TheInSneider's FINAL 2014 Oscar Predictions & What He Hopes Will Win

This is The End. My only friend, The End. 

After six months of discussing the same 20 movies ad nauseam, It all comes down to this, gang! My predictions for the 86th annual Academy Awards, as well as my own personal picks if I had a ballot. It's pretty self-explanatory. Should Win is what I HOPE wins on Sunday night. That doesn't mean I necessarily thought their work was the best of the year (for instance, I'd give Best Actress to Julia Louis-Dreyfus for "Enough Said," but somehow she wasn't nominated), it just means that OF THE NOMINEES, this is who I would vote for. Likewise, just because I think someone WILL win, doesn't mean I think they SHOULD win. If you have an Office Oscar Pool, you can take these predictions to the bank, because they're money, baby! 

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all my readers for checking out The InSneider (as well as my work at TheWrap, which has its own awards expert in Steve Pond). I hope you all enjoy the show and have a magical evening! Here's hoping Ellen DeGeneres and Co. have some surprises in store for us. Without further ado, here are my Final 2014 Oscar Predictions as well as my wishlist for Sunday night. The envelope, please...

BEST PICTURE

Should Win: HER

Will Win: 12 YEARS A SLAVE

Analysis: Maybe I have too much faith in the Academy, but I really think that "12 Years a Slave" is going to win the final award of the night. Of course, I hedged my bets by playing a numbers game and betting $20 on "Gravity" online at +400, and picking "Gravity" in Awards Daily & Hollywood-Elsewhere’s Oscar predictions pool. "American Hustle" also stands a chance but I don’t think the Academy will be able to resist the chance to make a serious statement. If they didn’t go for "Avatar," why would they go for "Gravity?" Plus, "it's time."

BEST DIRECTOR

Should Win: STEVE MCQUEEN, 12 Years a Slave

Will Win: ALFONSO CUARON, Gravity

Analysis: Pretty much a lock, though McQueen still has an outside chance.

BEST ACTOR

Should Win: MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, Dallas Buyers Club

Will Win: MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, Dallas Buyers Club

Analysis: Pretty much a lock, though the Academy could choose to reward Leonardo DiCaprio for a versatile, larger-than-life performance in "The Wolf of Wall Street" that marks the culmination of a career built on the sort of good choices that Hollywood hopes McConaughey will continue to make and wishes he always had.

BEST ACTRESS

Should Win: AMY ADAMS, American Hustle

Will Win: CATE BLANCHETT, Blue Jasmine

Analysis: Pretty much a lock, and while a 20-year-old Woody Allen scandal probably didn’t affect Blanchett's chances, it certainly didn’t help. With four supporting nominations, Adams is beloved by her peers and represents the biggest threat to Blanchett, but she was also part of an ensemble. Not only did Blanchett carry “Blue Jasmine,” but she has never won for a leading role and seems overdue.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Should Win: JARED LETO, Dallas Buyers Club

Will Win: JARED LETO, Dallas Buyers Club

Analysis: Lock it up. As great as the other nominees were, this one is over.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Should Win: LUPITA NYONG’O, 12 Years a Slave

Will Win: LUPITA NYONG’O, 12 Years a Slave

Analysis: This is considered by many to be the tightest acting race of the evening, but I think this one is pretty much a lock. Nyong’o was everywhere this awards season while Lawrence was stuck in Atlanta shooting another “Hunger Games” sequel. A second straight Oscar might be too much too soon for young starlet Lawrence, and the Academy loves its newcomers. 

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Should Win: HER, Spike Jonze

Will Win: AMERICAN HUSTLE, Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell 

Analysis: “Her” was by far the most original screenplay of the year and the Academy may very well seek to reward him since he missed out on a directing nomination, but David O. Russell has never won an Oscar and I think the Academy is eager to recognize him for his career resurgence following "The Fighter" and "Silver Linings Playbook."

