From 2013, an enigmatic opening for an enigmatic film:
Tag Archives: Under the Skin
6 Shots From 6 Horror Films: 2013 — 2014
4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!
This October, I’m going to be doing something a little bit different with my contribution to 4 (or more) Shots From 4 (or more) Films. I’m going to be taking a little chronological tour of the history of horror cinema, moving from decade to decade.
Today, we take a look at 2013 and 2014!
6 Shots From 6 Films: 2013 — 2014
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013, dir by Jim Jarmusch, DP: Yorick Le Saux)
Under the Skin (2013, dir by Jonathan Glazer, DP: Daniel Landin)
The Conjuring (2013, dir by James Wan, DP: John R. Leonetti)
The Babadook (2014, dir by Jennifer Kent, DP: Radek Ładczuk)
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014, dir by Ana Lily Amirpour, DP: Lyle Vincent)
The Purge: Anarchy (2014, dir by James DeMonaco, DP: Jacques Jouffret)
10 Sci-Fi Films That Should Have Been Nominated For Best Picture
Over the past few years, it’s gotten a little bit more common to see science fiction films nominated for best picture. While a sci-fi film has yet to win best picture, it is no longer as much of a shock to see a science fiction film nominated. At least not as much as it is to see a horror film nominated.
That said, it’s still an uphill fight. Here are 10 science fiction films that I feel could and should have been nominated for best picture:
- Metropolis (1927)
Fritz Lang’s expressionistic silent epic remains one of the most influential films of all time. Metropolis was eligible to be nominated during the first year of the Oscars, a year in which not one but two awards for best picture were handed out. That Metropolis was nominated for neither Best Production nor Unique and Artistic Picture was a huge missed opportunity.
2. The War of the Worlds (1953)
This film may be over 60 years old but it’s still one of the best alien invasion films ever made. And yes, I prefer the original to the Spielberg version.
3. The Time Machine (1960)
Morlocks, Eloi, and war … oh my!
“A planet where apes evolved from man?” No, not quite. “YOU BLEW IT UP! GODDAMN YOU TO HELL!” Yes, that’s better. Today, Planet of the Apes may seem more than a little bit campy but it’s still an unusually intelligent social satire. Charlton Heston’s persona has never been better used.
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Can you believe that this classic from Stanley Kubrick was not nominated? Kubrick got a directing nomination but, when it came to picking the best films of the year, the Academy nominated Oliver! and Rachel, Rachel.
6. Blade Runner (1982)
Blade Runner is today recognized as a classic but it originally received mixed reviews and was ignored by the Academy. At the very least, Rutger Hauer deserved a nomination.
This underrated clone drama was sadly overlooked. Andrew Garfield’s performance is heartbreaking.
This enigmatic film was probably too bizarre and unsettling for the Academy but Jonathan Glazer’s direction and Scarlett Johansson’s performance make Under the Skin a classic.
9. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Whenever I rewatch Guardians of the Galaxy, I’m happy to discover that it still holds up as a wonderful piece of entertainment. It remains my favorite film of 2014.
Quite simply an amazing film, this is a Metropolis for the 21st Century.
Here Are The Independent Spirit Award Nominations!
Before I forget, The Independent Spirit Award Nominations were announced earlier today! In a year that has yet to see a Spotlight, a Mad Max, or even a Big Short, the Oscar race remains undeniably murky. Maybe the Spirit nominations will help to clarify things.
(Sad to say but I haven’t seen most of the films that were nominated. They’ve either just opened down here in Dallas or they’ll be opening next month. So, you’ll have to forgive me if I can’t provide much commentary beyond saying that I look forward to seeing and reviewing them all for myself!)
(I will say, however, that I’m happy to see that American Honey was nominated because, even though I missed seeing the film, it’s directed Andrea Arnold. Arnold’s previous film, Fish Tank, is pretty much one of my essential movies.)
Here are the nominees!
