. At no point do they fall out of reality. They are absolutely relatable and true at all times. I could watch these characters forever.

Before Sunrise (1995)

I was too young to watch this movie at any time close to its release, but it still was able to place its hooks on my heart and not let go. We first meet Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) on a train bound for Vienna. They meet, talk briefly, and somehow develop an attraction to each other that neither one can really explain. They spend the entire night in deep conversation, learning the most intimate details about one another and their thoughts on the world, all leading up an early morning checkpoint when they must part ways. Every moment of the film is authentic and somehow exhilarating. Maybe that is just my obsession with dialogue-heavy scripts, but these characters are just so real. Jesse is sort of an asshole. Celine is extremely bitchy. Together, they are perfect and they would not take it any other way. Neither would we.

What is most interesting about this film is how the film was able to speak to a generation. The back of the DVD says that it is “a valentine to young love forever”, which is something that has always stuck with me. It is messy, frustrating, naïve, and yet incredibly beautiful. There is a time when they are in the play room at a record store listening to a Nina Simone song and there are no words spoken. The camera just shows their faces, their expressions, and their reactions. If you watch this scene alone, you will know what these characters are all about. The performances are so indelible and genuine. If I didn’t know better, I would think that they are playing themselves and they were in love. They become these characters, and they never let me completely stop thinking about them.

The film ends in a way where their fate is somewhat unknown. We ache for a film to check in with them six months later. We need to know whether they continue the romance, whether they did the deed, whether they truly were as inseparable as they were for those fleeting hours in Vienna. Luckily enough, Linklater felt the same way.

Before Sunset (2004)

 

Now, it was after this film came out that I caught up on the series. I watched them back-to-back, which some will think may have ruined or skewed the experience, but I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. Sunrise can stand alone as its own film, and if I did not know that there was going to be a look-in on Jesse and Celine every nine years, then I could have stood the pain of the uncertainty. I could not have done that for almost a decade knowing that there was more to the story. 

Sunset takes place in Paris nine years after the original encounter. Jesse is on a book tour promoting the story of his chance encounter with a French girl and how they fell in love under the stars in Vienna. Celine hears about it and shows up at the bookstore just an hour or so before Jesse has to catch a flight back to New York. They use that brief time to talk, explain, commiserate, and again engage in deep conversation. The two characters are made for each other, and the actors (both co-writers on the film with Linklater) have lived with the characters for almost a decade and perfected their back stories and made this film, shot in real-time, an absolutely beautiful blur. The dialogue is just as poignant and insightful. The story is even more believable and sound. This movie is some kind of miracle.

What makes this film so interesting is that it would not exist without the first film. It seems almost impossible for this film to make any sense without viewing Sunrisefirst. Yet somehow, this may be the best of the trilogy. Maybe it is the real time. Maybe it is the fact that this movie is both heartbreaking and hopeful. Maybe it is because the actors finally show some real emotion. Maybe it is the romantic backdrop of Paris. Maybe it is the current situations of the Jesse and Celine that cause the conflict. Maybe it is just admiration and fulfillment of our thirst for wanting to know what happened to them. No, it is every one of these things and more.

The film ends in a way that is impossible to describe without ruining it. It is the ends of the films that really make the series so astounding and hard to let go. This film in particular has one of the best endings in film history. It fades out right before something is about to happen, leaving the audience to create their own ideas. Is Jesse a romantic? Are we romantics? This film will make you decide.

Before Midnight (2013)

Finally, we get to the third chapter (and I pray that it is not the last). We drop in on Celine and Jesse in Greece. By drop in, I mean just that. It is not some artificial meeting or any event that we have been looking forward to seeing. It is dropping us into a day in the life of the most irresistible couple in modern movie history. To avoid spoilers and maybe ruining the experience of Sunset for you, I will stay away from details.

The movie has a slightly different format than the previous two. In those, Jesse and Celine were essentially the only characters with more than a line or two in the film. This one starts out differently, and one of those deep conversations they typically engage in actually takes place at a dinner table with six other people. This is the crucial scene in the movie. We see how they interact with other people. We see their past experiences have shaped them and how they have grown since. We see in their performances everything we need to know to catch up with their story. It is a remarkable scene that I can only describe as being Sideways-esque, which if you don’t know, is about the best compliment I can give a film.

