My 2013 Film Awards

Best Picture

What a great film from a great filmmaker. Farhadi has delivered two brilliant films in a row, and I can't wait to see what he does next. This film is what great cinema should be: great characters brought to life by a great story and great acting, with a director who has a clear vision of what he wants. I was really impressed.

2nd: Gravity 3rd: 12 Years a Slave 4th: Her 5th: Nebraska 6th: The Hunt 7th: Inside Llewyn Davis 8th: Blue is the Warmest Color 9th: American Hustle 10th: To The Wonder

Best Director, Alfonso Cuaron

The job of a director is to create a setting, an atmosphere, and an environment for the story to excel and become its best. That is exactly what Cuaron has done here, and his vision brings this film to life in a remarkable way.

2nd: Asghar Farhadi, The Past 3rd: Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave 4th: Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips 5th: Spike Jonze, Her

Best Actor, Matthew McConaughey

I've never considered McConaughey to be a good actor, and I haven't really ever taken him seriously (the only real exception being A Time to Kill), which is why this performance is remarkable. He brings this character to life in such a great manner, and throwing in the physical transformation, you've got a sure thing winner.

2nd: Joaquin Pheonix, Her 3rd: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave 4th: Bruce Dern, Nebraska 5th: Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips

Just one more note. How stacked was this years Lead Actor category? I just couldn't find a place in my top 5 for Leo DiCaprio, Christian Bale, Robert Redford, or Oscar Isaac, each of who would normally be shoo-in's for nominations.

Best Actress, Cate Blanchett

I absolutely hated this film. It was very difficult for me to finish watching. The only thing that really got me through was Blanchett's performance, which was definitely first rate.

2nd: Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks 3rd: Judi Dench, Philomena 4th: Berenice Bejo, The Past 5th: Amy Adams, American Hustle

Best Original Screenplay

A great story brings a film to life, and certainly was a great story. The way we learned little bits and pieces of what happened, coming out slowly and slowly, never quite knowing exactly what had happened and what was going to happen was great. And at the end of the film, I'm not sure we ever got the truth, that doesn't really matter.

2nd - Her 3rd - Nebraska 4th - American Hustle 5th - Inside Llewyn Davis

Best Adapted Screenplay

I really like these movies and these characters. What a fascinating way to tell the story of a relationship, one day at a time, each nine years apart. For me, this one felt so real, something that is actually happening, and the characters jumped off the page.

2nd: 12 Years a Slave 3rd: The Great Gatsby 4th: Captain Phillips 5th: The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Supporting Actor, Michael Fassbender

There is something about Fassbender was an actor that really pulls me in. I don't know what it is exactly, but I am really impressed with him as an actor. His screen presence is remarkable.

2nd: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club 3rd: Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips 4th: Tahar Rahim, The Past 5th: Bradley Cooper, American Hustle

Best Supporting Actress, Lupita Nyong'o

This was her first big screen role? Wow. She definitely has real talent, conveying so much emotion across the whole spectrum. The scene where she asks Solomon to kill her and the whipping screen are as good of acting as anyone delivered all year.

2nd: Julia Roberts, August: Osage County 3rd: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle 4th: Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine 5th: June Squibb, Nebraska

Best Foreign Language Film, Iran/France

It's my best film of the year. It has to be my choice for this doesn't it?

2nd: The Hunt 3rd: Blue is the Warmest Color 4th: The Wind Rises

I need to say that I have not seen The Great Beauty yet. I haven't been able to find a copy, and it was supposed to open in a theater near me last weekend, but it got delayed and they don't know when they are going to be playing it. So, this order could change.

Best Animated Film

I liked this film. And Miyazaki is a terrific filmmaker. Good job with this one.

2nd: Frozen 3rd: Despicable Me 2

Best Film Editing

Suspense in a film is largely creating through the film editing, and that is the case in this film. The pacing, the cuts, all of it worked to keep the story entertaining, suspenseful, and he story moving very well.

2nd: The Wolf of Wall Street 3rd: Gravity 4th: 12 Years a Slave 5th: American Hustle

Best Cinematography

I'm really surprised that this film wasn't even talked about for a nomination here. It has the same great photography that we have all come to expect from a Terrence Malick film; that's his trademark. This films is beautiful to watch and look at, and pops off the screen.

2nd: Gravity 3rd: Inside Llewyn Davis 4th: 12 Years a Slave 5th: Nebraska

Best Art-Direction

While I really didn't like this film (I don't think Baz Luhrmann's style was right for it) it certainly did look the part. The sets were big and were able to place you right in the environment.

2nd: 12 Years a Slave 3rd: Her 4th: Gravity 5th: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Best Visual Effects

Do I really need to say anything about this? Really good were went into this film. Easy choice

2nd: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3rd:Star Trek Into Darkness 4th: Pacific Rim 5th: Iron Man 3

Best Costume Design

What I said above the this film applies here as well. The costumes help make the setting and environment.

2nd: 12 Years a Slave 3rd: American Hustle 4th: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 5th: Saving Mr. Banks

Best Make-up and Hair-styling

This is more for the hair than the make-up, but both were good here. Recreating a time and place through make-up was done well here.

2nd: The Great Gatsby 3rd: Dallas Buyers Club 4th: 12 Years a Slave 5th: The Hobbit: The desolation of Smaug

Best Original Score

When a movie has really little dialogue, the music needs to carry and convey the emotions of the characters. I thinks the score here accomplishes that very well.

2nd: All is Lost 3rd: 12 Years a Slave 4th: Gravity 5th: Her

Best Original Song, "Let It Go"

Why not? Its a good song. Works well with the movie.

2nd: Her, "The Moon Song" 3rd: Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom, "Ordinary Love"

Best Sound Mixing

This is about capturing sound as film is being done. I like how it was done here, the sounds of the boat, the water, the Navy soldiers. It worked.

2nd: Gravity 3rd: Rush 4th: Inside Llewyn Davis 5th: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Best Sound Editing

This is about making sounds come alive in the editing room. This explosions, the shuttle noises, all sounded great and help place you there. That's a good job with the sound.