The 1st Annual Stage and Screen Awards

The first day of 2013 is upon and with it brings nostalgia for the year that was. 2012 had several high and low points (as most years do) in the entertainment world and I'm here to remind you of a little taste of what we experienced the year the world was supposed to end (the Mayans may have been wrong but Kim Kardashian is having a baby so the world ending is still a possibility). 

For your entertainment: The first ever Stage and Screen Awards chosen by yours truly: 

1. Best Films of the Year

• Zero Dark Thirty: Say what you will about the controversial catching Osama Bin Laden movie, there's no denying it was done well. And Jessica Chastain kicked the crap out of everyone, acting wise. 

• Lincoln: Sure there were parts of this sweeping biopic that were a little slow in the pacing but the beautifully written script and the bravura performances from Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, David Stratharin and more easily made up for the way too quiet moments. 

• Silver Linings Playbook: Sweet, quirky, hilarious films will always make my list for best movies. This David O. Russell creation featuring a phenomenal performance from Jennifer Lawrence and a wonderful one from Bradley Cooper was frankly a big surprise for me. Whoever thought that dancing and two people with insane psychological problems could make for great screen material? 

• Take This Waltz: A poignant film that speaks volumes, this gem starring the always brilliant Michelle Williams and the serious film debuts of Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman was largely unnoticed which is a real shame. The movie features one of the most real marriages and explains the painful realization of not being able to find the satisfaction in life. If there was any justice in the film community, Michelle Williams would be nominated for another Oscar for this film. 

• Moonrise Kingdom: Wes Anderson's most recent film might be his best. This adorable film about young love is just so precious and strange and yet somehow still kind of realistic even in the most unrealistic situations.

• Beasts of the Southern Wild: Brilliant, uplifting film with such a fantastic performance by Quvenzhane Wallis at its heart. This movie will change you. No wonder it was such a film festival favorite. 

2. Worst Film of the Year

• A Thousand Words: Eddie Murphy hasn't made any real gems lately and taking away his voice for this mess was the worst idea ever. 

• That's My Boy: Adam Sandler: Leave Andy Samberg alone. Don't incorporate awesome, hilarious younger stars into your ridiculously horrible films. 

• One For The Money: Is being a really terrible Bounty Hunter Katherine Heigl's idea of female empowerment? If so, she needs some serious psych evaluation. 

3. Best Female Performance (Film)

• Who else? Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty. That woman needs an Oscar immediately

4. Best Male Performance (Film)

• As much as I loved Joaquin Phoenix in Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, I have to give the slight edge to Daniel Day-Lewis' eerily spot-on performance of Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln. 

5. Best Breakthrough (Male or Female)

• Tie: Jason Clarke in Zero Dark Thirty & Dane DeHaan in Chronicle, Lawless 
• Both men were equally brilliant in their films. Jason Clarke made waves for me in the short-lived but really wonderful series The Chicago Code so it's a real delight to see him in the forefront of this powerful film. 

6. Best Movie No One Saw

• Take This Waltz: Seriously, go see it on Netflix right now

• Cabin in the Woods: Hilarious meta horror flick that is so completely strange it's got to be great. Joss Whedon and director Drew Goddard web and funny, scary, at times gory and campy tale about friends who have a "cliche" camping trip in the woods that goes horrible awry. And kudos to Whedon for using "Dollhouse" fan fave Fran Kranz in the film as Stoner Marty. He's absolutely brilliant. 

8. Best Movie Trailer

9. Best Movie Poster

• Zero Dark Thirty 
• Les Miserables 
• The Master 
• Looper
• The Paperboy
• Wreck-It Ralph

10. Movie Whose Trailer Was Better Than The Final Product

• Total Recall: The trailer? Absolutely mind-bogglingly cool. The movie? A way too serious mess.

