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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2014 Oscar Predictions: Final (Arts and Techs)

Here is the continuation of my full final Oscar predictions. Enjoy!

Link to the big 8 categories: FINAL OSCAR PREDICTIONS

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

1. Gravity

 

2. Inside Llewyn Davis

3. Rush

4. 12 Years a Slave

5. The Great Gatsby

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

1. The Great Gatsby

2. Gravity

3. 12 Years a Slave

4. American Hustle

5. Oz the Great and Powerful

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

1. 12 Years a Slave

 

2. American Hustle

3. Saving Mr. Banks

4. The Great Gatsby

5. Lee Daniels’ The Butler

BEST SOUND MIXING

1. Gravity

2. Captain Phillips

3. All Is Lost

4. 12 Years a Slave

5. Elysium

BEST EDITING

1. Gravity

 

2. 12 Years a Slave

3. American Hustle

4. Rush

5. Captain Phillips

BEST SOUND EFFECTS EDITING

1. Gravity

 

2. Rush

3. All Is Lost

4. Pacific Rim

5. Elysium

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

1. Gravity

 

2. The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug

3. Elysium

4. Iron Man 3

5. Pacific Rim

BEST MAKEUP/HAIR

1. American Hustle

2. The Lone Ranger

3. Dallas Buyers Club

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

1. “Ordinary Love” – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

 

2. “Let It Go” – Frozen

3. “I See Fire” – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

4. “Happy” – Despicable Me 2

5. “Amen” – All Is Lost

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

1. 12 Years a Slave

2. Gravity

3. The Book Thief

4. Captain Phillips

5. Frozen

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

1. Blackfish

2. 20 Feet from Stardom

3. The Square

4. Cutie and the Boxer

5. God Loves Uganda

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

1. Frozen

 

2. Monsters University

3. Despicable Me 2

4. The Wind Rises

5. A Letter to Momo

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

1. The Great Beauty

 

2. The Hunt

3. The Broken Circle Breakdown

4. The Grandmaster

5. Omar

Predicted Nominations Count

12 Years a Slave: 12 noms / 4 wins

Gravity: 10 noms / 6 wins

American Hustle: 8 noms / 3 wins

Captain Phillips: 6 noms

Nebraska: 5 noms

Dallas Buyers Club: 4 noms / 2 wins

Rush: 4 noms

Blue Jasmine: 3 noms / 1 win

Frozen: 3 noms / 1 win

The Great Gastby: 3 noms / 1 win

All Is Lost: 3 noms

August: Osage County: 3 noms

Elysium: 3 noms

Saving Mr. Banks: 3 noms

The Wolf of Wall Street: 3 noms

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom: 2 noms / 1 win

Descpicable Me 2: 2 noms

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: 2 noms

Lee Daniels’ The Butler: 2 noms

Pacific Rim: 2 noms

Philomena:  2 noms

Blackfish: 1 nom / 1 win

The Great Beauty: 1 nom / 1 win

20 Feet from Stardom: 1 nom

Before Midnight: 1 nom

The Book Thief: 1 nom

The Broken Circle Breakdown: 1 nom

Cutie and the Boxer: 1 nom

Enough Said: 1 nom

Fruitvale Station: 1 nom

God Loves Uganda: 1 nom

The Grandmaster: 1 nom

Her: 1 nom

The Hunt: 1 nom

Inside Llewyn Davis: 1 nom

Iron Man 3: 1 nom

A Letter to Momo: 1 nom

The Lone Ranger: 1 nom

Monsters University: 1 nom

Omar: 1 nom

Oz the Great and Powerful: 1 nom

The Square: 1 nom

The Wind Rises: 1 nom

Omissions? Predictions? Thoughts? Hit me up in the comments.

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2014 Golden Globes Preview and Predictions

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association loves star power, foreign actors, new TV shows, and musicals. Check out how that is reflected in my yearly Golden Globe predictions. Nominations are announced December 12^th, and the ceremony is on January 12^th. I am nowhere near as good at this as the Oscars, which is why I sort of mock the awards with my “HFPA Dream Lineup” prediction every year, but it makes for fun conversation and something to pay attention to in preparation for the real awards show.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, MINISERIES, OR TV MOVIE

1. Anna Gunn – Breaking Bad

2. Kathy Bates – American Horror Story: Coven

3. Sofia Vergara – Modern Family

4. Kate Mara – House of Cards
5. Holly Hunter – Top of the Lake

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, MINISERIES, OR TV MOVIE

1. Jon Voight – Ray Donovan

 

2. Mandy Patinkin – Homeland

3. Peter Dinklage – Game of Thrones

4. Aaron Paul – Breaking Bad

5. Corey Stoll – House of Cards

BEST ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE

1. Elisabeth Moss – Top of the Lake

 

