Birdman (Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu)
Nominees: Song of the Sea, Under the Skin, Inherent Vice, I Origins, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Gone Girl, The President, The Drop, Phoenix, Blind
Oscars Pick: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Nominees: Whiplash, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, Grand Budapest Hotel, Boyhood, American Sniper, Selma
Oscar got it right this year when it selected Birdman as its best picture. This ambitious feature is a bit like Black Swan, but more a satire. It's a trenchant look at the divide between Hollywood and Broadway, fevered fans, callous critics and an aging comic book movie superstar who is trying desperately to be taken seriously. The camera work and drum solo score are stylish and cool and are a big part of what makes this movie memorable. But it also has a strong emotional center, due to several phenomenal performances. This is Michael Keaton's best work; I didn't know he had this kind of depth in him. And Emma Stone should have won the Oscar for supporting actress (winner Patricia Arquette in Boyhood gave the same performance she's given in every film and TV role she has done, but Stone stretched herself here. In particular, one scene where she reads Keaton the riot act, but then realizes what she's said - the transformation in her expression and body language was impressive. For that scene alone I'd have given her the award)
Oscar, however, got it wrong on the Best Animated Feature category. Look, I'm glad the Academy at least acknowledges these pictures, but it would be nice if they'd give the award to someone outside of America (they've only done so on two occasions, and one was a British/American co-production). Big Hero 6 was a fine film, I liked it a lot, but it's nowhere near as visionary, artistic or challenging as The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (released in Japan in 2013) and Song of the Sea, the later which would have been my pick (and should have gotten a Best Picture nod as well). With Miyazaki's retirement and Kon's passing, Tomm Moore has become the most exciting animator around. I adored The Secret of Kells, and Song of the Sea -which further delves into Irish folklore- has an even stronger narrative, to go along with the gorgeous visuals. I was in awe of the beautiful compositions - the design elements are simply breathtaking.
And the third primary contender for the Felix was the haunting Under The Skin. An art-house sci-fi tale that moves slowly and doesn't offer any definitive explanations for whys and whatnot's concerning the aliens. It seems to be an exploration of humanity (the good, bad and ugly), though in truth this isn't a movie you understand, it's one you experience. It's disturbing, the score is eerily atmospheric, and Scarlett Johansson gives a nice, understated performance.
Oh, and there were some real delightful cool and funny (Guardians of the Galaxy), smart and heartfelt (X-Men: Days of Future Past), action-packed (Captain America: Winter Soldier) comic book movies this year.
Honorable Mentions:
Jennifer Aniston, Cake * Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night * Scarlett Johansson, Under the Skin * Sarah Snook, Predestination * Julianne Moore, Still Alice * Mia Wasikowska, Maps to the Stars * Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl * Juliette Binoche, Clouds of Sils Maria * Chun Woo-hee, Han Gong-ju * Zhao Wei & Hao Lei, Dearest
Best Actor: Michael Keaton, Birdman (pictured top)
Honorable Mentions:
Honorable Mentions:
Brendan Gleeson, Calvary * Chadwick Boseman, Get on Up * Tom Hardy, Locke & The Drop * Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel * Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice * Philip Seymour Hoffman, A Most Wanted Man * David Oyelowo, Selma * David Gulpilil, Charlie's Country * Huang Bo, Dearest * Gérard Depardieu, Welcome to NY.jpg)
Supporting Actress: Emma Stone, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
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