CALVIN & IVAN AWARDS 2015
p.s. Calvin's note: My own complete set of nominees here: http://actorvsactor.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/final-my-oscars-2015.html
Best Original Soundtrack:
Ivan: For me it was a three-way tie between--
It Follows: Disasterpiece provided us with the most bone-chilling and creepily seductive soundtrack of the year, which was by far the best part of this otherwise slightly disappointing overhyped art-house horror film. Nothing this year will sound as mesmerizingly spooky as this brilliant yet undernominated soundtrack.
Creed: If you find it hard to get yourself to go to the gym then Ludwig Goransson’s adrenaline pumped score is the cure for you. Goransson manages to blend the legacy of the classic Rocky score with the freshness of Adonis’ own new anthem to create the best musical homage to Bill Conti, this score feels new but at the same time nostalgic and is bound to inspire countless fans to get in shape for summer. (Calvin's note: I loved this soundtrack too, it's my #5 for the year)
Best Foreign Language Film
Ivan: Detective Byomkesh Bakshi
Detective Byomkesh Bakshi is everything a great thriller
should be, incredibly suspenseful, pleasingly stylised and with just enough
tension to keep you on the edge of your seat, Dibakar Bannerjee directs the
most satisfyingly balanced Hindi film of the year. Bannerjee manages to create
an unbelievably immersive pre-independence Kolkatta with the help of an amazing
soundtrack and an edgy visual narrative that puts you in the middle of all the
action. If you’re going to watch one foreign film, make it this one.
Calvin: Haven't seen any yet...(bows head in shame)
Best Editing
Ivan: Steve Jobs
Rarely do we get to see editing , dialogue and direction in
such perfect harmony, the only other film at par with Steve Jobs in that sense
is The Social Network (another Sorkin masterpiece) Steve Jobs is the most
stylistically supreme film of the year with sharp glossy and perfectly
synchronised editing.
P.S. Don’t even compare this to that garbage film Ashton Kutcher was in, just don't
P.S. Don’t even compare this to that garbage film Ashton Kutcher was in, just don't
Best Documentary
Ivan: Cartel Land.
Best Director
Ivan: Ridley Scott, The Martian. Right, so my biggest issue with this year’s Oscar nominations is that this god was overlooked. The Martian is superbly directed and perhaps the year’s best ‘big’ film. It’s surprisingly funny (for those like me who haven’t read the book), exciting and immensely enjoyable, credit for that goes to the great writing, cast but most importantly the guy who made it all work together so brilliantly. The Martian is definitely one of Ridley Scott’s most easily enjoyable films, it makes itself lovable so seamlessly and the character development is one of the smoothest I’ve seen this year, another great thing about Scott’s direction is that it never feels as if he’s trying too hard, which is fantastic because that adds to the easy-going vibe that this film has. If you think about it, the synopsis of the film makes it sound like a chaotic, depressing, lonely film about a stranded man and yet somehow Ridley Scott gives us the most optimistic film of the year that is as light hearted as it is cheerful, the best part is he manages to do that with perfection.
Calvin: Todd Haynes, Carol. I loved Scott's direction and it's a darned shame he didn't get nominated/win a well deserved career achievement award (though really he should have won for Alien, Black Hawk Down and Gladiator). However, in a very, very strong year, Haynes remains my choice. His work on Carol is superlative, conveying lots with very little words and with very little words can one describe how masterful his work is here. Like Haynes, what a snub.
Best Cinematography
Ivan: Emmanuel Lubezki, The Revenant ( I have never seen a cinematographer more talented than the great Chivo, he is right up there with Gordon Willis in terms of how much he has revolutionised cinematography as an art. In the Revenant , whether it’s the ingenious use of wide lenses (like Birdman) or the magical use of natural lighting, Lubezki shows us just how consistently amazing he is and if he manages to complete his Oscars hattrick I wouldn’t be surprised.