11. Biggest Letdown Films

• John Carter
• Total Recall
• The Dark Knight Rises 
• Brave

12. Best TV Series (Drama and Comedy)

• Drama: 
• Breaking Bad: This show continues to surprise and up its game. I'm sad that next season will be the last but at least they'll be ending it on a high note in quality 
• Game of Thrones: Blackwater!! Enough said
• Sherlock; No offense Downton Abbey, but Sherlock is the best British drama on TV now
• Dexter: The best comeback ever. Period.
• Parenthood: The Adam/Kristina storyline this season has been heartbreaking and worth watching from start to finish. No other drama on TV right now can create such a realistic atmosphere just like its predecessor, Jason Katim & Peter Berg's Friday Night Lights
• Comedy: 
• Parks and Recreation: Consistently one of the funniest shows on TV without fail. Every episode is hilarious and filled with the sweetest moments. Amy Poehler was robbed of an Emmy this season 
• Girls: Lena Dunham's comedy is polarizing obviously, but I'm completely on the positive side. The show is challenging strange and definitely does not represent every voice of our generation. But it does so eloquently describe many of the trials we young people face while trying to make a difference. And that crack episode is gold. 
• Louie: In my opinion, Louis CK is a national treasure. 
• New Girl: It continues to improve week to week and every character is now my favorite. That's saying something. 

15. Best New Series (Drama and Comedy)

• Drama: 
• Nashville: So it's about country music and singing. So what? Watch it and you'll see why it's so ridiculously addicting.
• Comedy: 
• Mindy Project/Ben and Kate: Both of these new Fox comedies are wonderful in their own right. Mindy Kaling's show was rough at first but is starting to find its footing as a fresh take on romantic comedy in the real world. Ben and Kate is an adorable brother/sister comedy filled with really weird but endearing side characters. I hope both are here to stay. 

16. So Bad It Should Have Been Cancelled First Award

• The Neighbors. Seriously, why are people watching this show??

17. Best Hilarious Song That Should Win An Oscar (aka The Hangover Song Award) 

• "Ladies of Tampa"- Magic Mike. Come on, how funny would it be to see Matthew McConaughey accept an Oscar for a song from a movie about stripping? That would be too good to miss. 

There you have it? Who agrees? Who thinks I'm a total idiot? Want to give me your suggestions? I'd love to read them so just go to the comment section! See you next year folks (aka tomorrow)!

Best and Worst Surprises: The Golden Globe Nominations 2013

Here are my quick two cents on this morning's Golden Globe nominations (more to come later on in the day):

Television first:

Best:

1. Thank goodness Benedict Cumberbatch was nominated for Sherlock. The Hollywood Foreign Press was definitely smarter than SAG in that category.

2. Congratulations to Connie Britton and Hayden Panetierre for cracking the tough drama ladies' lists for Nashville. In such a difficult field, it's really great to see a wonderful new show get recognized.

3. Another nice addition to the Drama ladies list: Michelle Dockery for Downton Abbey. Easily the best lady on that show (besides Maggie Smith of course)

4. Mandy Patinkin for Homeland- HOLLA!

Worst: 

1. Smash?! Really HFPA? Unbelievably bad choice

2. Mad Men was snubbed from the Best Drama list in favor of The Newsroom. Sure, some people didn't enjoy this season of Mad Men but far more people were polarized by Aaron Sorkin's new show. I enjoyed both but felt Mad Men was a better quality season. But, it's Aaron Sorkin so enough said, I guess.

3. No Best Comedy nominations for Parks and Recreation OR 30 Rock is an outrage.


Movies next:

Best: 

1. Ewan MacGregor and Emily Blunt were recognized for their sweet, little-seen film Salmon Fishing in the Yemen which is a really nice surprise. Both actors were wonderful in that film.

2. Leonardo DiCaprio cracked the Best Supporting Actor list for his villainous turn in Django Unchained. While the movie hasn't yet been released, critics are praising DiCaprio for such a change in character.

3. Congrats to Adele for getting a Best Song nomination for Skyfall. And I can't believe I'm going to say this, but congrats to Taylor Swift as well for her Hunger Games song "Safe and Sound" which I actually really enjoy.

Worst: 

There are a lot of worsts for this list but I'll just narrow down to the biggies:

1. No nominations once again for Beasts of the Southern Wild. If I'm not mistaken, the film was not banned from the Golden Globes but only the SAG Awards, right?

