Lee Stobby's Blog: February 2015

HELLO EVERYONE!!!!

2014 was such a strong year for film and wanted to get this out on Oscar eve. These are my top picks in the Academy categories (but not based on their nominees of course... how boring) and a few other categories that I threw in for fun and without a few that I don't really care about. I saw over 80 films released in 2014 (this is based on US Theatrical Release dates, so things like IT FOLLOWS, MOMMY count as 2015 even if I saw in 2014) and feel pretty confident that any gaps in my viewing aren't likely to shift anything that dramatically (MR. TURNER, TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT and LEVIATHAN being my biggest glaring omissions at the time of this posting) and I will amend this post if anything should arise later. And a lot of the times I have runner-ups (or two!) if I want to bring attention to other films / performances but sometimes I don't. I really did whatever I wanted here.

SO, on to my awards (with pictures and links!!!!!!)!!!!!!!

Best Supporting Actor

Winner:

J.K. Simmons - WHIPLASH

Runner-up: Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher

Best Visual Effects

Winner:

INTERSTELLAR

I had serious, serious issues with the film itself but the amazing use of practical effects, great design work and flawless FX work make this a technically astounding film.

Runner-up: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Best Soundtrack (different than score for those paying attention)

Winner:

THE GUEST

There are so many songs in this film and they are all amazing and set such a great, wonderful mood.

Best Stunt Work

Winner:

THE RAID 2

Best Sound Editing

Winner:

UNDER THE SKIN

The "pop" moment alone. Fucking terrifyingly specific and haunting.

Runner-up: The Babadook

Best Original Song

Winner:

"Everything is Awesome" - Tegan and Sara feat. The Lonely Island, THE LEGO MOVIE

Best Editing

Winner:

WHIPLASH

Runner-up: The Babadook

Best Original Score

Winner:

UNDER THE SKIN

Runner-up: Interstellar

Best Hair & Make-up

Winner:

THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Runner-up: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Costume Design

Winner:

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

Runner-up: Into the Woods

Best Supporting Actress

Winner:

Tilda Swinton - SNOWPIERCER

Runner-up: Meryl Streep - Into the Woods

Second Runner-up: Uma Thurman - Nymphomaniac

Best Sound Mixing

Winner:

UNDER THE SKIN

From the score, haunting Sound FXs, pervasive alien noises and even deafening silence, no film had as aggressive and inspired a soundscape.

Runner-up: Whiplash

Best Art Direction

Winner:

THE BABADOOK

The Bad Book itself is one of the most inspired pieces of art direction in a long time. But on top of that, the use of sound stages, some insanely great tricks with design of the space to create dread and scares (things appearing, disappearing), the design of the monster and a beautifully specific color palette make this an impeccably designed and constructed film. Every object feels like it has a purpose, is thoughtfully constructed and weight in the scenes.

Runner-up: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Cinematography

Winner:

UNDER THE SKIN

From the large vistas (oceans, snow, lush green fields, dense pointy forests and the cold wet cityscapes) to the small, intimate moments (like above), the camera commands the space and creates a relentless stream of iconic, specific imagery.

Runner-up: Interstellar

Best Original Screenplay

Winner:

THE BABADOOK

Mixing a wonderfully complex mother / son relationship and a unique monster into one of the most original and terrifying horror films of all time.

Runner-up: Stranger by the Lake

Best Adapted Screenplay

Winner:

ENEMY

The best ending of any film this year that is a culmination of a brilliantly unique structure that creates potentially the epitome of "doppleganger" stories.

Runner-up: The Fault in our Stars

Best Actor

Winner: