2013 Oscars: Best Picture Nominees Ranked.
I have finally seen all 9 films nominated for Best Picture at this year's Academy Awards. Here is how I rank them.
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9 titles
- DirectorAlfonso CuarónStarsSandra BullockGeorge ClooneyEd HarrisDr Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first time on a space mission, and Matt Kowalski, an astronaut on his final expedition, have to survive in space after they are hit by debris while spacewalking.The most spectacular cinematic experience of all-time. Director Alfonso Cuaron creates one of the most emotional, thrilling, heart pounding movies ever to hit cinema. By far the most enjoyable experience I have had in a theater since Inception.
- DirectorSpike JonzeStarsJoaquin PhoenixAmy AdamsScarlett JohanssonIn a near future, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need.Spike Jonze's quirky interpretation of future technology calls for the audience to not just dismiss it as fantasy, but rather engage it as a paradoxical view of modern 2013 life. It is a character portrait of the introvertedness of modern society. Cinematically brilliant. One of the best scores in recent years.
- DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsChristian BaleAmy AdamsBradley CooperA con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive partner Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild F.B.I. Agent, Richie DiMaso, who pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and the Mafia.David O. Russell continues his streak of writing characters that are both completely flawed yet totally lovable. Almost every person in this film is a bad person, yet we are drawn to them in an almost indescribable way. Christian Bale and J-Law give Oscar worthy performances.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioJonah HillMargot RobbieBased on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.What do you get when you put the greatest screen actor of all-time (not a typo) with one of the greatest filmmakers ever: the 4th best movie of 2013. Although not reaching the heights of 2004's "The Aviator", this comes in as Leo and Marty's 2nd best collaboration. Matthew McCanaughey creates the most memorable character of the year with less than 10 minutes of screen time. Hmmm Hmmm Hmmmm cah!
- DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsTom HanksBarkhad AbdiBarkhad AbdirahmanThe true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.Tom Hanks had done relatively nothing of note for the past 10 years. Then came "Captain Phillips". Director Paul Greengrass knows how to shoot thrilling action. Tom Hanks should have been nominated just for the last 2 minutes of this film alone.
- DirectorJean-Marc ValléeStarsMatthew McConaugheyJennifer GarnerJared LetoIn 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is diagnosed with the disease.Alright, alright, alright. What exactly was Matthew McCanaughey doing for the first 10 years of this millennium? He went from being a joke to be rightfully considered one of the 10 most talented screen actors in Hollywood. This movie is the culmination of his revitalization. Hand him the Oscar.
- DirectorAlexander PayneStarsBruce DernWill ForteJune SquibbAn aging, booze-addled father makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim a million-dollar Mega Sweepstakes Marketing prize.I liked "Nebraska". I did. It was good. I mean ... it wasn't great, but it was good. Alexander Payne knows how to make these types of films. It wasn't as good as 2011's "The Descendants" ... and I mean c'mon with the Oscar nomination of Bruce Dern. Give me a break.
- DirectorSteve McQueenStarsChiwetel EjioforMichael Kenneth WilliamsMichael FassbenderIn the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free Black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.Much lower on my list than others. Cinematically, Steve McQueen clearly knows what he's doing. The acting is fine with standout performances by Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Lupira Nyong'o. It is no mistake that I left out Ejiofor's name. His performance has the same problem as the film. The film has nothing to say other than "slavery was bad and the white man should feel ashamed". Yeah, we get it. It hasn't existed for over 150 years. This is left wing pandering to the fullest degree. We don't need these types of movies to be made anymore unless you have a unique and interesting twist. This movie had the same moral points as "Django Unchained" with half the heart and half the cojones.
- DirectorStephen FrearsStarsJudi DenchSteve CooganSophie Kennedy ClarkA world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman's search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent.The reason this movie is nominated can be seen in the opening frame of the movie. The words "The Weinstein Company" appear on the screen. This is a nice story, but could easily have been left as a BBC made for TV movie. Weinstein had no real contenders this year so the Academy threw him a bone and nominated this movie. It isn't a bad watch, but it isn't worthy of being nominated for Best Picture or Best Adapted Screenplay.