The format eventually focuses in on the characters and we get those details we wanted. We also see these characters really open up for maybe the first time. They are so self-deprecating and personal when they fight. We see how unhappy with life Celine is and how sarcastic Jesse is. We see glimpses of the couple that met 18 years prior in Vienna, but that spark and the ambition of the characters has almost completely faded out. The fights are excruciating to watch and easy to relate to. It is like watching The Puffy Chair or Your Sister's Sister. We feel the pain that they do, and so many harbored feelings are revealed that have been haunting them for years. The audience is frustrated, the characters are furious.  The final half hour or so of this film, taking place almost solely in a hotel room, is drama at its finest. Sorry if this is corny, but Judd Apatow…THIS is 40.

The performances in this film are even better than the previous two. In those, Delpy basically stole the show. In this film, though, the emotional ante is upped in a major way. Delpy breaks our hearts as the seemingly coldhearted and paranoid Celine. Hawke continues use his passive aggressive comments to come off like the good guy but making it clear that he is has ulterior motives in his statements. Hawke should do more movies like this. He is the absolute best with dialogue-based movies (see Linklater’s Tape if you aren’t simply convinced by these three films).

I have never really been haunted by a movie quite like I was after watching this movie. I was thinking about it the rest of the day. It probably ruined the next movie I watched because it was still in my head. It takes so much more out of the audience to watch this. The true feelings are shown. The first two films were romantic and brief. This film is gut-wrenching and frustrating. Somehow, Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy are able to make another near-flawless ending. Again, it happens right before something is about to happen, but if you know as much about these characters as I do, you can almost figure what their fate is. All three films have an ending that could stand as the end of the series, but I cannot help but selfishly hope for more. They have done a remarkable job at not making any of these films seem forced or overly cinematic. They are almost like documentaries, dropping in on their lives and revealing details in ways that are not obvious or trite. Looking at the trilogy, for me it stands as the second best ever. I do not think it is over, though. Come 2022, I am sure that we will be seeing the quick development of another flawless masterpiece checking in on Jesse and Celine at age 50. I know I say things like this a lot, but I honestly cannot wait to see where it goes from here. I will be first in line.

Rating: 4 stars

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2014 Oscar Predictions: March

Once again, the Oscars are over and I cannot help but look ahead to what we have in store for next year’s awards season. All of those interesting projects that we have been reading about are finally filming and getting ready for an awards push this winter. Check out my ridiculously early yet somehow comprehensive (and at times longwinded) Oscar predictions. Let’s hope I can improve on last year…

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Predicted Five

1. Labor Day – Jason Reitman – The movie may sound a bit odd, but Reitman has yet to have one of his movies disappoint. His two previous screenplays have been terrific and nomination-worthy, and after his ridiculous loss for Up in the Air, the Academy may be eager to finally award him.

2. The Spectacular Now – Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber – The writing team behind (500) Days of Summerreturns with an indie adaptation that won over wide audiences at Sundance. This will likely be the endearing indie hit of the year if it garners a decent release.

3. The Wolf of Wall Street – Terence Winter – Being directed by Scorsese, this seems like a shoo-in contender in all categories. Being written by the creator of Boardwalk Empire is even more intriguing. This should be gold.

4. Before Midnight – Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy – The first film in the series has only gotten better with age. The sequel swept everyone off their feet. This one has been called the best one yet. I cannot wait for this. A screenplay nom should be easy for this film if it truly is that good.

5. Therese – Charlie Stratton – The story of Therese Raquin has been told several times, but this cast is great and could prove to be the classic literature adaptation to break through this year.

Others in contention

6. The Monuments Men – George Clooney, Grant Heslov – The movie sounds amazing and has one of the more impressive casts in recent memory, but I can’t help but feel like this is too Blockbuster-ish, sort of like The Ides of March. But then again, that was nominated here as well. I will happily be proven wrong about this.

7. Much Ado About Nothing – Joss Whedon – This movie was filmed in secret with an interesting cast. If the Academy wants to throw Whedon some love for his work on The Avengers and such, then this would be a really cool inclusion in the major categories.

8. The Young and Prodigious Spivet – Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Guillaume Laurant – These types of family-friendly movies have been Academy hits recently. Amelie was nominated for screenplay, so this is certainly a possibility if given the right type of campaign.

9. The Butler – Lee Daniels, Danny Strong – Lee Daniels directed an Oscar nominee and a complete failure in the last 4 years. The inclusion of Danny Strong on the screenwriting team certainly gives this merit, along with the massive and random cast.

10. The Invisible Woman – Abi Morgan – This movie is about Charles Dickens (starring and directed by Ralph Fiennes), which seems like something Oscar will love. Fiennes clearly has a love for classic literature, but his last movie Coriolanus flopped. Let’s see if he can rebound.