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Should Win: 12 YEARS A SLAVE, John Ridley

Will Win: 12 YEARS A SLAVE, John Ridley

Analysis: Pretty much a lock. I don’t see “Philomena” or “Wolf of Wall Street” stealing this one, and “Before Midnight” may just be too small to surprise here.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Should Win: Abstrain

Will Win: FROZEN

Analysis: Lock it up. The children have spoken.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Should Win: Abstain

Will Win: 20 FEET FROM STARDOM

Analysis: OK, it’s confession time. I tried to watch “The Act of Killing” the other night and I just couldn’t get into it. Everyone I trust swears it’s brilliant, I feel bad for not falling in love at first sight. On the other hand, “20 Feet From Stardom” seems like a bonafide crowd pleaser. It’ll be the consensus pick, though Netflix’s “The “Square” could pull off a stunning upset. I just feel like Radius-TWC has had the stars of “Stardom” visible all season and that high-profile visibility will pay off on Oscar night.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Should Win: Abstain

Will Win: THE HUNT

Analysis: This was a last-minute switch from “The Great Beauty,” which I know is the frontrunner to win. I just feel like this category is always kind of wonky and I’ve heard from too many people that “Great Beauty” is too slow and hard to get into. “The Hunt” won Cannes and features an excellent performance from Mads Mikkelsen and I appreciate its comment on society’s tendency to believe everything it hears.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Should Win: GRAVITY, Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki

Will Win: GRAVITY, Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki

Analysis: Lock it up. Sorry Roger Deakins, this one is over.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Should Win: AMERICAN HUSTLE, Michael Wilkinson

Will Win: THE GREAT GATSBY, Catherine Martin

Analysis: Nothing against “American Hustle,” but I think there’s a perception in Hollywood that because the ‘70s were so cliched, it’s easier to imitate the style of the time. Plus, the Academy seems to just love Catherine Martin’s work and as bad as "The Great Gatsby" was, there’s no denying the artistry of the costumes or its lavish production design. Personally, the costume that stood out the most to me this year was Amy Adams'  neck-plunging dresses in "American Hustle," whereas I don't really remember what Daisy was wearing in "Great Gatsby," but hey, that's just me.

BEST EDITING

Should Win: CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, Christopher Rouse

Will Win: CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, Christopher Rouse

Analysis: This one is going to be close thanks to “Gravity,” but I was on the edge of my seat throughout “Captain Phillips” and that’s because the momentum never let up. It was propulsive and energetic and  the movie, which is long, never overstayed its welcome. You’re not even aware of the running time. That’s a tribute to its editing, and it doesn’t hurt that Christopher Rouse is a well-respected veteran who won an Oscar for “The Bourne Ultimatum.” 

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Should Win: DALLAS BUYERS CLUB, Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews

Will Win: DALLAS BUYERS CLUB, Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews

Analysis: A $250 budget? Lock it up. Sorry Johnny Knoxville, this one is over.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Should Win: HER, William Butler and Owen Pallett

Will Win: GRAVITY, Steven Price

Analysis: All of the nominated scores except for "Her" strike me as pretty forgettable but I just don’t see “Philomena” pulling off the upset here. Poor Alexandre Desplat and Thomas Newman… always the bridesmaids, never the bride.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

Should Win: Abstain

Will Win: FROZEN, “Let It Go”

Analysis: Pharrell Williams won’t be “happy,” but this one is pretty much a lock. U2 could surprise because who knows what lengths Harvey Weinstein went to behind the scenes to get “Mandela” an Oscar, but the latest classic Disney song seems like a force to be reckoned with.

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Should Win: HER, K.K. Barrett and Gene Serdena

Will Win: THE GREAT GATSBY, Catherine Martin & Beverley Dunn

Analysis: This is another close race with both “Gravity” and “Her” looming large, but sometimes Best Production Design means Most Production Design. I’m happy to be proven wrong, but I think this is Team Gatsby’s best chance to win Sunday night. Either way, Warner Bros. will be happy once the envelope is read.

BEST SOUND EDITING

Should Win: Abstain

Will Win: GRAVITY

Analysis: Lock it up.

BEST SOUND MIXING

Should Win: Abstain

Will Win: GRAVITY

Analysis: Lock it up.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Should Win: GRAVITY

Will Win: GRAVITY

Analysis: Lock it up and then lock it up again.

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

Should Win: Abstain

Will Win: GET A HORSE!

Analysis: Lock it up.

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Should Win: Abstain

Will Win: THE LADY IN NUMBER 6: MUSIC SAVED MY LIFE

Analysis: Lock it up.

BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT

Should Win: Abstain

Will Win: HELIUM

Analysis: Most prognosticators are picking “Helium” to win and since I haven’t seen it, who am I to argue? But since this is the hardest shorts category to predict, I thought I’d mention that “Just Before Losing Everything” and “The Voorman Problem” are also possibilities here.