2. No directing nominations for Tom Hooper or David O. Russell? Crazy!

3. Nothing for This Is 40? The movie can't be that bad! It's getting great reviews!

4. Where was Robert De Niro's nomination for Silver Linings Playbook?

5. Nicole Kidman? Really? Her? Is it really that impressive that she urinates on Zac Effron in The Paperboy? 

Golden Globe Nominations

Here they are folks! The biggest pre-cursor to the Oscars: The Golden Globe nominations. 

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series, or TV Movie 

Hayden Panetierre- Nashville
Archie Panjabi- The Good Wife
Sarah Paulson- Game Change
Maggie Smith- Downton Abbey
Sofia Vergara- Modern Family

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series, or TV Movie 

Max Greenfield- New Girl
Ed Harris- Game Change
Danny Huston- Magic City
Mandy Patinkin- Homeland
Eric Stonestreet- Modern Family

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie 

Nicole Kidman- Hemingway & Gelhorn 
Jessica Lange- American Horror Story: Asylum
Sienna Miller- The Girl
Julianne Moore- Game Change
Sigourney Weaver- Political Animals

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie 

Kevin Costner- Hatfields & McCoys
Benedict Cumberbatch- Sherlock (Brilliant) 
Woody Harrelson- Game Change
Toby Jones- The Girl
Clive Owen- Hemingway & Gelhorn

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie 

Game Change
The Girl
Hatfields & McCoys
The Hour 
Political Animals

Best Actress in a Comedy Series 

Zooey Deschanel- New Girl
Julia Louis Dreyfus- Veep
Lena Dunham- Girls
Tina Fey- 30 Rock
Amy Poehler- Parks and Recreation

Best Actor in a Comedy Series 

Alec Baldwin- 30 Rock
Don Cheadle- House of Lies
Louis CK- Louie
Matt LeBlanc- Episodes
Jim Parsons- The Big Bang Theory

Best Comedy Series 

Smash
Girls
Episodes
The Big Bang Theory
Modern Family

Best Actress in a Drama Series 

Claire Danes- Homeland 
Glenn Close- Damages 
Connie Britton- Nashville
Michelle Dockery- Downton Abbey
Julianna Marguiles- The Good Wife

Best Actor in a Drama Series 

Steve Buscemi- Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston- Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels- The Newsroom
Jon Hamm- Mad Men
Damien Lewis- Homeland

Best Drama Series 

Breaking Bad
Boardwalk Empire
Downton Abbey
Homeland
The Newsroom 

Best Original Song 

For You- Act of Valor 
Not Running Anymore- Stand Up Guys 
Safe and Sound- The Hunger Games (Taylor Swift?!) 
Skyfall- Skyfall (Adele!!)
Suddenly- Les Miserables

Best Original Score

Mychael Danna- Life of Pi
Alexndre Desplat- Argo
Dario Marianelli- Anna Karenina 
Tom Twyker, Reinhold Heil, Johnny Klimek - Cloud Atlas
John Williams- Lincoln

Best Foreign Language Film 


Amour
A Royal Affair
Intouchables
Rust and Bone
Kon-Tiki

Best Animated Feature

Brave
Hotel Transylvania
Wreck it Ralph
Rise of the Guardians
Frankenweenie

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture 

Amy Adams- The Master
Sally Field- Lincoln 
Anne Hathaway- Les Miserables
Helen Hunt- The Sessions
Nicole Kidman- The Paperboy

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture 

Alan Arkin- Argo
Leonardo DiCaprio- Django Unchained
Phillip Seymour Hoffman- The Master
Tommy Lee Jones- Lincoln 
Christoph Waltz- Django Unchained

Best Actress in a Motion Picture- Musical or Comedy 

Emily Blunt- Salmon Fishing in the Yemen 
Judi Dench- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 
Jennifer Lawrence- Silver Linings Playbook
Maggie Smith- Quartet 
Meryl Streep- Hope Springs

Best Actor in a Motion Picture- Musical or Comedy 

Jack Black- Bernie
Bradley Cooper- Silver Linings Playbook 
Hugh Jackman- Les Miserables
Ewan McGregor- Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Bill Murray- Hyde Park on Hudson

Best Actress in a Motion Picture- Drama 

Jessica Chastain- Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard- Rust and Bone
Helen Mirren- Hitchcock
Naomi Watts- The Impossible
Rachel Weisz- The Deep Blue Sea