11. The Fifth Estate – Josh Singer – This movie, about the founders of WikiLeaks, sounds terrific, but it may be a bit too much like The Social Network to really capture audiences enough to get major awards love. Directed by Bill Condon with a November release date may prove otherwise.

12. August: Osage County – Tracy Letts – The last John Wells movie (The Company Men) disappointed, but this one sounds like more of a sure thing with the cast he assembled. The Academy doesn’t normally like plays adapted by its own writer, but we will just have to see with this one.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The Predicted Five

1. Fruitvale – Ryan Coogler – The Sundance winner has been nominated for screenplay 4 of the last 5 years, so this nomination is assured. It was bought by Weinstein, so it will be seen. This seems like the type of movie that could make a run at the major awards.

2. Out of the Furnace – Scott Cooper – Scott Cooper’s Crazy Heart won over the Academy in the acting categories, but this movie could be his ticket to the big time if it is good enough to warrant the cast he has assembled. Keep an eye out for this one.

3. Foxcatcher – E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman – Reuniting Bennett Miller and Dan Futterman is something to look forward to. This movie sounds fantastic, and the cast is even more intriguing. This could be the frontrunner in several categories if they can pull it off.

4. The Way, Way Back – Nat Faxon, Jim Rash – The writing team on The Descendents breaks away from Alexander Payne for their first feature film, another hit at Sundance. The cast is great, so this coming-of-age story has the inside-track to being our comedy inclusion in the category.

5. Captain Phillips – Billy Ray – On paper, this sounds like it could be this year’s Zero Dark Thirtyor at least Hotel Rwanda. With Paul Greengrass at the helm, it will be seen for sure. Billy Ray is a talented writer, so a nom here seems likely.

Others in contention

6. The Past – Asghar Farhadi – Coming off A Separation, this filmmaker cannot be overlooked. The movie sounds like another devastating drama. If it captures an audience like his previous feature, then look for this Berenice Bejo-starring film to make another big splash.

7. Ain’t Them Bodies Saints – David Lowery – This was a big hit at Sundance, and with the intriguing cast, this could be one of those underdog hits that makes a bunch of money and steals away some Oscar noms.

8. Inside Llewyn Davis – Joel Coen, Ethan Coen – The movie sounds fantastic, and everything the Coens touch turns into Oscar nominations. The movie was sort of delayed, though, which is my only hesitation in predicting it for a nom here.

9. Saving Mr. Banks – Kelly Marcel – I am not completely sure what to make of this movie, about Walt Disney and the making of Mary Poppins, but its cast will ensure its status as a threat. Hitchcock and My Week with Marilyn weren’t exactly megahits, but this one (starring Tom Hanks) could be different.

10. The Rover – David Michod – Westerns have become revived in the past decade, and this one could be the Australian western that becomes popular in America. Michod’s last film was Animal Kingdom, so the Academy may want to keep an eye on him.

11. Blue Jasmine – Woody Allen – No plot details on this one yet, but I would be foolish to not at least consider Woody Allen movies every year on the off chance it becomes Match Pointor Midnight in Paris.

12. Untitled David O. Russell Project – Eric Singer – The reuniting of many of the actors Russell has directed to nominations is intriguing for sure. I am not sure this is truly serious enough to be considered, but Russell is on a hot streak. This will be a contender.

13. Her – Spike Jonze – This is the category where the bizarre can be noticed. Jonze isn’t exactly a polished screenwriter, but this movie just sounds too cool to ignore.

14. The Third Person – Paul Haggis – Haggis hasn’t really been taken too seriously since Crash, but this movie is getting back to what made that film so great. The Academy has become somewhat immune to interlocking stories recently, but this could be really good.

15. About Time – Richard Curtis – He is basically 1 for 2 with audiences so far. This movie sounds very strange, but I could see this turning into a classic story if it lives up to its potential.

16. Rush – Peter Morgan – The Peter Morgan-Ron Howard formula has worked before. This seems like a less serious work by the duo, but any time that Morgan picks up a pen, we ought to pay attention.

17. The Bling Ring – Sophia Coppola – This movie does not exactly scream Oscar, but being written by a former winner and with a cool young cast, this could be a sleeper comedy if it is more Virgin Suicides and less Lifetime, who made a previous version of the story.

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The Predicted Five

1. Jennifer Garner – Dallas Buyers Club – The movie may or may not be a hit, but it certainly has my attention. Garner is such a well-liked actress that she just might ride her husband’s momentum to a nomination and win for this crucial part of the story.

