Gravity (Dir: Alfonso Cuarón. 2013)

Summary: A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

Space freaks me out, it's too big and I cannot understand how it exists or how we exist. I mean if I think about space too much I feel like my head will explode, it's just too big a concept, I don't know where to start to understand it so I just accept it and try not to think about it too much. Saying this, I am usually ok with sci-fi films and not usually effected by films in space but then along came Gravity. 

I was not expecting Gravity to be a thriller, I was expecting you know like Apollo 13 - something goes wrong, there it some mild peril (to get a PG rating), they fix it and they all go home, Gravity is not that film. Gravity is like watching the Blair Watch Project for the first time, gradually getting under your skin as you crawl into the foetal position. By the end of it I had crossed my arms so hard I'm surprised I didn't break my wrist.

Bullock is awesome, the 3D is effective, unobtrusive and the sound design is overwhelming and intensifies the viewer absorption. Unfortunately Bullock, although she is fantastic, is probably not going to win anything for this role because she won all those awards for the Blind Side (which was a mediocre performance at best). This performance is immense and truly talented but will be overlooked because it's someone else’s turn to receive the Hollywood studio political pat on the back this year. Also thrillers and comedies are generally overlooked for serious dramas with transforming roles, such a shame as Gravity really is a must see.

Overall: A fantastic thriller, truly gripping and tense. 10/10

Nominations 2014 (Selected)

Academy Awards
Nominated: Best Picture, Best Actress - Sandra Bullock, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best original Score, Best Production Desing, Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects.

Golden Globes
Won: Best Director
Nominated: best Picture (Drama), Best Actress - Sandra Bullock and Best Orignal Score.

BAFTA Awards
Nominated: Best British Film, Film Music, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress - Sandra Bullock, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Sound, Best Special Effects and Best Direction.

Screen Actors Guild Awards
Nominated: Best Actress - Sandra Bullock

Australian Film Institute
Won: Best Film and Best Direction
Nominated: Best Actress - Sandra Bullock

Satellite Awards
Nominated:Best Actress - Sandra Bullock, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound (Editing & Mixing) and Best Visual Effects

Dallas Buyers Club (Dir - Jean-Marc Vallée. 2013)

Summary: In 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is himself diagnosed with the disease.

I know I know, I hate everything and I moan on and on about how I hate everything and I shouldn't because it completely over shadows when I really hate something. Well I really hate Matthew McConaughey, he's smug and slimey and just ew and he is perfect to play the role of Woodroof. Woodroof is in your face, rude, bullish, smug, unlikible and a physically transformative role which is why McConaughey has finally been getting awards recognition.
The film is a snap shot, it jumps forward in time to give you glimpses of Woodroof's life but it bearly scratches the surface of Woodroof's history or transformation into saviour. Leto is a stereotype, a pretty photocopy of a real person with no real substance. The film is lacking the depth I needed to emotionally connect with the characters and I was left wondering if the real story of these real people had actually been told
If you really want to know how the AIDs crisis affected real people in 1980s American watch the documentary How to Survive a Plague, it's heart breaking, beautiful and empowering.
Also it's worth noting that Dallas Buyers Club has not been nominated for any BAFTAs this year, this pleases me....

Overall: Superficial awards fodder, all these points are for cinematography because, although it was rubbish, it was beautifully shot 4/10

2014 Nominations (Selected)

Academy Awards
Nominated: Best Motion Picture, Best Leading Actor - Matthew McConaughey, Best Supporting Actor - Jared Leto, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling & Best Writing, Original Screenplay.

Golden Globes
Won: Best Actor (Drama) - Matthew McConaughey and Best Supporting Actor - Jared Leto.

Screen Actors Guild Awards
Won: Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey & Best Supporting Actor- Jared Leto.
Nominated: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Satellite Awards
Nominated Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey & Best Supporting Actor- Jared Leto.

Australian Film Institute
Nominated: Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey & Best Supporting Actor- Jared Leto.