Best Actor in a Motion Picture- Drama 

Daniel Day-Lewis- Lincoln 
Richard Gere- Arbitrage
John Hawkes- The Sessions
Joaquin Phoenix- The Master
Denzel Washington- Flight

Best Screenplay

Mark Boal- Zero Dark Thirty
Tony Kushner- Lincoln
David O. Russell- Silver Linings Playbook
Quentin Tarantino- Django Unchained
Chris Terrio- Argo

Best Director- Motion Picture 

Ben Affleck- Argo
Kathryn Bigelow- Zero Dark Thirty
Ang Lee- Life of Pi
Steven Spielberg- Lincoln 
Quentin Tarantino- Django Unchained

Best Picture- Musical or Comedy 

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Miserables
Moonrise Kingdom
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Silver Linings Playbook

Best Picture- Drama 

Argo
Django Unchained
Life of Pi
Lincoln 
Zero Dark Thirty

Best & Worst Surprises and Snubs from the SAG Awards Nominations

Source

The SAG Awards are always tricky to figure out. Picked by actors and voted by actors, this actor show is always filled with the most confusing choices, but the movie categories always effect the Oscar race in important. Here are some of the biggest surprises of this year's list.

Let's start with Television:

The Best: 

1. A well-deserved FIRST nomination for Amy Poehler (crazy that she was not nominated last year, right?)

2. SAG-Aftra, great work on nomination Louis CK for Louie. You could have gone with a terrible choice like, say, Jon Cryer or something, but you went classy. Smart move guys.

3. Way to go Alfre Woodard for squeezing past the other Game Change or Hemingway & Gelhorn possible nominees to score one for Steel Magnolias.

4. It's not unusual that Maggie Smith has been nominated for Downton Abbey, but it's great to see Michelle Dockery was able to crack the list over her own co-stars. I definitely think in this situation Dockery's Lady Mary is the best choice.

5. I think I may end up being the only one who says this but I'm pretty happy with the addition of Jeff Daniels to the Best Actor list for Drama Series. While The Newsroom was certainly VERY flawed, Daniels was always fascinating to watch, even as his character goes completely insane one hour and is the voice of reason the next.

The Worst: 

1. Listen, I know how blasphemous this is going to sound, but Betty White again? Really actors? You have to give an award every year don't you? If Hot in Cleveland was not on TV, would you create a new category so you could give her an award for Betty White's Off Their Rockers? You would, wouldn't you? Ridiculous...

2. When Busy Phillips and Taye Diggs announced a tie for the Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series, I was sure of the six nominees would be Parks and Recreation. Sadly, the SAG voters decided to honor Glee again even though the show has become mediocre at best and terrible at worst. But honoring The Office for its final season? I can get behind that.

Biggest, Most Egregious Error:

Where in God's name is the love for Sherlock? It's easily one of the best shows on TV right now with a fantastic cast who has fantastic chemistry. Benedict Cumberbatch and/or Martin Freeman should have made this list. I know it's difficult to include everyone who should be recognized because there are no supporting actor or actress SAG awards categories for TV, but Sherlock should not have gone unnoticed.

Film: 

The Best: 

1. I'm actually quite pleased to see Javier Bardem crack the Supporting Actor list with Skyfall. It's a strange movie to make the list for but it's less strange than seeing, oh, I don't know, Matthew McConaughey up there for Magic Mike*. However, I don't think we'll be seeing Bardem on the Oscar list unless he gets nominated for a Golden Globe tomorrow.

2. Maggie Smith is having a great day. She's not only cracked the Drama Series list but has also won a nod for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. This definitely gives her a boost for the Oscar race.

3. Same goes for Nicole Kidman in Hemingway & Gelhorn and The Paperboy. The Paperboy nod, while a very cool move by SAG, may end up being a congratulatory nod more than anything else. Unless she is nominated for a Golden Globe and wins the SAG for the Lee Daniels film, there's no way she's making that final Oscar list.

 4. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel beats out Zero Dark Thirty, The Master and more for the last slot in the Best Ensemble category (aka SAG's version of Best Picture). While this is not the worst thing in the world for Zero Dark Thirty, it is a big boost for The Best Exotic... 