2. Jessica Lange – American Horror Story: Coven

3. Helen Mirren – Phil Spector

4. Laura Linney – The Big C Hereafter
5. Carrie Underwood – The Sound of Music

BEST ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE

1. Michael Douglas – Behind the Candelabra

2. Al Pacino – Phil Spector

3. Matt Damon – Behind the Candelabra

4. Larry David – Clear History
5. Christopher Plummer – Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight

BEST MINISERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE

1. Behind the Candelabra

2. Phil Spector

3. American Horror Story: Coven

4. Top of the Lake
5. The Bible

BEST ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Lena Dunham – Girls

2. Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep

3. Amy Poehler – Parks and Recreation

4. Zooey Deschanel – New Girl
5. Mindy Kaling – The Mindy Project

BEST ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Michael J. Fox – The Michael J. Fox Show

2. Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory

3. Robin Williams – The Crazy Ones

4. Andy Samberg – Brooklyn Nine-Nine
5. Jason Bateman – Arrested Development

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Girls

 

2. Modern Family

3. The Michael J. Fox Show

4. Arrested Development
5. The Big Bang Theory

BEST ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

1. Claire Danes – Homeland

2. Kerry Washington – Scandal

3. Vera Farmiga – Bates Motel

4. Robin Wright – House of Cards
5. Taylor Schilling – Orange is the New Black

BEST ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

1. Kevin Spacey – House of Cards

2. Bryan Cranston – Breaking Bad

3. Jeff Daniels – The Newsroom

4. Damian Lewis – Homeland
5. Liev Schreiber – Ray Donovan

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

1. House of Cards

 

2. Breaking Bad

3. Homeland

4. Game of Thrones
5. The Newsroom

BEST ANIMATED FILM

1. Frozen

 

2. The Wind Rises

3. Monsters University

4. Despicable Me 2
5. Epic

Explanation: Animation at the Golden Globes is a bit different than the Oscars. They like the blockbusters, so the smaller or foreign animated films do not stand as much of a chance.

BEST FOREIGN FILM

1. The Hunt

 

2. Blue Is the Warmest Color

3. The Grandmaster

4. The Past
5. Wadjda

Explanation: Normally, if there is an American movie in another language, such as Letters from Iwo Jima or In the Land of Milk and Honey then those films will at least be nominated. Here, I went with the most known and widely released of the foreign films of 2013.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

1. “So You Know What It’s Like” – Short Term 12

 

2. “Young and Beautiful” – The Great Gatsby

3. “Let It Go” – Frozen

4. “Go Where the Love Is” – The Way, Way Back
5. “Best Song Ever” – The Is Us

Explanation: This is where the Golden Globes can get pretty shameless with their star invites. Here, they would invite the likes of Demi Lovato and One Direction. Sounds like a win for the HFPA.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

1. Steven Price – Gravity

 

2. Arcade Fire – Her

3. Thomas Newman – Saving Mr. Banks

4. Hans Zimmer – 12 Years a Slave
5. Steve Jablonsky – Lone Survivor

Explanation: The original scores at the Golden Globes are certainly more random than the other awards. They always nominate a film that gets no other recognition. That film could be Lone Survivor. They will also jump at the opportunity to invite Grammy-winning band Arcade Fire to the mix.

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

1. Woody Allen – Blue Jasmine­

2. John Ridley – 12 Years a Slave

3. Eric Singer – American Hustle

4. Terence Winter – The Wolf of Wall Street
5. Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, July Delpy – Before Midnight

Explanation: I hate predicting this category, but I love the idea of it. A screenplay is a screenplay. I don’t care if it is an original thought, an expansion of a short film, based on a play, or whatever. The HFPA loves Woody Allen. They also love Boardwalk Empire, so this will give them a chance at inviting Terence Winter during a weaker period in his show. The others seem like the preordained nominees and near-locks. I can see the Coens sneaking in there too.

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

1. Martin Scorsese – The Wolf of Wall Street

 

2. Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity

3. Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave

4. David O. Russell – American Hustle
5. Woody Allen – Blue Jasmine

Explanation: Scorsese has won four Golden Globes, the last being for Hugo a couple years ago. He could add another trophy to his collection. Woody Allen films, especially his dramas, are beloved by the HFPA. The others are the obvious contenders. This seems like a category that John Wells could show up in for August: Osage County, since they really like the talkative movies, especially based on plays. Keep an eye on him. The Globes is where that film could shine.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Nat Faxon, Jim Rash – The Way, Way Back

Ron Howard – Rush

Peter Jackson – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Martin Scorsese – The Wolf of Wall Street

Ben Stiller – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

1. Oprah Winfrey – Lee Daniels’ The Butler

2. Julia Roberts – August: Osage County

3. Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

4. Lupita Nyongo – 12 Years a Slave
5. Sally Hawkins – Blue Jasmine

Explanation: This seems like a fairly easy category to predict. Oprah would bring an audience bigger than anyone could imagine. Roberts was even nominated for doing nothing in Charlie Wilson’s War. Jennifer Lawrence…clearly. The other two are just great roles that will get in. Hawkins seems like a future regular at the Globes.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Scarlett Johansson – Don Jonor Her

Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

Reese Witherspoon – Mud

Julia Roberts – August: Osage County

Oprah Winfrey – Lee Daniels’ The Butler

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

1. James Gandolfini – Enough Said

 

2. Tom Hanks – Saving Mr. Banks

3. Jonah Hill – The Wolf of Wall Street

4. Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave
5. Harrison Ford – 42

Explanation: Harrison Ford would be the Michael Douglas in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps-type nomination, reigniting a dormant career. Gandolfini’s death will only heighten his chances to get one last award from the organization that worshipped him and his show The Sopranos. Hanks is always here. I love this category. Watch out for comedy supporting guys. The Globes nominate the best performances, regardless of whether they make them cry or not.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

George Clooney – Gravity

Bradley Cooper – American Hustle
James Franco – Spring Breakers

Mel Gibson – Machete Kills

Tom Hanks – Saving Mr. Banks

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Meryl Streep – August: Osage County

 

2. Sandra Bullock – The Heat

3. Emma Watson – The Bling Ring

4. Melissa McCarthy – The Heat
5. Greta Gerwig – Frances Ha

Explanation: Meryl Streep made a movie, so she is in. The Heat seems like the typical trash that the Globes will flip over. Watson and Gerwig are the ones that actually deserve the votes. There are quite a few contenders for this category. This could be one of the random categories that get six nominees.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Jennifer Aniston – We’re the Millers

Sandra Bullock – The Heat

Julia Louise-Dreyfus – Enough Said

Helen Mirren – Red 2

Meryl Streep – August: Osage County

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Ben Stiller – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

 

2. Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street

3. Oscar Isaac – Inside Llewyn Davis

4. Joseph Gordon-Levitt – Don Jon
5. Joaquin Phoenix – Her

Explanation: These all seem like locks, unless there is some category change like Hanks for Saving Mr. Banks or if The Wolf of Wall Street goes drama. It is still strange to think that it has been campaigning as a comedy. Perhaps someone like Bruce Dern could sneak in, but Nebraskadoes not seem like a GG-type movie.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Johnny Depp – The Lone Ranger

Robert De Niro – Last Vegas

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street

Michael Douglas – Last Vegas

James Franco – Oz the Great and Powerful

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Inside Llewyn Davis

 

2. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

3. The Wolf of Wall Street

4. Her
5. Black Nativity

Explanation: The Globes love their musicals, no matter if they are good or not. Here, they can express that love by nominating a couple. Heris a bit of a strange inclusion here, but there is a bit of randomness at the Globes sometimes. Inside Llewyn Davisseems like a clear frontrunner, but if Walter Mitty or Wall Street kill the box office, look for one of them to take the trophy.

The HFPA Dream Lineup: The Heat

Last Vegas

Red 2

This Is the End

The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

1. Sandra Bullock – Gravity

 

2. Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

3. Emma Thompson – Saving Mr. Banks

4. Amy Adams – American Hustle
5. Judi Dench – Philomena

Explanation: Bullock won for her last nomination, which was also a double nom, and Gravity’s box office seems like all she will need to get another. Blanchett is her biggest threat. The other three are just normal nominees that will not take home the trophy. I am still not even sure if Adams is leading or not. I can see Kate Winslet maybe making it into the lineup, or one of the foreign actresses from Blue is the Warmest Color. Maybe Berenice Bejo has a shot. I am confident in these five, though.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Sandra Bullock – Gravity

Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

Nicole Kidman – Stoker

Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Kate Winslet – Labor Day

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

1. Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

 

2. Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave

3. Robert Redford – All Is Lost

4. Tom Hanks – Captain Phillips
5. Hugh Jackman – Prisoners

Explanation: This is going to be the most interesting nomination announcement of the group. It seems like McConaughey would be a lock, but I thought the same thing about him in Magic Mike. Ejiofor will get nominated. The rest are less certain. How much did they like Captain Phillips? Greengrass has not had a great track record with the Globes. I like the randomness of Jackman getting in. I am just not sure here. There is so much star power.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Christian Bale – American Hustle

Tom Cruise – Oblivion

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Great Gatsby

Ryan Gosling – The Place Beyond the Pines

Tom Hanks – Captain Phillips

Chris Hemsworth – Rush

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

1. 12 Years a Slave

 

2. American Hustle

3. Lee Daniels’ The Butler

4. Gravity
5. Blue Jasmine

Explanation: The Butler seems like the weird one in the group, but Weinstein got the movie to blow up the box office, so its chances are great to secure a nom. Blue Jasmine is the stuff the HFPA dreams of. It could perform here as well as Allen’s Match Point. The rest of these are likely good box office films that are going to get mentioned no matter which show it is. They will be the frontrunners at the beginning of awards season.

The HFPA Dream Lineup: 

Gravity

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Lee Daniels’ The Butler

Saving Mr. Banks

There they are. What do you like most about the Globes? Any TV stuff I overlooked? What are your predictions for this year’s awards? Let me know below.

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