2. Nicole Kidman – The Railway Man - The Academy is so desperate to nominate her that they almost did for The Paperboy. This movie sounds pretty heavy, and she will likely have some juicy scenes to secure another nom.

3. Sally Hawkins – Blue Jasmine – The Woody Allen supporting female is a staple at the Oscars. She is the type of actress who could own in one of those quirky, furious roles.

4. Catherine Keener – Captain Phillips – She is always in contention, and this seems like a deviation from her normal types of movies. She is playing the wife role, so she will definitely have her scenes to shine.

5. Jessica Lange – Therese – She hasn’t gotten a nomination since her second win in 1994, so this will be a refreshing return to form if the film is as good as it could and should be.

Others in contention

6. Hailee Steinfeld – Can a Song Save Your Life? – Being directed by John Carney in his first major movie since Once will be a great follow-up to Steinfeld’s nominated debut performance in True Grit. It would be historic if she can get nominated for her first 2 movies.

7. Penelope Cruz – The Counselor – She is one of the most liked actresses out there, and playing Cormac McCarthy script will surely give her room to show off her range.

8. Zoe Saldana – Out of the Furnace – She is in one of the frontrunners, and with 4 major movies getting released this year, she will be in the spotlight all year. She could wind up with a 2011 Jessica Chastain-type nomination.

9. Oprah Winfrey – The Butler – She hasn’t been a significant part in a live action movie since 1998. No wonder that the one who brought her back was the director who she helped push to an Oscar nom for Precious. The Academy may want to validate her 1985 nomination and draw a big audience by including her.

10. Juliette Lewis – August: Osage County – She hasn’t been nominated since her breakout in 1991, so an ambitious movie like this playing opposite Streep among others may be her best shot at getting back.

11. Julianne Moore – Don Jon’s Addiction – I am not sure what her part entails, but the movie sounds like it may have her in a Boogie Nights-type role. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is in the running in several categories, maybe like this year’s Magic Mike or something.

12. Toni Collette – The Way, Way Back – She is due for another nomination, so being in what could be another Little Miss Sunshine-esque hit could be her easiest route back to the awards circuits.

13. Mary Elizabeth Winstead – The Spectacular Now – She gathered raves for the last time she was in a James Ponsoldt film (Smashed), so this supporting part could be her ticket to the major awards.

14. Cate Blanchett – The Monuments Men – She is always brilliant, so it would seem pretty obvious if she were to garner buzz for a film with the aspirations as high as this film’s.

15. Melissa Leo – The Butler – When in ensemble pieces, she normally overacts to the point of getting singled out. I expect no different when she plays Mrs. Eisenhower in this loaded cast.

16. Shirley MacLaine – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – Ben Stiller has directed an actor to a nom, and MacLaine hasn’t been invited back since her Oscar win in 1983. This could be the token veteran choice in the category.

17. Tilda Swinton – The Zero Theorem – The movie sounds crazy and amazing, but while Gilliam has not had an actor nominated since 1995, this sounds like the kind of film that returns him to Twelve Monkeys and The Fisher King form. Swinton should have a money supporting part.

18. Amy Adams – Untitled David O. Russell Project – She is always in and around getting nominated, so her part in the reunion of the team from The Fighter is well within reason.

19. Rooney Mara – Her – The movie is not Oscar stuff, but Spike Jonze has directed two supporting females to nominations in the past. His actors are always in the running due to their crazy, amazing characters.

20. Amy Adams – Her – If the movie can come together, then this could be another chance for her to get nominated and not win.

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The Predicted Five

1. Josh Brolin – Labor Day – He is likely to have the most buzzed role of the movie, and with Reitman we know that he writes his roles specifically for the actors cast. Look for a career-best performance by the overdue character actor. He may even be lead for all we know.

2. Jean Jujardin – The Wolf of Wall Street – He is said to have the best part in the film, and being directed by Scorsese should mean fireworks. He also has The Monuments Men, so he will be in the spotlight once again this year.

3. John Goodman – Inside Llewyn Davis – After appearing in the last two Best Picture winners, it is his time for his first nomination. Who better to direct him to that nom than the guys who basically made his career?

4. Mike Epps – Nina – Playing Richard Pryor will either be amazing or a disaster. I am betting on the side of amazing because I love the idea of this project.

5. Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher – His role will likely push him further than we have ever seen him go, and with his film as one of the frontrunners, this could prove to be an easy nomination choice.

Others in contention

6. Woody Harrelson – Out of the Furnace – Perhaps one of our best character actors, Harrelson is a contender with every movie he appears in. This seems like his best bet in 2013.