2013 The Independent Film Awards Winners

Yesterday was the Spirits Awards ceremony and somehow surprisingly top categories winners are the 'expected' Oscar winners which is highly unusual when the Indie world collides with the Studio world (aka Hollywood).

With the Spirit Awards winners post becomes final and in one sight you have an idea of what's going on in the English-language Independent Film world. Think next year will do the same.

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12/8/13
Post will list the WINNERS only for the three Independent Awards in USA and UK. So will be a work in progress until the last organization announces their winners in March 2014.

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12/4/13
23rd Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards Winners
Nominations at Official Site
Best Feature: Inside LLewyn Davis
Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award: Ryan Coogler for Frutivale Station
Best Actress: Brie Larson in Short Term 12
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Breakthrough Actor: Michael B. Jordan in Frutivale Station
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing
Audience Award: Jake Shimabujuro: Life on Four Strings

British Independent Film Awards
Nominations at Official Site

Best British Independent Film: Metro Manila
Best Director: Sean Ellis for Metro Manila
Douglas Hickox Award - Directorial Debut: Paul Wright for For Those in Peril
Best Screenplay: Steven Knight for Locke
Best Actress: Lindsay Duncan for Le Week-end
Best Supporting Actress: Imogen Poots in The Look of Love
Best Actor: James McAvoy for Filth
Best Supporting Actor: Ben Mendelsohn in Starred Up
Most Promising Newcomer: Chloe Pirrie in Shell
Best Technical Achievement: Amy Hubbard for The Selfish Giant (Casting)
Best Achivement in Production: Metro Manila
Raindance Award: The Machine
Best British Documentary: Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer
Best Short Film: Z1
Best International Independent Film: Blue is the Warmest Colour
Variety Award: Paul Greengrass
Richard Harris Award: Julie Walters

Film Independent Spirit Awards
Award Ceremony on March 1st, 2014
Nominations at Official Site Winners will eventually be there but here they are from news.

Best Feature: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best First Feature: Frutivale Station, Ryan Coogler

Best Female Lead: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Supporting Female: Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years a Slave
Best Male Lead: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Supporting Male: Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club

Best Documentary: 20 Feet From Stardom
Best International Film: Blue is the Warmest Color, Abdellatif Kechiche, France

Best Cinematography: Sean Bobbitt for 12 Years a Slave
Best Screenplay: John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
Best First Screenplay: Bob Nelson for Nebraska
Best Editing: Nat Sanders for Short Term 12

Robert Altman Award: Mud, Jeff Nichols
John Cassavetes Award: This is Martin Bonner, Chad Hartigan
Someone to Watch Award: Shaka King for Newlyweeds
Truer Than Fiction Award: Jason Osder for Let The Fire Burn
Producers Award: Toby Halbrooks and James M. Johnston

Very Late 2014 Oscar Predictions

Was not going to share my predictions but then changed my mind here they are. This year will be NOT easy to guess right so let see how many will get right and wrong. There are several categories that I am really hoping I am wrong so perhaps the 'BEST' wins, then IF happens be sure I will celebrate.

Wish organizers will change the awards presentation order as this year those categories that have two or more frontrunners could go towards the end so tension and interest remains during the whole show. Also, it is only me but don't you think that this year the award show is full of women? See, Ellen will host, Pink and Bette Midler will perform and no man has been announced to perform, so if they do will be in the background or a "surprise".

Please note that opted for no tie in any category, BUT there is always a possibility that one or more categories could end up with a tie ...

Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Best Animated Film: Frozen
Foreign Language: The Great Beauty

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Cate Blanchett
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Jennifer Lawrence
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Jared Leto

Original Screenplay: Her
Adapted Screenplay: 12 Years a Slave

Cinematography: Gravity
Visual Effects: Gravity
Film Editing: Gravity
Sound Editing: Gravity
Sound Mixing: Gravity

Production Design: The Great Gatsby
Costume Design: American Hustle

Makeup and Hairstyling: Dallas Buyers Club

Music - Original Score: Gravity
Music - Original Song: Frozen

Documentary: The Act of Killing

Short Films
Live Action: The Voorman Problem (BUT I really liked Helium)
Animated: Get a Horse (But I really LOVED Mr. Hublot)
Documentary: The Lady in Number 6

In a bit more than 24 hours we will know how right or wrong I was this year and if I'm close to last year when guessed right 22 out of 24.