The Worst: 

1. I understand SAG voters, Joaquin Phoenix doesn't want to win awards. But seriously, did you SEE his performance in The Master? Awards recognition should be inevitable.

2. And just because Phoenix doesn't want one doesn't mean you should deprive Amy Adams of hers. One of the most ferocious performances I've seen this year, Adams completely breaks type and does an extraordinary job playing a doting wife who can still overpower her cult-leader husband if necessary.

Biggest, Most Egregious Error: 

The fact that Beasts of the Southern Wild and Moonrise Kingdom were snubbed is terrible. Both films are beautiful and sweet and filled with brilliant performances, especially Quvenzhane Wallis from Beasts... I know the film was deemed not eligible for SAG but still. Come on actors, you know better.


Come back tomorrow for reactions to the Golden Globe nominations!!


*I'd like to take the time to mention that I have no problems with Magic Mike. Not only was I entertained with the particular subject matter, I found the acting and direction to be really top notch. But for one to suggest Matthew McConaughey should be nominated for an Oscar for the role is really quite insane in my mind. For Killer Joe? Maybe. But not Magic Mike. 

SAG Awards Nominations

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries

Nicole Kidman- Hemingway & Gelhorn

Julianne Moore- Game Change

Charlotte Rampling- Restless

SIgourney Weaver- Political Animals

Alfre Woodard- Steel Magnolias

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries

Kevin Costner- Hatfields & McCoys

Woody Harrelson- Game Change 

Ed Harris- Game Change

Clive Owen- Hemingway & Gelhorn

Bill Paxton- Hatfields & McCoys

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin- 30 Rock

Ty Burrell- Modern Family

Louis CK- Louie

Jim Parsons- The Big Bang Theory

Eric Stonestreet- Modern Family

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Comedy Series

Edie Falco- Nurse Jackie

Tina Fey- 30 Rock 

Amy Poehler- Parks and Recreation

Sofia Vergara- Modern Family

Betty White- Hot in Cleveland

Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Comedy Series

30 Rock 

The Big Bang Theory 

Glee

Modern Family

Nurse Jackie

The Office

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Drama Series

Claire Danes- Homeland

Michelle Dockery- Downton Abbey

Jessica Lange- American Horror Story: Asylum

Julianna Marguiles- The Good Wife

Maggie Smith- Downton Abbey

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Drama Series

Steve Buscemi- Boardwalk Empire

Bryan Cranston- Breaking Bad

Jeff Daniels- The Newsroom

Jon Hamm- Mad Men

Damien Lewis- Homeland

Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire

Breaking Bad

Downton Abbey

Homeland

Mad Men

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role

Alan Arkin- Argo

Javier Bardem- Skyfall

Robert De Niro- Silver Linings Playbook

Phillip Seymour Hoffman- The Master

Tommy Lee Jones- Lincoln

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role

Sally Field- Lincoln

Anne Hathaway- Les Miserables

Helen Hunt- The Sessions

Nicole Kidman- The Paperboy

Maggie Smith- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role

Bradley Cooper- Silver Linings Playbook

Daniel Day-Lewis- Lincoln

John Hawkes- The Sessions

Hugh Jackman- Les Miserables 

Denzel Washington- Flight

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role

Jessica Chastain- Zero Dark Thirty

Marion Cotillard- Rust and Bone

Jennifer Lawrence- Silver Linings Playbook

Helen Mirren- Hitchcock

Naomi Watts- The Impossible

Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture

Argo

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Les Miserables

Lincoln 

Silver Linings Playbook

Awards Season: Updated Assessment on Oscars 2013

Ah December. Sure we get to celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah and New Year's this month, but it's really only the third best month when it comes to what's really important: awards season.

We're inching closer and closer to awards season and a few films are already starting to distance themselves from the pack. There are only one day before the SAG nominations and two days before the Golden Globe nominations. And this morning, the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) gave out their nominations as well. Now is definitely the time to see which films are most likely to snatch the few coveted spots on those lists.