BEST PICTURE
“American Honey”
“Chronic”
“Jackie”
“Manchester by the Sea”
“Moonlight”
BEST DIRECTOR
Andrea Arnold, “American Honey”
Barry Jenkins, “Moonlight”
Pablo Larraín, “Jackie”
Jeff Nichols, “Loving”
Kelly Reichardt, “Certain Women”
BEST ACTOR
Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”
David Harewood, “Free In Deed”
Viggo Mortensen, “Captain Fantastic”
Jesse Plemons, “Other People”
Tim Roth, “Chronic”
BEST ACTRESS
Annette Bening, “20th Century Women”
Isabelle Huppert, “Elle”
Sasha Lane, “American Honey”
Ruth Negga, “Loving”
Natalie Portman, “Jackie”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Ralph Fiennes, “A Bigger Splash”
Ben Foster, “Hell or High Water”
Lucas Hedges, “Manchester by the Sea”
Shia LaBeouf, “American Honey”
Craig Robinson, “Morris from America”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Edwina Findley, “Free In Deed”
Paulina Garcia, “Little Men”
Lily Gladstone, “Certain Women”
Riley Keough, “American Honey”
Molly Shannon, “Other People”
Edwina Findley, “Free In Deed”
Paulina Garcia, “Little Men”
Lily Gladstone, “Certain Women”
Riley Keough, “American Honey”
Molly Shannon, “Other People”
BEST SCREENPLAY
“Hell or High Water”
“Little Men”
“Manchester by the Sea”
“Moonlight”
“20th Century Women”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ava Berkofsky, “Free In Deed”
Lol Crawley,”The Childhood of a Leader”
Zach Kuperstein,”The Eyes of My Mother”
James Laxton,”Moonlight”
Robbie Ryan,”American Honey”
BEST FILM EDITING
Matthew Hannam,”Swiss Army Man”
Jennifer Lame,” Manchester by the Sea”
Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders, “Moonlight”
Jake Roberts, “Hell or High Water”
Sebastián Sepúlveda, “Jackie”
BEST DOCUMENTARY
“13th”
“Cameraperson”
“I Am Not Your Negro”
“O.J.: Made in America”
“Sonita”
“Under the Sun”
BEST INTERNATIONAL PICTURE
“Aquarius” (Brazil)
“Chevalier” (Greece)
“My Golden Days” (France)
“Toni Erdmann” (Germany and Romania)
“Under the Shadow” (Iran and U.K.)
BEST FIRST FEATURE
“The Childhood of a Leader”
“The Fits”
“Other People”
“Swiss Army Man”
“The Witch”
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
“Barry”
“Christine”
“Jean of the Joneses”
“Other People”
“The Witch”
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD (best feature made for under $500,000)
“Free In Deed”
“Hunter Gatherer”
“Lovesong”
“Nakom”
“Spa Night”
What if Lisa Marie Picked The Oscar Nominees!
With the Oscar nominations due to be announced tomorrow, now is the time that the Shattered Lens indulges in a little something called, “What if Lisa had all the power.” Listed below are my personal Oscar nominations. Please note that these are not the films that I necessarily think will be nominated. The fact of the matter is that the many of them will not. Instead, these are the films that would be nominated if I was solely responsible for deciding the nominees this year. Winners are listed in bold.
(You’ll also note that I’ve added four categories, all of which I believe the Academy should adopt — Best Voice-Over Performance, Best Casting, Best Stunt Work, and Best Overall Use Of Music In A Film.)
(Click on the links to see my nominations for 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010!)
