Top 10 Supporting Actress of 2014

Time to continue where I left off with Supporting Actresses!

1

Patricia Arquette as Olivia Evans

Boyhood

As much as I am a fan of flashy performances, I'm also a huge fan of subtle yet authentic ones and that's how I would describe Patricia Arquette's performance in Boyhood. It's a real character associated with natural acting and the result? Poignant and amazing.


2
Jessica Chastain as Anna Morales
A Most Violent Year

Jessica Chastain continues to surprise as years goes by. After watching A Most Violent Year, Celia Foote is definitely not the most fun Chastain character anymore. Her turn in this film is such a joy to watch from beginning to end. The wig works for her!


3
Tilda Swinton as Minister Mason
Snowpiercer

Speaking of fun, here's Tilda Swinton as my 3rd favorite performance by a an actress in a supporting role. Snowpiercer is Tilda and this is what I'm talking about in my Arquette writeup that I equally love flashy character performances. Swinton managed to make a despicable villain an adorable one.


4
Keira Knightley as Joan Clark
The Imitation Game

Never a fan of Keira until last year when I watched Begin Again.A few months later I watched The Imitation Game and I think it sealed my love for her. Her accent is so likable, and she made what could be a boring character an enjoyable one.


5
Uma Thurman as Mrs. H
Nymphomaniac

Just watch Nymphomaniac and see for yourself. I mean look at that pic! It's such a crime that she was snubbed by almost every awards guild. I mean...

6
Naomi Watts as Lesley
Birdman

Birdman has a lot of great performances and as for the supporting actresses, in my opinion, Naomi Watts should have been nominated instead of Emma Stone.


7
Rene Russo as Nina Romina
Nightcrawler

Jake Gyllenhaal's performance wouldn't be as fun and effective if not for Rene Russo's character. Her character, even if she's supposed to be strong, was juxtaposed by her ignorance and Russo captured all of it. Her chemistry with Gyllenhaal is amazing to watch.


8
Meryl Streep as The Witch
Into the Woods

I thought Meryl did a great job as the witch in the movie. It's far from being her best but greatness is always expected and she delivered.


9
Adriana Barraza as Silvana
Cake

Isn't it funny that her name is Silvana in a movie called Cake? alol. Anyway, I thought she was nothing special in most of her appearance in the film until that one scene happened, and voila, she's in this list.

10

Jessica Chastain as Murphy

Interstellar

Jessica Chastain's 2nd sighting in this ranking. She's got a great year but none of her performances got nods in the Oscars. I thought she's one of the best things in Interstellar, both her character and her acting. 

Top 10 Supporting Actors of 2014

Not my favorite category this year but it has a couple of performances that I really love.

1

JK Simmons as Terence Fletcher

Whiplash

He's going to win the Oscar and it's very deserved. So intense, deceptively fun and thoroughly entertaining. We'll never refer to JK Simmons as Spiderman's boss ever again.

2
Edward Norton as Mike Shiner
Birdman

Thank God for his role in Birdman because we've never seen such a complex character Norton played ever since Fightclub. The level of douchebaggery of his character made room for Norton to address the rumors about him being hard to work with and I think it paid off. Mike Shiner is my favorite character in the film.


3
Ethan Hawke as Mason Evans Sr.
Boyhood

Sometimes I wonder if Ethan Hawke just played himself as the father of Mason Jr. Because he acted so naturally with so much charisma that you can't help but wish you have the same father as jolly as him despite his imperfections. Either way, it's a performance that's very likable that there's no way you'd put him out of this year's suppporting actors list.


4
Stellan Skarsgård as Seligman
Nymphomaniac

If only Nymphomaniac is a bit friendlier to the masses, Skarsgård will definitely be commended. His role as Seligman in Nymphomaniac is so subtle yet shocking and creepy.


5
Willem Dafoe as J.G. Jopling
The Grand Budapest Hotel

In a film with a huge ensemble and has lots of small roles, Willem Dafoe stands out as this bulldoggish character that is comically endearing in an ironic way. I love Willem Dafoe in this.

6
Josh Brolin as Det. Christian F. "Bigfoot" Bjornsen
Inherent Vice

It is appreciated when a serious actor like Josh Brolin acts in a silly way like Bigfoot in Inherent Vice. The film is definitely not for me but Brolin is one of the bright spots of this bleak and funny film and I would probably have not finished it if not for him.

7
Robert Duvall as Judge Joseph Palmer
The Judge

Robert Duvall, who is known for portraying bad ass, serious and grumpy characters actually made me a little teary eyed in this film. He's got some Vilma Santos in Anak skills.