7. Javier Bardem – The Counselor – He seems to be one of the more popular and likeable actors right now, so if his part is anything at all, he will kill it and likely make another run at a fourth nom.

8. Scoot McNairy – The Rover – He had a near breakout year in 2012, so being directed by a talent like Michod could be his ticket to the mainstream.

9. John Goodman – The Monuments Men – I feel like he will get in this year, so if Inside Llewyn Davis isn’t any good, then this would seem like a certainty to garner him some buzz.

10. Joaquin Phoenix – Lowlife – In a movie that sounds as offbeat as this one, there must be something great to have attracted his smug face to it. His partnership with James Gray has yet to really fail, so this could be another great role for him.

11. Dwight Henry – Twelve Years a Slave – After receiving a snub for the beloved Beasts of the Southern Wild, Henry might have found his chance at redemption in this Steve McQueen film. If he can stand out with Fassbender, Pitt, Dano, and Giamatti in the film, then he should certainly get in.

12. Willem Dafoe – A Most Wanted Man – Being directed by Anton Corbijn is great for him. I am not sure about his role, but he can steal a movie effortlessly if given the part.

13. Daniel Radcliffe – Kill Your Darlings – In one of the most interesting casts of the year, Radcliffe may finally find that role to shed the rest of that predetermined Harry Potter image.

14. Channing Tatum – Foxcatcher – His part in the movie is not likely as juicy as Ruffalo’s, but I am sure he will have his moments. If the Academy can take him seriously like they were able to with Jonah Hill in Miller’s last time, then he could get swept in.

15. Stellen Skarsgaard – The Railway Man – He is one of those veteran actors who is in everything yet has never had that role that gets him singled out. This movie just might give him that chance.

16. Ben Foster – Ain’t Them Bodies Saints – He needs to get nominated soon. His role here is likely very secondary to the leads, but if it is as good as it promises, then he could get swept in with the momentum.

17. Louis CK – Blue Jasmine – Who knows what his part is, but he is the kind of actor who could turn in a classic performance with the right writing.

18. Robin Williams – The Butler – Playing President Eisenhower sounds ridiculous on paper, but I bet under the right direction he could steal the show.

19. Shia LaBeouf – Nymphomaniac – Playing in a Von Trier movie is always dangerous, and his part has already developed some sort of infamy. Look for this movie to make some waves and maybe get Von Trier’s first acting nominee since 1996.

20. Naveen Andrews – Diana – Playing Princess Diana’s love interest should be a good role for the popular TV actor.

21. Matt Damon – The Zero Theorem – Damon should always be in the running. Depending on the merit or the movie, he could either prove to be a shoo-in for a nomination or one of my worst picks ever. Gotta love Terry Gilliam.

22. Tommy Lee Jones – Malavita – Playing opposite De Niro in a crime drama could mean great things for one of the go-to veteran actors right now. Being directed by Luc Besson is intriguing, since he really doesn’t make too many serious movies anymore.

23. Liam Neeson – The Third Person – Neeson has not been invited back since Schindler’s List, so this second pairing with a good director could be the role he has been searching for between his badass action movies.

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

The Predicted Five

1. Emma Thompson – Saving Mr. Banks – She gets the main character that doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch from what we have come to expect from her. The movie will be one of the most talked about of the year, and she will probably steal the show from Hanks and the rest of the cast.

2. Elizabeth Olsen – Therese – She should have gotten a nomination for MMMM back in 2011, and this is her best role since that breakout part. The film will likely be a contender come Oscar time, so she could make a run at a win.

3. Meryl Streep – August: Osage County – Playing the patriarch role is going to be great for Streep, who somehow made a movie and wasn’t nominated last year... She will make a comeback with this or some other film.

4. Kate Winslet – Labor Day – She hasn’t been nominated in 5 years now? Only 3 movies, but still. Reitman will do wonders for one of our best actresses.

5. Marion Cotillard – Lowlife – The character is a stripper, which always has the Academy’s attention. The movie also sounds deep and beautiful, so this nomination seems about as safe as any in March.

Others in contention

6. Cynthia Nixon – A Quiet Passion – Playing Emily Dickinson is intriguing, but being directed by Terence Davies is awesome. This could be for Nixon what Transamericawas for Felicity Huffman.

7. Meryl Streep – The Homesman – The role seems like a definite contender, but who knows which of the two movies she will be pushed for serious awards consideration? I am betting on August, but this could prove to be a DiCaprio in 2006 scenario and come down to the wire.