Best Picture
Best Director
Wes Anderson for The Grand Budapest Hotel
Dan Gilroy for Nightcrawler
Jonathan Glazer for Under the Skin
James Gunn for Guardians of the Galaxy
*Richard Linklater for Boyhood*
Jean-Marc Vallee for Wild
Best Actor
Macon Blair in Blue Ruin
Nicholas Cage in Joe
Ralph Fiennes in The Grand Budapest Hotel
*Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler*
Tom Hardy in Locke
Michael Keaton in Birdman
Best Actress
Scarlett Johansson in Under the Skin
Angelina Jolie in Maleficent
Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl
Emmanuelle Seigner in Venus In Fur
Shailene Woodley in The Fault In Our Stars
*Reese Witherspoon in Wild*
Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin in Inherent Vice
Steve Carell in Foxcatcher
Ethan Hawke in Boyhood
*Gary Poulter in Joe*
Mark Ruffalo in Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons in Whiplash
Best Supporting Actress
Patrica Arquette in Boyhood
Laura Dern in Wild
Emma Roberts in Palo Alto
Rene Russo in Nightcrawler
Emma Stone in Birdman
*Mia Wasikowska in Only Lovers Left Alive*
Best Voice Over Performance
Scott Adsit in Big Hero 6
Bradley Cooper in Guardians of the Galaxy
Kate del Castillo in The Book of Life
*Vin Diesel in Guardians of the Galaxy*
Morgan Freeman in The LEGO Movie
Chris Pratt in The LEGO Movie
Best Original Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Animated Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Casting
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One
Best Editing
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
Best Original Score
Best Original Song
“Lost Stars” from Begin Again
“The Apology Song” from The Book of Life
“Split the Difference” from Boyhood
“Yellow Flicker Beats” from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One
*”Everything is Awesome” from The LEGO Movie*
“Sister Rust” from Lucy
“Mercy” from Noah
“Hal” from Only Lovers Left Alive
“Rock Star” from Palo Alto
“Summer Nights” from Under the Electric Sky
Best Overall Use Of Music
Best Production Design
Best Sound Editing
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
*Fury*
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Best Sound Mixing
*Captain America: The Winter Soldier*
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Best Stunt Work
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
*Dawn of the Planet of the Apes*
Best Visual Effects
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Number of Nominations by Film
14 Nominations — Guardians of the Galaxy
9 Nominations — Boyhood
8 Nominations — Nightcrawler
7 Nominations — Wild
6 Nominations — Foxcatcher, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Lego Movie, Under the Skin
5 Nominations — A Field in England, Palo Alto
4 Nominations — X-Men: Days of Future Past
3 Nominations — Birdman, The Book of Life, Capt. America: The Winter Soldier, The Fault In Our Stars, Gone Girl, Inherent Vice, Into the Woods, Joe, Only Lovers Left Alive, Venus in Fur
2 Nominations — Begin Again, Big Hero 6, California Scheming, Dawn of the Planet of Apes, Fury, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One, Maleficent, Snowpiercer, Under the Electric Sky, Whiplash
1 Nomination — Art and Craft, Blue Ruin, Borgman, The Box Trolls, Chef, Divergent, Edge of Tomorrow, Godzilla, How To Train Your Dragon 2, Ida, If I Stay, Illiterate, In Secret, In the Blood, Interstellar, Jodorowsky’s Dune, The Last Patrol, Life Itself, Locke, Lucy, Noah, The One I Love, Pompeii, Private Violence, The Raid 2, Raze, We Are The Best!, Winter’s Tale
Numbers of Oscars By Film
5 Oscars — Guardians of the Galaxy
3 Oscars — Boyhood
2 Oscars — The LEGO Movie, Under the Skin, Wild
1 Oscar — Capt. America: The Winter Soldier, Dawn of the Plaent of the Apes, Jodorowsky’s Dune, Fury, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Into the Woods, Joe, Nightcrawler, Only Lovers Left Alive, Palo Alto, Venus In Fur
Check Out The Half Popped Review Movie Awards For 2014!
Okay, one last precursor for tonight. The Half Popped Reviews Year End Movie Awards were voted on by a group of dedicated film bloggers and they’re important to me because I was one of the voters! You can check out the full details of the voting by clicking here and I suggest that you do because I am quoted all through the article!
(And, incidentally, I would recommend that all of my fellow movie bloggers check out the Half-Popped website. It’s a good way to see what other smart and witty people are saying about the movies and it’s also a good way to gain exposure for your own work.)
Here are the winners!