8
Ben Schnetzer as Mark Ashton
Pride

In a sea of supporting male actors in this film, Ben Schnetzer definitely stood out. Of course he's got one of the flashiest role, but he disappeared in it. When I found out that he's the one who played Max in The Book Thief, I was shocked. He's a chameleon.


9
Mark Ruffalo as Dave Schultz
Foxcatcher

This is perhaps Ruffalo's second best performance to date, his first in The Normal Heart. Who knew Ruffalo got some depth? Here in Foxcatcher, he's so subtle and calm, no big scenes but he's so good nevertheless.


10
Logan Lerman as Pvt. Norman "Machine" Ellison
Fury

I don't think the role suited Logan Lerman in Fury, but his effort was highly appreciated. He showed some of his range and you just know that he's one of the actors to watch out in the future. He reminds me of a less intense young Christian Bale.

Top 5 Original & Adapted Screenplays

Original > Adapted obviously.

ORIGINAL

1.

Richard Linklater
Boyhood

2.

Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone, Alejandro González Iñárritu & Armando Bo

Birdman

3.
Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness
The Grand Budapest Hotel

4.
Jennifer Kent
The Babadook

5.
John Carney
Begin Again

ADAPTED

1.
Graham Moore
The Imitation Game

2.
Damian Chazelle
Whiplash

3.
Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl

4.
Kelly Masterson & Bong Joon-ho
Snowpiercer

5.
Dean DeBlois
How To Train Your Dragon 2

Top 10 Cinematography of 2014

Cinematography of 2014 films is insanely stacked that I feel guilty including only 10 in my list. There's Under the Skin, The Homesman, Enemy, The Immigrant, Noah, Fury, Foxcatcher and the list goes on... some of these made my initial list, but eventually cut coz there's just so many amazing work last year. Hey, at least I consider these honorable mentions. :)

1.

Ryszard Lenczewski & Lukasz Zal

Ida

2.

Emmanuel Lubezki

Birdman

3.

Robert Yeoman

The Grand Budapest Hotel

4.

Fredrik Wenzel & Fred Arne Wergeland

Force Majeure

5.

Mandy Walker

Tracks

6.

Hong Gyeong-Pyo

Snowpiercer

7.

Hoyte van Hoytema

Interstellar

8.

Dick Pope

Mr. Turner

9.

Robert Elswit

Nightcrawler

10.

Roger A. Deakins

Unbroken

87th Academy Award Nominations Predictions

Golden Globe Awards have wrapped up, the Guilds, BAFTA, Critics and other guilds have announced their nominees, but the most important of all, Oscars will be announcing under 48 hours from now.

Here are my predictions:

Best Picture:
1. "Boyhood"
2. "Birdman"
3. "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
4. "The Imitation Game"
5. "Selma"
6. "The Theory of Everything"
7. "Whiplash"
8. "Nightcrawler"
9. "American Sniper"
10. "Gone Girl"

ALTERNATES:
11. "Foxcatcher"
12. "Mr. Turner"

Best Director:
1. Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"
2. Alejandro González Iñárritu, "Birdman"
3. Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
4. Damien Chazelle, "Whiplash"
5. David Fincher, "Gone Girl"

ALTERNATES:
6. Morten Tyldum, "The Imitation Game"
7. Ava DuVernay, "Selma"

Best Actress:
1. Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"
2. Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl"
3. Reese Witherspoon, "Wild"
4. Felicity Jones, "The Theory of Everything"
5. Jennifer Aniston, "Cake"

ALTERNATES:
6. Amy Adams, "Big Eyes"
7. Marion Cotillard, "Two Days One Night"

Best Actor:
1. Michael Keaton, "Birdman"
2. Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"
3. Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game"
4. Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nightcrawler"
5. Ralph Fiennes, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

ALTERNATES: 
6. Timothy Spall, "Mr. Turner"
7. David Oyelowo, "Selma"

Best Supporting Actress:
1. Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"
2. Keira Knightley, "The Imitation Game"
3. Meryl Streep, "Into The Woods"
4. Rene Russo, "Nightcrawler"
5. Emma Stone, "Birdman"

ALTERNATES: 
6. Jessica Chastain, "A Most Violent Year"
7. Tilda Swinton, "Snowpiercer"

Best Supporting Actor:
1. J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"
2. Edward Norton, "Birdman"
3. Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood"
4. Mark Ruffalo, "Foxcatcher"
5. Robert Duvall, "The Judge"

Best Original Screenplay:
1. Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"
2. Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
3. Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr, Armando Bo, "Birdman"
4. Dan Gilroy, "Nightcrawler"
5. Paul Webb, "Selma"