8. Zoe Saldana – Nina – She is going to get the chance to show off some musicianship, which is always a good thing with the Academy. With this and Out of the Furnace, she could very well sneak into one of the races.

9. Naomi Watts – Diana – Playing Princess Diana is a dream role for the actress, but getting nominated back-to-back is difficult. She is going to be in the running, but I fear she just misses out.

10. Berenice Bejo – The Past – The recent nominee is blessed here with a terrific role that could show us what she can really do as an actress. If her silent work is any indication, then we could be in for a knockout performance here.

11. Jessica Chastain – The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Hers / His – This interesting two-film project could be either like Three Colors and get awards love or like Che and get ignored completely. I am hoping at least for something in the middle.

12. Shailene Woodley – The Spectacular Now – She nearly secured a nom for The Descendants, so this leading role in an indie darling could be her makeup nomination. She already received raves and a special award at Sundance with costar Miles Teller.

13. Sandra Bullock – Gravity – The movie doesn’t seem like Oscar material, but she and Clooney will have a ton of room to shine.

14. Jennifer Lawrence – Serena – After her win, she will either sputter or be in the spotlight forever. Seeing how her projects are stacking up in the next few years, it will be the latter. She will be an Oscar threat with every movie she appears in.

15. Rooney Mara- Ain’t Them Bodies Saints – This role seems like one that could make or break the movie. She needs to bring it, and she always does. I am pulling for her to pick up her second nom here.

16. Julie Delpy – Before Midnight – Before Sunset garnered her some Oscar buzz, so why not the third film in the series?

17. Ziyi Zhang – The Grandmaster – I hyped up this movie last year only to see it not released. I still have faith in it/her.

18. Naomie Harris – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom – Playing the wife of Nelson Mandela will likely require a lot of the actress, and if she nails it, then watch out for her.

19. Charlotte Gainsbourg – Nymphomaniac – She is constantly pushing herself with these ridiculous Von Trier parts. Will this one breakthrough for her?

20. Kristen Wiig – Girl Most Likely – The movie is directed by the American Splendorduo, which could mean good things. Wiig is so popular right now that I can see her getting an acting nom one day. Why not for this film?

21. Chloe Grace Moretz – Carrie – This could prove to be an absurd inclusion, but Kimberley Pierce can make a good movie. She directed two actors to nominations already, and Moretz is one of the most impressive young actresses out there. I can see a scenario where she gets in just like Sissy Spacek did in the role in ’76.

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

The Predicted Five

1. Idris Elba – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom – Elba is a fascinating actor, and playing Nelson Mandela seems like something designed strictly for the Oscars to recognize him. He will be extraordinary; it all depends on the film’s release.

2. Steve Carell – Foxcatcher – Maybe I am reading too far into the description, but a drama about a murdering paranoid schizophrenic directed by Bennett Miller? Both of his leading men have been nominated in the past. Carell beat out Gary Oldman for the role. If he pulls this off, then he will sail to the nomination and maybe win.

3. Michael B. Jordan – Fruitvale – After Chronicle reminded us of how good he was in The Wire, Jordan gets the breakthrough role of a lifetime. It won huge at Sundance, so like Sidibe, Wallace, and Lawrence before him, he will ride that train all the way to the Oscars.

4. Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club – He pushed himself further last year than anyone thought he could, and this appears to be a role that will push him even further than that. This should be his ticket.

5. Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street – He was snubbed big time for Django Unchained, so he returns to his comfy Scorsese characters for another go-round and hopefully a nomination and win this time.

Others in contention

6. Joseph Gordon-Levitt – Don Jon’s Addiction – He has been knocking on Oscar’s door for a while now, so directing himself in a seemingly difficult role could be the thing the Academy is looking for.

7. Tom Hanks – Saving Mr. Banks – Playing Walt Disney is going to be gold, but I just feel like John Lee Hancock will make the movie a bit too light for his part to really blow us away.

8. Guy Pearce – The Rover – Pearce will get a nomination at some point. If this film has the quality that it promises to, then he could finally secure that long elusive nod.

9. Daniel Bruhl – Rush – He is getting good early marks for Rush, and adding in the handful of other films he has this year, he could be our biggest breakout star of 2013.

10. Casey Affleck – Ain’t Them Bodies Saints – He is going to have a nice year, and this role appears to be filled with emotion. He could secure his second nom here without too much trouble.

11. Liam James – The Way, Way Back – He has really only had a decent part in The Killing, but his seemingly lead role in one of the indie frontrunners could be the young actor that AMPAS embraces this year. He would be the second youngest ever in this category if nominated. Eh, they will throw him in supporting probably.