Best Picture
1. Zero Dark Thirty:
In Its Favor: New York Film Critics, the National Board of Review and the Boston Society Film Critics have all spoken: Zero Dark Thirty is their pick for the movie to beat. Nabbing not just Best Film but also important awards for Director and Actress, the "hunt for Bin Laden" film is crushing the competition in critics' eyes.
Against It: The subject matter may still be a bit hard to swallow for some people- not the killing Osama part, but the scenes of torture. So far, that doesn't seem to be stopping the film from dominating critics awards.

2. Les Misérables: 

In Its Favor: The stars (especially Anne Hathaway) and the brave new directing-style are consistently getting raves as the release date for the film creeps upf. But if a musical is done right, the Academy seems to have no problem rewarding it (see: Chicago, Moulin Rouge, etc.)
Against It: Haven't heard much buzz for the actors besides Hathaway (and, surprisingly, a few rumblings for Eddie Redmayne). And critics aren't flocking to it as the studio would probably hope. The best way to gauge Les Misérables' Oscar chances will have to be through the Golden Globes and whether or not it grabs that "Best Ensemble" nod for the SAG awards.

3. Lincoln:
In Its Favor: Another film raking in prestige is Spielberg's biopic. Obviously, the biggest praise is for Daniel Day-Lewis' fierce portrayal but the script by Tony Kushner and other technical aspects have also been noticed. It also helps that "Lincoln" just received a record-breaking 13 nominations from the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
Against It: Biopics are usually a pretty easy sell, especially with Spielberg at the helm on this one. But there's always doubts that the film does not say anything special about Lincoln when compared to other films about him. But most likely we'll be seeing this movie at the top of many nomination categories.

4. Argo:
In Its Favor: Ben Affleck's Iran film that could continues to silently stand its ground in the Oscar race from a possible screenwriting prediction to this Best Picture nod. It's a stellar film and a crowd-pleaser and Oscar voters should certainly recognize that...
Against It: Then again, this may be yet another case where the Academy doesn't see what's right in front of them. (Case in point: 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Knight... I can go on and on)

5. Beasts of the Southern Wild:
In Its Favor: Awards love and being a breakout at film festivals are still providing this little film a great platform to be the token Indie film of the Best Picture bunch. Plus the support for lead actress Quvenzhane Wallis and for director Ben Zeitlin helps the overall chances also.
Against It: There's also Moonrise Kingdom to compete with. Both film scored big at the BFCA nominations. Who can take that coveted small-budget spot? Can the Academy make room for both? 

6. Silver Linings Playbook:
In Its Favor: Even as it seems Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty are taking over as frontrunners, this charming film continues to gain support. Like Argo, the movie boasts great direction but also has the added factor of possible nominations for Best Actor, Actress and Supporting Actor. 
Against It: A film about emotional/psychological struggle, medication and dancing... Is the film too random to be fully embraced?

7. Life of Pi:
In Its Favor: Arguably the most visually stunning of the Best Picture lot, Life of Pi was thought to be one of those books that could never properly made into a movie. But unlike books-turned-movie predecessors (let's just come out and say it: "The Lovely Bones"), this film has been quite the success among critics.
Against It: No real acting nominations here. It'll be all about the technical awards. Is it too technical and not enough overall brilliant to be placed in the Best Picture slot?

8. The Master:
In Its Favor: No matter what Joaquin Phoenix says about not wanting an Oscar, this film continues to fight for spots on awards lists. While the accolades have died down since the film festival circuit, the BFCAs took interest in the film and all the actors.
Against It: No BFCA nod for Paul Thomas Anderson does hurt and the film may not have had a clear enough narrative structure for most.

9. Moonrise Kingdom:
In Its Favor: One of the sweetest films of the year, Moonrise definitely impressed critics and even managed to grab a spot on the BFCA Best Picture nomination list. The film even scored a Best Acting Ensemble nod.
Against It: Beasts of the Southern Wild. Period.

10. Amour:
In Its Favor: This foreign-language film continues to get big support from critics. Don't count it out come Oscar time.
Against It: Most of the love seems to be for lead actress Emmanuelle Riva. Doesn't necessarily mean the love will translate to a Best Picture nod.