Best Adapted Screenplay:
1. Gillian Flynn, "Gone Girl"
2. Graham Moore, "The Imitation Game"
3. Damien Chazelle, "Whiplash"
4. Anthony McCarten, "The Theory of Everything"
5. Jason Hall, "American Sniper"

Best Foreign Language Film:
2. "Force Majeure" (Sweden)
1. "Ida" (Poland)
3. "Leviathan" (Russia)
4. "Tangerines" (Estonia)
5. "Wild Tales" (Argentina)

Best Documentary Feature:
1. "CITIZENFOUR"
2. "Life Itself"
3. "The Case Against 8"
4. "Keep On Keepin' On"
5. "Tales of the Grim Sleeper"

Best Animated Feature:
1. "The LEGO Movie"
2. "How To Train Your Dragon 2"
3. "Big Hero 6"
4. "The Boxtrolls"
5. "The Book of Life"

Best Cinematography:
1. Emmanuel Lubezki, "Birdman"
2. Robert D. Yeoman, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
3. Hoyte Van Hoytema, "Interstellar"
4. Dick Pope, "Mr. Turner"
5. Ryszard Lenczewski and Łukasz Żal, "Ida"

Best Film Editing:
1. Douglas Crise, "Birdman"
2. Sandra Adair, "Boyhood"
3. Tom Cross, "Whiplash"
4. Joel Cox & Gary Roach, "American Sniper"
5. Barney Pilling, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Best Production Design:
1. Adam Stockhausen & Anna Pinnock, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
2. Kevin Thompson & George DeTitta Jr., "Birdman"
3. Dennis Gassner & Anna Pinnock, "Into The Woods"
4. Nathan Crowley, Garry Fettis & Paul Healy, "Interstellar"
5. Ondrej Nekvasil, "Snowpiercer"

Best Costume Design:
1. Milena Canonero, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
2. Sammy Sheldon Differ, "The Imitation Game"
3. Colleen Atwood, "Into The Woods"
4. Steven Noble, "The Theory of Everything"
5. Jacqueline Durran, "Mr. Turner"

Best Original Score:
1. Johann Johannsson, "The Theory of Everything"
2. Alexandre Desplat, "The Imitation Game"
3. Alexandre Desplat, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
4. Hans Zimmer, "Interstellar"
5. Mica Levi, "Under the Skin"

Best Original Song:
1. "Glory" ("Selma")
2. "Lost Stars" ("Begin Again")
3. "Mercy Is" ("Noah")
4. "Big Eyes" ("Big Eyes")
5. "Split The Difference" ("Boyhood")

Best Sound Mixing:
1. "Into The Woods"
2. "Birdman"
3. "Whiplash"
4. "American Sniper"
5. "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies"

Best Sound Editing:
1. "Godzilla"
2. "American Sniper"
3. "Fury"
4. "Interstellar"
5. "Unbroken"

Best Visual Effects:
1. "Guardians of the Galaxy"
2. "Godzilla"
3. "Interstellar"
4. "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes"
5. "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies"

Best Makeup & Hairstyling:
1. "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
2. "Guardians of the Galaxy"
3. "Foxcatcher"

TALLY:

Birdman - 10

The Grand Budapest Hotel - 10

Boyhood - 7

The Imitation Game - 7

The Theory of Everything - 6

Whiplash - 6

American Sniper - 5

Gone Girl - 4

Nightcrawler - 4

Selma - 3

72nd Golden Globe Awards Winner Predictions - Film

Tomorrow is the day! Unfortunately, there's no Lupita vs JLaw this year. But we still look forward to the speeches, the possible upsets, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's jokes, wins that could affect the result of the Oscars of the biggest party of the year wherein we'll have a chance to see our favorites drunk and crazy.

In the meantime, here are my winner predictions for the film categories:

Best Motion Picture – Drama
“Boyhood”
“Foxcatcher”
“The Imitation Game”
“Selma”
“The Theory of Everything”

WINNER: “Boyhood”
ALTERNATE: “The Imitation Game”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Jennifer Aniston, “Cake”
Felicity Jones, “The Theory of Everything”
Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”
Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”
Reese Witherspoon, “Wild”

WINNER: Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”
ALTERNATE: Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Steve Carell, “Foxcatcher”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Imitation Game”
Jake Gyllenhaal, “Nightcrawler”
David Oyelowo, “Selma”
Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”

WINNER: Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Imitation Game”
ALTERNATE: Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
“Birdman”
“The Grand Budapest Hotel”
“Into the Woods”
“Pride”
“St. Vincent”

WINNER: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” =o
ALTERNATE: “Birdman”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Amy Adams, “Big Eyes”
Emily Blunt, “Into the Woods”
Helen Mirren, “The Hundred-Foot Journey”
Julianne Moore, “Maps to the Stars”
Quvenzhane Wallis, “Annie”