Favorite Comedy: The LEGO Movie (runner up: 22 Jump Street)
Favorite Thriller: Gone Girl (runner up: Nightcrawler)
Favorite Horror Flick: The Babadook (runner-up: Under The Skin)
Favorite Sci-Fi: Interstellar (runner-up: The One I Love)
Favorite Drama Movie: Boyhood (runner-up: Locke)
Favorite Action Movie: Edge of Tomorrow (runner-up: The Raid 2)
Best Sequel: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (runner-up: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes)
Worst Sequel: Transformers: Age of Extinction (runner-up: The Amazing Spider-Man 2)
Super Hero of the Year: Star-lord (runner-up: Lego Batman)
Best Adaptation: Gone Girl (runner-up: Guardians of the Galaxy)
Worst Adaptation: The Legend of Hercules (runner-up: Sin City 2: A Dame To Kill For)
Most Disappointing Movie: The Monuments Men (runner-up: Transcendence)
Most Surprisingly Good Movie: Locke (runner-up: Chef)
Best Visuals: Interstellar (runner-up: The Grand Budapest Hotel)
Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for Birdman (runner-up: Richard Linklater for Boyhood)
Best Actress: Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl (runner-up: Scarlett Johansson in Under the Skin)
Best Actor: Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler and Enemy (runner-up: Tom Hardy in Locke and The Drop)
Best Picture: Boyhood (runner-up: Under the Skin)
Most Enjoyable Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy (runner-up: The LEGO Movie)
Most Anticipated Film of 2015: Star Wars Episode VII (runner-up: Avengers: Age of Ultron)
Yay! Here Are The Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award Winners!
That’s right, I said “Yay!” And believe it or not, I’m not at all being snarky. The AWFJ awards are always some of my favorite of the annual precursor awards. Not only do they provide a different (and, let’s just be honest, better) perspective than the other male-dominated critical societies but they also have a lot of extra (some fun and some thought-provoking) categories.
Here are their picks for the best of 2014! I especially appreciate and agree with the recognition given to Under the Skin and Emily Blunt’s performance in Edge of Tomorrow.
Best Film
BOYHOOD
Best Director (Female or Male)
Richard Linklater for BOYHOOD
Best Screenplay, Original
BIRDMAN – Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu, Nicholas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo
Best Screenplay, Adapted
GONE GIRL – Gillian Flynn
Best Documentary
CITIZENFOUR – Laura Poitras
Best Animated Film
LEGO – Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Best Actress
Julianne Moore for STILL ALICE
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Tilda Swinton for SNOWPIERCER
Best Actor
Michael Keaton for BIRDMAN
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
J.K. Simmons for WHIPLASH
Best Ensemble Cast (tie)
BIRDMAN – Francine Maisler, Casting Director
and
GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL – Douglas Aibel (US), Antoinette Boulat (France), Simone Bar, Alexandra Montag (Germany), Debra Maxwell Dion (LA), Jina Jay (UK)
Best Editing
BIRDMAN – Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione
Best Cinematography
BIRDMAN – Emmanuel Lubezki
Best Film Music Or Score
BIRDMAN – Antonio Sanchez
Best Non-English-Language Film
IDA – Pavel Pawlikowski (Poland)
EDA FEMALE FOCUS AWARDS
These awards honor WOMEN only.
Best Woman Director
Ava DuVernay for SELMA
Best Woman Screenwriter
Gillian Flynn for GONE GIRL
Best Female Action Star
Emily Blunt for EDGE OF TOMORROW
Best Breakthrough Performance
Gugu Mbatha-Raw for BELLE
Female Icon of the Year (tie)
(a woman whose work in film and/or in life made a difference)
Ava DuVernay
and
Laura Poitras
EDA SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS
Best Depiction Of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction
UNDER THE SKIN – Scarlett Johansson
Actress Defying Age and Ageism
Tilda Swinton
Most Egregious Age Difference Between The Leading Man and The Love Interest
MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT – Colin Firth (b. 1960) and Emma Stone (b. 1988)
Actress Most in Need Of A New Agent
Cameron Diaz for SEX TAPE
Movie You Wanted To Love, But Just Couldn’t
INHERENT VICE
Here Are the Gay and Lesbian Critic Association Nominees!
Here are the nominees for the GALECA Dorian Awards!