THINGS TO COME: GODZILLA

If you read this blog, then I’m sure you’re already aware of the upcoming Godzilla movie and have already seen this trailer…

Yeah, I’m a little giddy over it ( he says as he glances at the 6 inch tall Godzilla action figure sitting on his desk). If only May wasn’t so far away. Fortunately, thanks to the magic of marketing, we don’t have to wait until then to get a bit of new Godzilla action…

If Madison Avenue keeps that up, I may have to stop fast forwarding through commercials from now on.

I’m sure I’ll be reviewing the new Godzilla for Aleteia, but if for some reason I don’t, you can rest assured I will do so here. Until then, if you’re curious as to what I thought about the original Godzilla (Gojira), you can check out this old post. Hey, you can never get too much Godzilla.

CW's "FLASH" Looks Like The Flash And Nothing Makes Sense Anymore

It's been so long since we've seen a visual or story-element "reveal" for a Warner Bros-backed DC Comics adaptation that was depressing, awful or just too headscratching to really contemplate that this headshot from the "ARROW" spinoff actually has me taken aback quite a bit:

I mean... if I wanted to I guess I could speculate as to why it's just the headpiece - does the rest of it look like crap? Will they not do the chest-insignia? - but for now... huh. Not bad. If WB was keeping some kind of functional connectivity between these TV projects and the movies I'd want to speculate about whether this is an indicator for the next bat-suit, but they aren't so for now... hey, cool. They got his head right.

39th César Awards Winners

Even if I promise to NOT get upset, I am very upset. So will not comment today. Most of you know how much I dislike French comedies, so no surprise if I say that top winner is okay but not much else.

Winners are in *BLUE. If you wish to read winners at official site go here.

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1/31/14
A few minutes ago at Fouqet's restaurant on Champs Elysees (ahh!), the French Academy announced the nominations for this year edition and fear no more, Abdellatif Kechiche master opus has many (8) nominations along with some excellent movies that were released in France during 2013 and yes, 2013 was another extraordinary year for French Cinema.

When we consider all nominations there are 47 that come from Cannes films and most were honored at the festival with award(s). That's another reason why these nominations show incredible high cinema-quality. Nevertheless La Vie d'Adèle is not the film with more nominations (8) but is the film where most nods come from "main" categories; Cannes honored and box office success, Me, Myself and Mum leads the tight pack with 10 nods, and L'inconnu du Lac also got 8 nods as La Vie d'Adèle. These three films are the top contenders. Still remember that more nominations doesn't necessarily mean more awards, at least in this award as just have to check last year where the most nominated film got no awards at all.

Perhaps the major snubs for me are the few nominations for Jeune & Jolie and Grand Central plus some surprises like Jimmy P nominated for Best Film, but most complex -at least for me because who are nominated- are categories like actress in a lead role, female newcomer, and actor in a lead role as there are some excellent performances being honored. Still have my favorites and -of course- hope Léa Seydoux gets the honor, as well as Adèle Exarchopoulos and Mads Mikkelsen.

Can't help but to share that most social media (and now general news!) is talking about one peculiar issue that obviously is NOT related to cinema, Julie Gayet nomination! Well, is great to have a good laugh so early in my morning.

Awards ceremony will be on February 28 at Châtelet, with François Cluzet acting as President and my favorite Cécile de France as Maîtresse de Cérémonie. Ceremony is stream live by Canal + and as every year will be and odyssey to find a stream available worldwide, sigh.

These are the nominations for the twenty-two (22) categories.

Best Film
9 mois ferme (9 Month Strech) by Albert Duponel
*Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table! (Me, Myself and Mum) by Guillaume Gallienne
L'inconnu du Lac (Stranger by the Lake) by Alain Guiraudie
Jimmy P. (Psychothérapie d'un Indien des Plaines) (Jimmy P.) by Arnaud Desplechin
Le Passé (The Past) by Asghar Farhadi
La Vénus à la Foururre (Venus in Fur) by Roman Polanski
La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (Blue is the Warmest Color) by Abdellatif Kechiche

Best First Film
La Bataille de Solférino (Age of Panic) by Justine Triet
La Cage dorée (The Gilded Cage) by Ruben Alves
En solitaire (Turning Tide) by Christophe Offenstein
La fille du 14 juillet (The Rendez-Vous of Déjà-Vu) by Antonin Peretjatko
*Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table! (Me, Myself and Mum) by Guillaume Gallienne