WINNER: Emily Blunt, “Into the Woods”
ALTERNATE: Amy Adams, “Big Eyes”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Ralph Fiennes, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Michael Keaton, “Birdman”
Bill Murray, “St. Vincent”
Joaquin Phoenix, “Inherent Vice”
Christoph Waltz, “Big Eyes”

WINNER: Michael Keaton, “Birdman”
ALTERNATE: Ralph Fiennes, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”
Jessica Chastain, “A Most Violent Year”
Keira Knightley, “The Imitation Game”
Emma Stone, “Birdman”
Meryl Streep, “Into the Woods”

WINNER: Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”
ALTERNATE: Meryl Streep, “Into the Woods”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Robert Duvall, “The Judge”
Ethan Hawke, “Boyhood”
Edward Norton, “Birdman”
Mark Ruffalo, “Foxcatcher”
J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”

WINNER: J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”
ALTERNATE: Edward Norton, “Birdman”

Best Animated Feature Film
“Big Hero 6”
“The Book of Life”
“The Boxtrolls”
“How to Train Your Dragon 2”
“The Lego Movie”

WINNER: “The Lego Movie”
ALTERNATE: “How to Train Your Dragon 2” -- please win

Best Foreign Language Film
Force Majeure Turist (Sweden)
Gett: The Trial of Viviane (Israel)
Ida (Poland/Denmark)
Leviathan (Russia)
Tangerines Mandariinid (Estonia)

WINNER: Ida (Poland/Denmark)
ALTERNATE: Force Majeure Turist (Sweden)

Best Director – Motion Picture
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Ava DuVernay, “Selma”
David Fincher, “Gone Girl”
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, “Birdman”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”

These directors *two thumbs up*

WINNER: Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”
ALTERNATE: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, “Birdman”

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Gillian Flynn, “Gone Girl”
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo, “Birdman”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”
Graham Moore, “The Imitation Game”

WINNER: Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
ALTERNATE: Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”

Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Alexandre Desplat, “The Imitation Game”
Johann Johannsson, “The Theory of Everything”
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, “Gone Girl”
Antonio Sanchez, “Birdman”
Hans Zimmer, “Interstellar”

WINNER: Johann Johannsson, “The Theory of Everything”
ALTERNATE: Alexandre Desplat, “The Imitation Game”

Best Original Song – Motion Picture
“Big Eyes” – “Big Eyes,” Music by: Lana Del Rey, Lyrics by: Lana Del Rey
“Glory” – “Selma,” Music by: John Legend, Common, Lyrics by: John Legend, Common
“Mercy Is” – “Noah,” Music by: Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye, Lyrics by: Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye
“Opportunity” – “Annie,” Music by: Greg Kurstin, Sia Furler, Will Gluck, Lyrics by: Greg Kurstin, Sia Furler, Will Gluck
“Yellow Flicker Beat” – “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, Music by: Lorde, Lyrics by: Lorde

WINNER: “Glory” – “Selma,” Music by: John Legend, Common, Lyrics by: John Legend, Common
ALTERNATE: “Big Eyes” – “Big Eyes,” Music by: Lana Del Rey, Lyrics by: Lana Del Rey

Winner Predictions Tally:

Boyhood - 3

The Grand Budapest Hotel - 2

Birdman - 1

The Imitation Game - 1

The Theory of Everything - 1

Selma - 1
Whiplash - 1

Into the Woods - 1
Still Alice - 1

21st Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations | Predictions

Cast:

BOYHOOD
BIRDMAN
THE IMITATION GAME
UNBROKEN
FOXCATCHER

Lead Actor:

Michael Keaton, BIRDMAN
Steve Carell, FOXCATCHER
Benedict Cumberbatch, THE IMITATION GAME
Eddie Redmayne, THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Jake Gyllenhaal, NIGHTCRAWLER

Lead Actress:

Julianne Moore, STILL ALICE
Reese Witherspoon, WILD
Rosamund Pike, GONE GIRL
Jessica Chastain, A MOST VIOLENT YEAR
Marion Cotillard, TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT

Supporting Actor:

JK Simmons, WHIPLASH
Ethan Hawke, BOYHOOD
Edward Norton, BIRDMAN
Mark Ruffalo, FOXCATCHER
Tom Wilkinson, SELMA

Supporting Actress:

Patricia Arquette, BOYHOOD
Meryl Streep, INTO THE WOODS
Keira Knightley, THE IMITATION GAME
Emma Stone, BIRDMAN
Jessica Chastain, A MOST VIOLENT YEAR

Top 10 Movies I Look Forward To this 2014

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