12. Ralph Fiennes – The Invisible Woman – Playing Charles Dickens will be his best role in years and his best chance at a nomination since his last one for The English Patient.

13. Forest Whitaker – The Butler – He has the role that seems to bring the whole movie together, and he can certainly pull it off.

14. James McAvoy – The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: His / Hers – I feel like this is a hit-or-miss, so McAvoy and Chastain are in the same boat here. They are either both going to threaten getting nominations, or the movie will never really surface.

15. Christoph Waltz – The Zero Theorem – Suddenly the best character actor in the world, the two-time winner is faced with a lead role in a Gilliam picture. I can’t wait to see that. Seems like a perfect pairing.

16. Robert Redford – All Is Lost – The movie, by the director of Margin Call, is said to be completely without dialogue. Redford has been without an acting nom since his sole nom back in 1973. This would be an amazing comeback if he gets in.

17. Jeremy Renner – Lowlife – He plays the hero and romantic interest of Cotillard’s character. He will become a staple at the Oscars in the coming years.

18. Philip Seymour Hoffman – A Most Wanted Man – He is likely going to be able to experiment with an accent in this movie, and the last time we really saw a real noticeable one was Capote, so this is definitely a possibility.

19. Miles Teller – The Spectacular Now – He is bound to have a big breakout role eventually, and this could be it. I am just not sure if the two young actors can carry momentum all the way to the ceremony.

20. Hugh Jackman – Prisoners – Being directed by the filmmaker behind Incendies is intriguing for sure, but the movie may be a bit too mainstream for the Academy’s liking.

21. Will Forte – Nebraska – It would be an unconventional choice, but being directed by Alexander Payne brings out the best in actors.

22. George Clooney – Gravity – The plot details imply isolation, so who better to watch drifting in space than Clooney and Bullock? If one gets in, they both will get in.

23. Tony Leung – The Grandmaster – He is one of the best actors without a nomination, and this could be a hit in America if given a chance.

24. Brad Pitt – Twelve Years a Slave – He is more popular now than ever, and this is another case of him making his rounds with the best directors working today. A nomination here wouldn’t shock me.

25. Michael Fassbender – Twelve Years a Slave – It seems appropriate that his first nom should be for a McQueen film, so we will just have to wait and see how the Academy responds to this picture.

26. Colin Firth – The Railway Man – The script implies that he will be out for blood in this movie, which is the opposite of any persona ever put on him. If he owns it, he could go far.

27. Joaquin Phoenix – Her – Spike Jonze directing Joaquin Phoenix…I can’t wait to see what that entails. This has got to be one of the must-see characters of the year.

28. Ben Foster – Kill Your Darlings – I have no idea who is lead or supporting in the film, but Foster playing William Burroughs seems like a heavenly casting choice.

29. Benedict Cumberbatch – The Fifth Estate – He is set to have a monster year, and this seems like his best role and best chance at a nomination.

30. Bradley Cooper – Untitled David O. Russell Project – Fresh off his Oscar nom for a Russell film, he might just make a run at a second.

31. Robert De Niro – Malavita – Being reunited with Besson is cool, and playing a member of a crime family again will be refreshing. I hope it can live up its potential.

BEST DIRECTOR

The Predicted Five

1. Jason Reitman – Labor Day – I thought he was going to get his due for Up in the Air, but he somehow even lost out on screenplay. This could be the film that finally validates him as being one of the most important and distinguished voices of our generation in film.

2. Bennett Miller – Foxcatcher – He has gone from a nomination on his first film to a much more conventional film that still got nominated for Best Picture. It is his turn to take the podium if this film lives up to it.

3. Martin Scorsese – The Wolf of Wall Street – He makes a film, and he normally gets nominated. Shutter Island is his lone miss in his last 5 films in this category.

4. Ryan Coogler – Fruitvale – He is probably going to ride his film’s wave of momentum for 12 months all the way to a nomination.

5. Paul Greengrass – Captain Phillips – If the film stands a chance at being as good as it sounds, then Greengrass’s direction will be a major part of that, as it is with all of his films.

Others in contention

6. Charlie Stratton – Therese – His film is going to be among the ones to beat, but directors of these types of film are easy ones for the Academy to leave off.

7. James Ponsoldt – The Spectacular Now – The film is going to be battling with Fruitvalefor the indie votes, but I have confidence that this could have a The Perks of Being a Wallflower-type appeal and make a run at the major awards anyway.