Best Animated Film
Aya de Yopougon (Aya of Yop City) by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie
*Loulou l'Incroyable Secret by Eric Omond
Ma maman est en Amérique, elle a rencontré Buffalo Bill (My Mummy is in America and She Met Buffalo Bill) by Marc Boreal and Thibaut Chatel

Best Foreign Film
*The Broken Circle Breakdown by Felix Van Groeningen
Blancanieves by Pablo Berger
Blue Jasmine by Woody Allen
Dead Man Talking by Patrick Ridremont
Django Unchained by Quentin Tarantino
La Grande Bellezza by Paolo Sorrentino
Gravity by Alfonso Cuarón

Best Director
Albert Dupontel for 9 mois ferme (9 Month Strech)
Guillaume Gallienne for Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table! (Me, Myself and Mum)
Alain Guiraudie for L'inconnu du Lac (Stranger by the Lake)
Arnaud Desplechin for Jimmy P. (Psychothérapie d'un Indien des Plaines) (Jimmy P.)
Asghar Farhadi for Le Passé (The Past)
*Roman Polanski for La Vénus à la Foururre (Venus in Fur)
Abdellatif Kechiche for La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (Blue is the Warmest Color)

Best Actress
Fanny Ardant in Les Beaux Jours (Bright Days Ahead)
Bérénice Béjo in Le Passé (The Past)
Catherine Deneuve in Elle s'En Va (On My Way)
Sara Forestier in Suzanne
*Sandrine Kiberlain in 9 mois ferme (9 Month Strech)
Emmanuelle Seigner in La Vénus à la Foururre (Venus in Fur)
Léa Seydoux in La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (Blue is the Warmest Color)

Best Supporting Actress
Marisa Borini in Un Château en Italie
Françoise Fabian in Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table! (Me, Myself and Mum)
Julie Gayet in Quai d'Orsay
*Adèle Haenel in Suzanne
Géraldine Pailhas in Jeune & Jolie

Best Female Newcomer
Lou de Laâge in Jappeloup
Pauline Etienne in La Religieuse (The Nun)
*Adèle Exarchopoulos in La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (Blue is the Warmest Color)
Golshifteh Farahani in Syngué sabour - Pierre de patience (The Patience Stone)
Marine Vacth in Jeune & Jolie

Best Actor
Mathieu Amalric in La Vénus à la Foururre (Venus in Fur)
Michel Bouquet in Renoir
Albert Dupontel in 9 mois ferme (9 Month Strech)
Grégory Gadebois in Mon âme par toi guérie (One of a Kind)
*Guillaume Gallienne in Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table! (Me, Myself and Mum)
Fabrice Luchini in Alceste à bicyclette (Cycling with Moliere)
Mads Mikkelsen in Michael Kohlhaas (Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas)

Best Supporting Actor
*Niels Arestrup in Quai d'Orsay
Patrick Chesnais in Les Beaux Jours (Bright Days Ahead)
Patrick d'Assumçao in L'inconnu du Lac (Stranger by the Lake)
François Damiens in Suzanne
Olivier Gourmet in Grand Central

Best Male Newcomer
Paul Bartel in Les Petits Princes
*Pierre Deladonchamps in L'inconnu du Lac (Stranger by the Lake)
Paul Hamy in Suzanne
Vincent Macaigne in La fille du 14 juillet (The Rendez-Vous of Déjà-Vu)
Nemo Schiffman in Elle s'en va (On My Way)

Best Original Screenplay
Mariette Désert and Katell Quillévéré for Suzanne
*Albert Dupontel for 9 mois ferme (9 Month Strech)
Asghar Farhadi for Le Passé (The Past)
Philippe Le Guay for Alceste à bicyclette (Cycling with Moliere)
Alain Guiraudie for L'inconnu du Lac (Stranger by the Lake)

Best Adapted Screenplay
Antonin Baudry, Christophe Blain and Bertrand Tavernier for Quai d'Orsay
Arnaud Desplechin, Julie Peyr and Kent Jones for Jimmy P. (Psychothérapie d'un Indien des Plaines) (Jimmy P.)
*Guillaume Gallienne for Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table! (Me, Myself and Mum)
David Ives and Roman Polanski for La Vénus à la Fourrure (Venus in Fur)
Abdellatif Kechiche and Ghalya Lacroix for La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (Blue is the Warmest Color)