Adam Arkapaw, Macbeth ( If I could choose to associate the word underrated with only one person this year, it would be Adam Arkapaw in Macbeth. The cinematography was loved and praised by all when the film came out, how did we forget about him during awards season? This is a man who gave us the best cinematography television has ever seen and yet he doesn’t get enough attention. Macbeth features the most beautifully shot individual sequence of the year, which is in the form of a slow motion battle sequence in the start, however I should make it clear that cinematography is the only great thing about this otherwise boring Shakespearean dud. Calvin: I respectfully disagree. I thought the only noteworthy thing about Macbeth was Fassbender's incredibly lead performance...but again different strokes different folks)
Calvin: ROGER DEAKINS FOR SICARIO (the Peter O'Toole of cinematography, he's sooooooo overdue it's crazy)
Best Animated Film
Ivan: Inside Out. Let me make this very clear; Inside out is undoubtedly the best film of the year, hands down. It’s just mentioned here for the sake of categorisation. I doubt any of us can name even 2 films that are as beautiful to a six year old as they are to an 80 year old, I didn’t think a film could be this beautifully intelligent and so thought provoking but some brain somewhere was coming up with Inside Out. Bottom line is if you don’t love this film you basically are a terrible human being.
Best Supporting Actress
Ivan: Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina. Yes, Alicia Vikander is a supporting actress because as pivotal as her role may be, the story is told through Domnhall Gleeson’s character. Alicia Vikander is so convincing as a Humanoid it sometimes messes with your brain, she is so immersed into her character that she almost seems like a young beautiful Gary Oldman (that’s such a strange comparison please don’t judge me) In fact I’m gonna go ahead and say that AV is the best young actress in the world
Revised Top 10 for Supporting Actress
1. Alciia Vikander, Ex Machina
2. Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
3. Elizabeth Debicki, The Man From U.N.C.L.E
4. Elizabeth Banks, Love and Mercy
5. Hattie Morahan, Mr Holmes
6. Marion Cotillard, Macbeth
7. Rachel McAdams in Spotlight
8. Tessa Thompson in Creed
9. Joan Allen, Room
10. Analeigh Tipton in Mississippi Grind
Best Supporting Actor
Ivan: Christian Bale, The Big Short (Calvin's note: At least you didn't choose ugh Gos-ugh-ling)
Arguably the best understated actor working right now,
Christian Bale provided us with another great subtly nuanced performance this
year in The Big Short. In what can be seen as his most toned down crazy-guy
role, Bale crafts the most easily plausible character in the film. The most
amazing/unfortunate thing about Bale is that he embraces his roles to such an
extent that we start seeing him as that character, this separates him from the
actors who are visibly ‘acting’ great on screen, I say it’s unfortunate because
this sometimes works against him like it did in American Hustle where Jennifer
Lawrence got an Oscar nomination for being loud and his amazingly nuanced
performance got overlooked (maybe I just hate JLaw) Christian Bale is one of
those rare great actors (like Gary Oldman) who put the film before their
performance and don’t try to hoard attention. Again I strongly disagree because I hated the film overall but I did think Bale was decent enough in his mannerisms and stuff, also I actually liked Jennifer Lawrence in AH and Bale was nominated for AH, I like Bale as an actor but this wouldn't even make my top 15 performances of his.
BONUS FUN FACT: Christian Bale did not use a prosthetic eye/CGI for his askew-eyed character, that’s just him acting with his left eye throughout. MIND=BLOWN.
BONUS FUN FACT: Christian Bale did not use a prosthetic eye/CGI for his askew-eyed character, that’s just him acting with his left eye throughout. MIND=BLOWN.
Hon. mentions:
2. Tom Hardy, The Revenant
3. Sylvester Stallone, Creed
4. Jacob Tremblay, Room (Calvin's note: BUT HE'S LEAD),
5. Benicio del Toro, Sicario (This is one crowded category!)
6. Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight
Calvin: Sylvester Stallone, Creed
I guess some of my extreme love for this performance does come down to nostalgic value. I thoroughly like, to love, all the Rocky films, yes, even Rocky V, and though Stallone does not necessarily give the most consistent of characterisations throughout these films, the character of Rocky Balboa still continued to resonate with me through all those films because of the endearing underdog quality to the writing behind the character, and of course, the performance. Now Creed provides an altogether different challenge to the actor altogether. Stallone's just grown into the role so comfortably, and embraces the original endearing quality to the character alongside with an aged, melancholic air of times passing him by, both funny and quite sweet in how out of touch with the modern day he is. He then transitions into being a mentor to Michael B. Jordan's Adonis Creed, and the way the two actors develop a dynamic similar to that between Stallone and Carl Weathers in the original films is quite something, as they merge that friendly camaraderie with the trainer-trainee partnership between Stallone and Mickey (Burgess Meredith) in the first three films. The chemistry is effortless, Stallone's very unassuming approach continuing to make Rocky even more likable than he already is. There's a sad tinge to his character's reminisces of the past and his deceased close ones (exemplified brilliantly in a graveyard scene) but it's not overly dwelt upon, nor does it need to be, as Stallone shows such remarkable restraint and subtlety in conveying how he's dealt with his grief by continuing to love the likes of Adrian and Paulie beyond the grave.
Then there's the greatest part of his performance. Rocky becomes diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The gradual, heart-breaking breakdown of Rocky's defences not because of the disease, but rather how much he misses his wife is just so beautifully, sensitively done in Stallone's hands, and makes the subsequent revitilization of his spirit in preparing Jordan's Creed for the final fight so superb. This is amazing work by Stallone that is not only career-best work, best work of the year, but also one of the best supporting performances ever.
Revised Best Supporting Actor Rankings:
1. Sylvester Stallone, Creed
2. Benicio del Toro, Sicario
3. Nicholas Hoult, Mad Max: Fury Road
4. Samuel L. Jackson, The Hateful Eight
5. Walton Goggins, The Hateful Eight
6. Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
7. Emory Cohen, Brooklyn
8. Tom Hardy, The Revenant
9. Matthias Schoenaerts, Far From the Madding Crowd
10. Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
Best Actress
Ivan: Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road Mad Max: Fury Road? More like Furiosa Road… I’m sorry I had to. But seriously Max Rockatansky feels like a companion on this absolutely crazy adrenaline fuelled journey led by Charlize Theron giving her career’s best performance (I have not seen Monster yet. Furiosa is like a badass feminist in the post apocalyptic Australian outback who is rising up against (quite literal) objectification of women. She’s gotta be doing something right when she is the most hardcore character in a film featuring a WWE wrestler, Post-apocalyptic Bane, an army of ghost-like white faced lunatics and Tom Hardy (see what I did there?) I feel you're underrating Hardy's performance a bit but anyway, I really liked Theron too, not the highlight of the film for me but I'd have loved to see a nomination for her work.
Calvin: Rooney Mara, Carol (Hon. Mention: Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn). Two great female leading performances in one year. I'm simply spoilt for choice aren't I?
Anyway, Ronan's brilliant lead performance in this absolutely amazing period drama has drawn so many unanimously rave reviews from literally, everywhere, that I can't really think of how more I can praise it. It's definitely a great performance when I can see within it, an unconscious emulation of how my all-time favourite actress, Deborah Kerr, would've handled the role; like Kerr, Ronan is just so good at first displaying the more overt emotions, this time round of loneliness and homesickness for her small town in Ireland, and her feelings of being a 'fish out of water' in Brooklyn, and the subtleties of her burgeoning romance with Tony (Emory Cohen). There's another performance this year which does the whole shy, retiring aspect of a character blossoming incredibly well too, but Ronan's work here is equally up to that level of luminosity in depicting the arc of her character. Simply put, a great, naturalistic performance that lights up the screen in the most classic sort of way.
Mara, on the other hand, do I need to say anything more about the sublime Celia Johnson-esque work Mara delivers here, as she so beautifully sets up the shy and retiring nature of Therese, and by slowly transitioning her out of a shell, gives a magnificently subtle, and also just plain magnificent, piece of work. I hate to beat a dead horse again and again but she really should've been nominated in Lead, but I digress, just glad she was nominated. For some people this seems to be a performance that has waned a bit in power after initial watching, but for me? It's only grown in power. I think it's the greatest performance of the past half-decade or so, and one of the greatest of all-time.