8. George Clooney – Monuments Men – He is nominated almost every year in a different category. He has been absent from this one since 2005. That may be too long in the Academy’s eyes.

9. Scott Cooper – Out of the Furnace – His last film Crazy Heart overachieved. Is this one of our future A-listers? Possibly. We will see with this film.

10. John Lee Hancock – Saving Mr. Banks – He was left off for his Best Picture-nominated The Blind Side, so the Academy may want to make up for that.

11. Nat Faxon, Jim Rash – The Way, Way Back – If there is a comedy that is going to make a run this year, it appears that this is the one. Comedy directors are not normally recognized here, but in the recent past that has begun to change.

12. Joel Coen, Ethan Coen – Inside Llewyn Davis – The Coens are always in contention, so even if this film isn’t their best work, the Academy may still want to nominate them again and again.

13. David Michod – The Rover – Michod’s last film Animal Kingdom already broke through to the point of getting an acting nomination, so he may begin to get some notoriety if this film is a hit.

14. David Lowery – Ain’t Them Bodies Saints – The movie is filled with potential, so if the movie is as devastating as it could be, the director will be recognized.

BEST PICTURE

The Predicted Ten (I predict 9 will get nominated)

1. Labor Day (Jason Reitman) – The Academy doesn’t like to split Picture and Director, so this choice is somewhat obvious after the previous category. It doesn’t sounds quite like typical Oscar stuff, but that term has been somewhat redefined in the past 6 or 7 years. Reitman will turn this into a masterpiece, I am almost certain of it.

2. Fruitvale (Ryan Coogler) – The Sundance movies are always nominated but never win. For whatever reason, this feels like one that could actually take it all. We will have to wait and see what kind of campaign Weinstein gives it.

3. Foxcatcher (Bennett Miller) – Miller made a baseball movie into a beloved instant classic character study. With a story and cast as interesting as this film has, I can’t see this being anything but a contender.

4. The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese) – Scorsese is one of the few directors whose films are an event. In the last decade, he has had 4 of 5 films nominated for Picture and Director. With the subject matter, this seems like an absolute lock.

5. Therese (Charlie Stratton) – These types of domestic family dramas are treated well by Oscar voters, and with those involved, this take on the classic story could be a huge hit.

6. Saving Mr. Banks (John Lee Hancock) – Last year showed that the Academy loves movies about Hollywood. This one is about Disney…pure Oscar gold.

7. The Spectacular Now (James Ponsoldt) – I could be overestimating this movie like no other, but Sundance hits are always given a lot of chances. With the cool young cast and future star director, this could be a big time player.

8. Before Midnight (Richard Linklater) – If the film is as beloved as the previous feature in the series, then a nomination here should be a no-brainer.

9. Captain Phillips (Paul Greengrass) – The recent history idea is either a great or a horrible idea, but with the people involved, this seems like a sure thing.

10. The Way, Way Back (Nat Faxon, Jim Rash) – Comedies have surprisingly still been absent from the Best Picture lineup since they expanded, but this one has the potential to really break through if given a proper release.

Others in contention

11. Monuments Men (George Clooney) – The film doesn’t have the Oscar premise that The Ides of Marchhad, but the cast is every bit as good. Many will consider this the frontrunner, but I ran into that trap with his last film and it only received one nod for screenplay.

12. Inside Llewyn Davis (Joel Coen, Ethan Coen) – I do not have complete faith in this project, but then again A Serious Man secured a Best Picture nomination…

13. Out of the Furnace (Scott Cooper) – It is just billed as a thriller at this point, but if it is more than that, then this could be one of the ones to beat. Just to be safe, I will leave it just out of the top 10.

14. Much Ado About Nothing (Joss Whedon) – I am so baffled by the idea of a 12 day shoot at Whedon’s house during the filming of The Avengers, but it has my attention. This would be a downright shocker if nominated, but I can somehow see it happening.

15. Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (David Lowery) – It is stuck in a year with a lot of contending indies, but this movie could just sweep everyone off their feet. We are due for another 2005-type year with almost all contending films being independent.

16. The Rover (David Michod) – The movie is a modern western, so it could pick up where No Country For Old Men left off and secure several major nods if it gets the kind of release that it warrants.

17. Dallas Buyers Club (Jean-Marc Vallee) – The movie has a long way to go to get nominated, but with the pedigree and popularity of the actors and with the director of The Young Victoria, there is a good chance that this could be one of the big surprises at the box office and on nomination morning.

Thoughts? Which films most interest you in 2013? Did I miss any major films or directors? Let me know in the comments.

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