This just breaks my heart. A few days ago I listed 10 movies that were my favorites. Now I have to really break it down for the Oscar categories. This isn’t easy. There were too many good movies this year, and too many knock out performances. What can do you? How do you not include young upstarts like Oscar Isaac and Michael B. Jordan? Vets like Julia Roberts? Harrison Ford?
How can you leave “Gravity” out of the top 10 but give merit to its director? “Gravity” has made zillions of dollars. That’s the reward. Some people I know will faint when they see I chose “Her” over “Inside Llewyn Davis.” I loved both movies. But looking at the SAG nominees and talking to Academy voters, I’m getting a sense of what’s happening. “Philomena” is a phenomenon. Everyone loves it. Judi Dench is going to pull Steve Coogan along.
Oh, best actress: I’m so torn, I’ve left the fifth slot a tie between Sandra Bullock, whom I adore, and Emma Thompson, who’s so lovably haughty in “Saving Mr. Banks.” But I can’t leave Amy Adams out.
Can’t there be more slots? And doesn’t Oprah have everything in the world already? Yes, but she is outstanding in “The Butler.” That can’t be diminished. Matthew McConaughey? You think he lost that weight for nothing? He’s great in three movies this year, dammit.
Think about it: “Captain Phillips” is superior filmmaking. So was “Lone Survivor,” but the momentum isn’t there. It’s the “Three Kings” of 2013.
And where to put Idris Elba? You tell me. There are only five slots for Best Actor. He and Forest Whitaker each deserve one. But look at my five. And then think about Joaquin Phoenix, Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale, too.
Special dispensation for original screenplay– Fruitvale, Short Term 12, Frances Ha, and Enough Said were all gems. Gems.
BEST PICTURE
August: Osage County
American Hustle
Philomena
The Wolf of Wall Street
Blue Jasmine
Captain Phillips
12 Years a Slave
Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Nebraska
Her
BEST ACTOR
Robert Redford
Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips)
Bruce Dern
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club) or Oscar Isaac
BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett
Meryl Streep
Amy Adams (American Hustle)
Judi Dench
Emma Thompson or Sandra Bullock
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Barkhad Abdi
Jared Leto
Daniel Bruhl
Steve Coogan
Michael Fassbender
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Oprah Winfrey
Jennifer Lawrence
June Squibb
Margo Martindale
Lupita Nyongo
BEST DIRECTOR
David O. Russell
Alfonso Cuaron
Steve McQueen
Alexander Payne
Martin Scorsese
SCREENPLAY (ORIGINAL)
Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Her
Blue Jasmine
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
SCREENPLAY (ADAPTED)
August: Osage County
Captain Phillips
12 Years a Slave
Wolf of Wall Street
Philomena