Best Cinematography
*Thomas Harmeier for L'extravagant voyage du jeune et prodigieux T.S. Spivet (The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet)
Claire Mathon for L'inconnu du Lac (Stranger by the Lake)
Jeanne Lapoirie for Michael Kohlhaas (Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas)
Mark Ping Bing Lee for Renoir
Sofian El Fani for La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (Blue is the Warmest Color)

Best Editing
*Valèrie Deseine for Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table! (Me, Myself and Mum)
Jean-Christophe Hym for L'Inconnu du lac (Stranger by the Lake)
Christophe Pinel for 9 mois ferme (9 Month Strech)
Camille Toubkis, Albertine Lastera and Jean-Marie Lengellè for La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (Blue is the Warmest Color)
Juliette Welfling for Le Passé (The Past)

Best Original Soundtrack
Jorge Arriagada for Alceste à bicyclette (Cycling with Moliere)
Loïk Dury and Christophe "Disco" Minck for Casse-tête chinois (Chinese Puzzle)
Etienne Charry for L'Ecume des Jours (Mood Indigo)
*Martin Wheeler for Michael Kohlhaas (Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas)
Alexandre Desplat for La Vénus à la Fourrure (Venus in Fur)

Best Sound
Marc-Antoine Beldent, Loïc Prian, Olivier Dô Hùu for Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table! (Me, Myself and Mum)
Philippe Grivel and Nathalie Vidal for L'inconnu du lac (Stranger by the Lake)
*Jean-Pierre Duret, Jean Mallet and Mélissa Petitjean for Michael Kohlhaas (Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas)
Lucien Balibar, Nadine Muse and Cyril Holtz for La Vénus à la fourrure (Venus in Fur)
Jérôme Chenevoy, Fabien Pochet and Jean-Paul Hurier for La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (Blue is the Warmest Color)

Best Costumes
Olivier Bériot for Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table! (Me, Myself and Mum)
*Pascaline Chavanne for Renoir
Anina Diener for Michael Kohlhaas (Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas)
Florence Fointaine for L'Ecume des Jours (Mood Indigo)
Florence Fontaine for L'extravagant voyage du jeune et prodigieux T.S. Spivet (The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet)

Best Set Design
Yan Arlaud for Michael Kohlhaas (Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas)
Benoit Barough for Renoir
Aline Bonetto for L'extravagant voyage du jeune et prodigieux T.S. Spivet (The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet)
Sylvie Olivé for Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table! (Me, Myself and Mum)
*Stéphane Rozenbaum for L'Ecume des Jours (Mood Indigo)

Best Documentary
Comment j'ai détesté les maths by Olivier Peyon
Le dernier des injustes (The Last of the Unjust) by Claude Lanzmann
Il était une forêt by Luc Jacquet
La maison de la radio by Nicolas Philibert
*Sur le chemin de l'école by Pascal Plisson

Best Short Film
*Avant que de tout perdre (Just Before Losing Everything) by Xavier Legrand, 29'
Bambi by Sebastien Lifshitz, 58' (this is not a short film! - is a documentary)
La fugue by Jean-Bernard Marlin, 23'
Les Lézards by Vincent Mariette, 14'
Marseille la nuit by Marien Monge, 40'

Best Animated Short Film
Lettres des Femmes by Augusto Zanovello
*Mademoiselle Kiki et les Montparnos (Kiki of Montparnasse) by Amélie Harrault

If you wish to check nominations at official site go here but have to downlowad a pdf file.

Most surprising nomination is for Bambi by Sebastien Lifshitz not because is not good, as a matter of fact is an excellent must be seen documentary (!), but because is nominated as a short film (!) with 58 minutes! Go figure, hope they fix this.

There are a few films that I have not seen, some because decided not to see and now maybe will, others because escaped my radar and one/two that I'm dying to see and haven't seen them yet. Still the "important" (lol) ones have seen them and yes, they're fantastic films! Most interesting, from those that escaped my radar, is the second film by Katell Quillévéré (remember Un Poison Violent?) Suzanne that not only has a very interesting story but also Adèle Haenel performs.

I suppose that this will be the only -non LGBT- major award where a lesbian interest movie will be competing with a gay interest movie for the top award! Doubt we will soon see this milestone again and -obviously- believe that the lesbian interest movie is highly superior to the gay interest film and to the others in the race for best film.

Escape to The Movies: "SON OF GOD"

Holy crap.

ALSO: Oscar handicapping.

The Escapist : Escape to the Movies : Son of God