Revised Top 10 for Best Actress
1.
Rooney Mara, Carol
2.
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
3.
Emily Blunt, Sicario
4.
Cate Blanchett, Carol
5.
Carey Mulligan, Far From the Madding Crowd
6.
Brie Larson, Room
7.
Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road
8.
Alicia Vikander, Testament of Youth
9.
Mia Wasikowska, Crimson Peak
10.
Carey Mulligan, Suffragette
Best Actor
Ivan: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant.
Alright I can explain, just BEAR with me… (I’m so sorry I
just couldn’t resist, this was the last one I promise) this may be a
predictable choice but so be it, people have said time and again (in 2013 most
recently) that DiCaprio should get an Oscar because it’s been a long time due,
I have always disagreed with that logic because awards don’t and shouldn’t work
on an accumulative credit basis, his performance in The Revenant this year is
phenomenal and even if it was some actor who didn’t have such a tragic Oscar
record, they should be winning for such an amazing performance. A friend of
mine said of his performance “DiCaprio will win the Oscar for grunting and
dragging himself” well I disagree with that, Leo makes us feel the pain and
suffering of Hugh Glass (version: Iñarritu) and fills the wide lens close ups
of Lubezki with brilliant facial acting. For most of the film DiCaprio doesn’t
talk, and that’s always a tough task for any actor, but he manages to do it
with utmost perfection and (somewhat creepy) dedication (the guy ate an actual
bison liver, that too raw!)
Calvin: Ian McKellen, Mr Holmes. One of the finest actors ever to grace stage and screen giving his greatest performance of all-time. 'Nuff said. I've written more than enough saying why it's a travesty he wasn't nominated this year. (for more on this performance, see http://www.savageonline.co.uk/our-london/2015-in-review-mr-holmes/)
1. Ian Mckellen, Mr Holmes
2. Matt Damon, The Martian
3. Tom Hardy, Legend
4. Jason Segel, The End of the Tour
5. Jacob Tremblay, Room
6. Michael B. Jordan, Creed
7. Michael Fassbender, Macbeth
8. Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
9. Abraham Attah, Beasts of No Nation
10. Johnny Depp, Black Mass
Best Picture
Ivan: Sicario.
Sicario review in 4 words: Perfect, Perfect, Perfect and
Perfect.
Seriously though can anyone point out anything wrong with this brilliant thriller? I’m rooting for Denis Villeneuve becoming the next great director of our time. (as long as someone keeps providing him with good scripts) Sicario is the best live-action film of the year and by far the best thriller I’ve seen in a long time, I’ll list everything great about this film;
Seriously though can anyone point out anything wrong with this brilliant thriller? I’m rooting for Denis Villeneuve becoming the next great director of our time. (as long as someone keeps providing him with good scripts) Sicario is the best live-action film of the year and by far the best thriller I’ve seen in a long time, I’ll list everything great about this film;
- Brilliant and tense
direction
- Perfectly gritty
cinematography
- Great performances all
around
- A tight-knight script with
the perfect pace
- Fantastic soundtrack that
adds to the tension and makes us feel the psychological claustrophobia of
Emily Blunt’s character
Calvin: Carol.
http://actorvsactor.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/the-facilitating-dynamics-of-todd.html
http://actorvsactor.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/the-facilitating-dynamics-of-todd_4.html
Acting, directing, writing, production design, costuming, etc. no reason why it's not Best Picture of the YEAR and quite possibly one of the best of the decade so far.
1.
Carol
2.
Brooklyn
3.
Creed
4.
The Martian
5.
Mad Max: Fury Road
6.
The Hateful Eight
7.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
8.
The End of the Tour
9.
Ex Machina
10.
Mr Holmes
11.
Sicario
12.
Room
13.
The Revenant
14.
Bridge of Spies
15.
Spotlight
16.
Bone Tomahawk
17.
Far From the Madding Crowd
18.
Love and Mercy
19.
Spectre
20.
Beasts of No Nation
this is boss
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