Film of the Year
Birdman – Fox Searchlight
Boyhood – Sundance Selects/IFC
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Fox Searchlight
The Imitation Game – The Weinstein Company
Pride – CBS Films
Film Performance of the Year – Actor
Steve Carell, Foxcatcher – Sony Pictures Classics
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game – The Weinstein Company
Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler – Open Road
Michael Keaton, Birdman – Fox Searchlight
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything – Universal
Film Performance of the Year – Actress
Essie Davis, The Babadook – Sundance Selects/IFC
Anne Dorval, Mommy – Roadside Attractions
Julianne Moore, Still Alice – Sony Pictures Classics
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl – 20th Century Fox
Reese Witherspoon, Wild – Fox Searchlight
Film Director of the Year
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel – Fox Searchlight
Ava DuVernay, Selma – Paramount
David Fincher, Gone Girl – 20th Century Fox
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Birdman – Fox Searchight
Richard Linklater, Boyhood – Sundance Selects/IFC
LGBTQ Film of the Year
The Imitation Game – The Weinstein Company
Love is Strange – Sony Pictures Classics
Pride – CBS Films
Stranger by the Lake – Strand Releasing
The Way He Looks – Strand Releasing
Foreign Language Film of the Year
Force Majeure – Magnolia Pictures
Ida – Music Box Films
Mommy – Roadside Attractions
Stranger by the Lake – Strand Releasing
Two Days, One Night – Sundance Selects/IFC
Unsung Film of the Year
Obvious Child – A24
Love is Strange – Sony Pictures Classics
Pride – CBS Films
The Skeleton Twins – Roadside Attractions
Snowpiercer – Radius/TWC
Documentary of the Year
(theatrical release, TV airing or DVD release)
The Case Against 8 – HBO
CitizenFour – Radius/TWC
Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me – Sundance Selects
Life Itself – Magnolia Pictures
Regarding Susan Sontag – HBO
Visually Striking Film of the Year
(honoring a production of stunning beauty, from art direction to cinematography)
Birdman – Fox Searchlight
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Fox Searchlight
Interstellar – Paramount
Snowpiercer – Radius/TWC
Under the Skin – A24
Campy Flick of the Year
Annie
Gone Girl
Into the Woods
Maleficent
Tammy
2014 in Review: Lisa Marie’s 26 Favorite Films of 2014
Well, here we are! This is my favorite part of the TSL’s look back at the previous year! Below, you’ll find my picks for the 26 best films of 2014!
(Why 26? Because Lisa doesn’t do odd numbers.)
Before looking at the list, there are two things that I would ask you to keep in mind. First off, these are my picks and my picks alone. There are 12 writers here at the TSL and we are all very opinionated individuals. Needless to say, we don’t always agree. Just because I love a film doesn’t mean that Arleigh, Leonard, Ryan, or anybody else here agree or disagrees. (Even my own sister occasionally disagrees with me…) When the other writers get around to posting their picks, I imagine that some of the films below will appear on those lists. And some of them most definitely will not. Vive la difference!
Also, it should be understood that, unlike some film critics, I only list movies that I’ve actually seen. Unfortunately, since I live in the middle of the country, that means that there are a few 2014 films that have yet to be released in my part of the world. Over the upcoming two weeks, I plan to see Inherent Vice, Selma, American Sniper, A Most Violent Year, and The Imitation Game. Any one of these films could potentially end up in my top 26, in which case I will update this post to reflect that.
(1/10/15 Update — I have updated the list to include Inherent Vice. And, since I don’t do odd numbers, I also added Blue Ruin so that the list is currently an even 28 films.)
As for my list, as I look over it, I have to admit that I’m a little bit surprised by some of the films that made the biggest impression on me this year. Whereas in previous years, my favorite films were far outside of the mainstream, my favorite film of 2014 was the epitome of blockbuster entertainment. The list is an interesting combination of spectacle and existential dread, featuring everything from the latest entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a few neglected masterpieces of ennui.
(If you’d like to see my picks for 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, click on the links!)
And without further ado, here’s the list!
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Wild
- Boyhood
- Under the Skin
- The LEGO Movie
- Nightcrawler
- The Fault In Our Stars
- Foxcatcher
- Palo Alto
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Joe
- Birdman
- Venus in Fur
- A Field in England
- California Scheming
- Gone Girl
- Chef
- Snowpiercer
- Cold In July
- Jodorowsky’s Dune
- Whiplash
- Inherent Vice
- Begin Again
- The Purge: Anarchy
- Devil’s Due
- Only Lovers Left Alive
- Blue Ruin
Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments below!