Possible Alternatives: 
Django Unchained
Skyfall (Just earned several BFCA nominations)
Promised Land
Flight


Best Director
1. Kathryn Bigelow: Zero Dark Thirty
2. Steven Spielberg: Lincoln
3. Ben Affleck: Argo
4. Tom Hooper: Les Miserables
5. David O. Russell: Silver Linings Playbook

Possible Alternatives: 
Ang Lee: Life of Pi
Paul Thomas Anderson: The Master
Quentin Tarantino: Django Unchained
Michael Haneke: Amour


Best Actor: 
1. Daniel Day-Lewis: Lincoln
2. Bradley Cooper: Silver Linings Playbook
3. Joaquin Phoenix: The Master
4. Hugh Jackman: Les Miserables
5. Denzel Washington: Flight

Possible Alternatives: 
John Hawkes: The Sessions
Jamie Foxx: Django Unchained
Richard Gere: Arbitrage
Matt Damon: Promised Land
Ben Affleck: Argo


Best Actress: 
1. Jessica Chastain: Zero Dark Thirty
2. Jennifer Lawrence: Silver Linings Playbook
3. Emmanuelle Riva: Amour
4.Rachel Weisz: The Deep Blue Sea
5. Naomi Watts: The Impossible

Possible Alternatives:
Marion Cotillard: Rust and Bone
Quvenzhane Wallis: Beasts of the Southern Wild
Helen Mirren: Hitchcock
Keira Knightley: Anna Karenina
Judi Dench: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel


Best Supporting Actor:
1. Alan Arkin: Argo
2. Robert De Niro: Silver Linings Playbook
3. Phillip Seymour Hoffman: The Master
4. Tommy Lee Jones: Lincoln
5. Matthew McConaughey: Magic Mike

Possible Alternatives: 
Leonardo DiCaprio: Django Unchained
Dwight Henry: Beasts of the Southern Wild
Eddie Redmayne: Les Miserables
Javier Bardem: Skyfall


Best Supporting Actress: 
1. Anne Hathaway: Les Miserables
2. Amy Adams: The Master
3. Sally Field: Lincoln
4. Helen Hunt: The Sessions
5. Ann Dowd: Compliance

Possible Alternatives: 
Judi Dench: Skyfall
Maggie Smith: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Jacki Weaver: Silver Linings Playbook
Samantha Barks: Les Miserables


Best Original Screenplay: 
1.  Mark Boal: Zero Dark Thirty
2. Paul Thomas Anderson: The Master
3. Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola: Moonrise Kingdom
4. Quentin Tarantino: Django Unchained
5. Rian Johnson: Looper

Possible Alternatives: 
Michael Haneke: Amour
John Gatins: Flight 
Matt Damon & John Krasinski: Promised Land


Best Adapted Screenplay: 
1. Chris Terrio: Argo
2. Tony Kushner: Lincoln
3. David Magee: Life of Pi
4. David O. Russell: Silver Linings Playbook
5. Lucy Alibar & Ben Zeitlin: Beasts of the Southern Wild

Possible Alternatives: 
Stephen Chbosky: Perks of Being a Wallflower
William Nicholson: Les Miserables
Ben Lewin: The Sessions


Best Animated Feature:
1. Wreck-It Ralph
2. Brave
3. Paranorman
4. Frankenweenie

Possible Alternatives: 
Madagascar 3
Rise of the Guardians
The Pirates! Band of Misfits


Best Original Score: 
1. Dan Romer & Ben Zeitlin: Beasts of the Southern Wild
2. Johnny Greenwood: The Master
3. Mychael Danna: Life of Pi
4. John Williams: Lincoln
5. Alexandre Desplat: Argo

Possible Alternatives: 
Alexandre Desplat: Moonrise Kingdom
Howard Shore: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Mary Ramos: Django Unchained
Dario Marianelli: Anna Karenina
Alexandre Desplat: Zero Dark Thirty

As usual, there are always big surprises that come out of the critics and BFCAs. I mean, I get Rian Johnson getting a nomination for his stellar "Looper" but this growing momentum for Matthew McConaughey is completely silly, right? Anyway, stay tuned for another edition next week where I asses the effect the Golden Globe nominations will have on the Oscar race.

Sources: Indiewire, Vulture, The Hollywood Reporter & Entertainment Weekly