Thursday, March 28, 2024

Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine” Only Thing Film Critics Groups Agree On This Year

Share

The film critics groups are all over the place this year. The only thing they can agree on is Cate Blanchett for Best Actress in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine.” Otherwise it’s a free for all.

New York chose “American Hustle” as Best Picture. Boston went for “12 Years a Slave.” Los Angeles couldn’t decide and went for a tie between “Her” and “Gravity.” The New York Online Film Critics chose “12 Years a Slave.” The National Board of Review, who are fans and not critics, took “Her.” This week we’ll hear from the Golden Globes, who are indescribable.

All of the films mentioned should make the top 10 of the Oscars. Add to that list of five, another five. What would they be? “Nebraska,” “The Butler,” and “Philomena” look good. The jury is out on “August: Osage County,” “Wolf of Wall Street,” “Inside Llewyn Davis,” and “Saving Mr. Banks.”

Two films that I thought were just great, “Captain Phillips” and “Rush,” seem to be gone from competition. “Dallas Buyers Club” looks like it will be represented by Jared Leto. “All is Lost” will similarly be championed by Robert Redford.

But we’re not seeing a consensus of any kind. In past years, critics groups went crazy for “The Social Network,” for example. They all went for “Brokeback Mountain.” Neither of those won the Oscar.

PS Clever Boston put James Gandolfini in supporting so he could win for “Enough Said.” My hat is off to them. He’s really the lead, but who cares? It’s a beautiful, final performance.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
spot_img

Read more

In Other News