Previous Entries In TSL’s Look Back At 2014
- 2014 In Review: Things Dork Geekus Dug In 2014 Off The Top Of His Head
- 2014 In Review: The Best Of Lifetime and SyFy
- 2014 In Review: Lisa’s Picks For The 16 Worst Films Of 2014
- 2014 In Review: 14 Of Lisa’s Favorite Songs Of 2014
- 2014 In Review: Necromoonyeti’s Top 10 Metal Albums of 2014
- 2014 In Review: 20 Good Things Lisa Saw On TV In 2014
- 2014 In Review: Pantsukudasai56’s Pick For The Best Anime of 2014
- 2014 in Reivew: Lisa’s 20 Favorite Novels of 2014
- 2014 In Review: Lisa’s Top 10 Non-Fiction Books of 2014
Here Are The Central Ohio Film Critics Nominees!
Yesterday, the Central Ohio Film Critics announced their nominees for the best of 2014 and they really liked Birdman! I wonder if the Central Ohio Film Critics ever have fights with the Southwestern Ohio Film Critics or the Ohio/Kentucky Border Critics…
Here are the nominees!
Best Film
- Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Boyhood
- Gone Girl
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- The Imitation Game
- A Most Violent Year
- Nightcrawler
- Selma
- Snowpiercer
- Whiplash
Best Director
- Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Damien Chazelle – Whiplash
- Ava DuVernay – Selma
- Alejandro González Iñárritu – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Richard Linklater – Boyhood
Best Actor
- Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler
- Michael Keaton – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- David Oyelowo – Selma
- Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything
Best Actress
- Essie Davis, The Babadook
- Scarlett Johansson, Under the Skin
- Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
- Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
- Reese Witherspoon, Wild
Best Supporting Actor
- Josh Brolin – Inherent Vice
- Ethan Hawke – Boyhood
- Edward Norton – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher
- J.K. Simmons – Whiplash
Best Supporting Actress
- Patricia Arquette – Boyhood
- Jessica Chastain – A Most Violent Year
- Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
- Emma Stone – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Tilda Swinton – Snowpiercer
Best Ensemble
- Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Foxcatcher
- Gone Girl
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Guardians of the Galaxy
Actor of the Year (for an exemplary body of work)
- Jessica Chastain (The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, Interstellar, Miss Julie, and A Most Violent Year)
- Benedict Cumberbatch (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and The Imitation Game)
- Jake Gyllenhaal (Enemy and Nightcrawler)
- Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy and The LEGO Movie)
- Tilda Swinton (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Only Lovers Left Alive, Snowpiercer, and The Zero Theorem)
Breakthrough Film Artist
- Damien Chazelle – Whiplash – (for directing and screenwriting)
- Ava DuVernay – Selma – (for directing)
- Jennifer Kent – The Babadook – (for directing and screenwriting)
- Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle and Beyond the Lights – (for acting)
- Justin Simien – Dear White People – (for directing and screenwriting)
Best Cinematography
- Benoît Delhomme – The Theory of Everything
- Hoyte Van Hoytema – Interstellar
- Daniel Landin – Under the Skin
- Emmanuel Lubezki – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Robert Yeoman – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Film Editing
- Sandra Adair – Boyhood
- Spencer Averick – Selma
- Kirk Baxter – Gone Girl
- Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Tom Cross – Whiplash
Best Adapted Screenplay
- Paul Thomas Anderson – Inherent Vice
- Bong Joon-ho and Kelly Masterson – Snowpiercer
- Gillian Flynn – Gone Girl
- Nick Hornby – Wild
- Graham Moore – The Imitation Game
Best Original Screenplay
- Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel
- J.C. Chandor – A Most Violent Year
- Damien Chazelle – Whiplash
- Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Paul Webb – Selma
Best Score
- Alexandre Desplat – The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Jóhann Jóhannsson – The Theory of Everything
- Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – Gone Girl
- Antonio Sanchez – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Hans Zimmer – Interstellar
Best Documentary
- Citizenfour
- Dinosaur 13
- Finding Vivian Maier
- Jodorowsky’s Dune
- Life Itself
Best Foreign Language Film
- Force Majeure (Turist)
- A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
- Ida
- Two Days, One Night (Deux jours, une nuit)
- We Are the Best! (Vi är bäst!)
Best Animated Film
- Big Hero 6
- The Book of Life
- The Boxtrolls
- How to Train Your Dragon 2
- The LEGO Movie
Best Overlooked Film
- The Babadook
- Blue Ruin
- Edge of Tomorrow
- Enemy
- Locke
Through the Shattered Lens 