The Movies of 2014
To determine what the professionals consider to be the best movies of the year—which usually excludes comedies (Top Five, anyone?) and blockbusters—we can score the award season as it moves along. Categories scored are for nominations and wins in Best and Top Film, Best Director, Best Acting, writing, shooting and cutting.
Last year this system led to two top contenders for the Academy Award for Best Picture: 12 Year a Slave (37 Points) and American Hustle (38 Points). The rest is history.
(STUDIO) FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, INDEPENDENTS and FOREIGN LANGUAGE in contention.
Full 2014-2015 Awards Calendar
A FILM LOOK List for Movies 2014
The Screenplays of 2014
Scoring accumulates up the Academy Award nominations, Jan. 15th.
Movies in the Awards Buzz and their Ranking
BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) Four Best Film wins (GIFP, PGA, IS, AA), three Best Film nominations (GG, CC, BAFTA) two Top Film Lists (AFI, NBR), two Best Director wins (DGA, AA) and four Best Director nominations (IS, GG. CC, BAFTA), five Best Actor wins (NBR, GIFP, GG, CC, IS), three Best Actor nominations (SAG, BAFTA, AA), two Ensemble Cast wins (SAG, CC), three Best Screenplay win (GG, CC, AA), two Best Screenplay nominations (GG, BAFTA, AA), six Best Cinematography wins (HFA, LAFCA, CC, BAFTA, IS, AA), one Best Editing nomination (BAFTA); SCORE: 51 Points
BOYHOOD – Five Best Film wins (NYFCC, LAFCA, GG, CC, BAFTA), two Top Film List (AFI, NBR), five Best Film nominations (GIFP, IS, GG, PGA, AA), six Best Director wins (NYFCC, LAFCA, GG, CC, BAFTA, IS) and two Best Director nominations (DGA, AA), one Best Actor nomination (GIFP, GG), one Best Actress win (LAFCA) and one Best Actress nomination (GIFP), two Ensemble Cast nominations (SAG, CC), five Best Screenplay nominations (GG, CC, WGA, BAFTA, AA) one Best Editing win (LAFCA) and two Best Editing nominations (CC, AA); SCORE: 50 Points (read A Film Look Post)
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL – One Best Film win (GG), five Best Film nominations (GIFP, CC, PGA, BAFTA, AA), four Best Director nominations (GG, CC, BAFTA, DGA, AA), three Best Actor nominations (GG, CC, BAFTA), two Ensemble Cast nominations (SAG, CC), four Best Screenplay wins (NYFCC, LAFCA, BAFTA, WGA), three Best Screenplay nominations (GG, CC, AA), three Best Cinematography nominations (CC, BAFTA, AA), two Best Editing nominations (BAFTA, AA); SCORE: 35 Points
THE IMITATION GAME – Two Top Film Lists (AFI, NBR), five Best Film nominations (GG, CC, PGA, BAFTA, AA), one Best Director win (HFA), two Best Director nominations (DGA, AA), one Best Actor win (HFA), five Best Actor nominations (SAG, GG, CC, BAFTA, AA), two Ensemble Cast nominations (SAG, CC), two Best Screenplay win (WGA, AA) and three Best Screenplay nominations (GG, CC, BAFTA), two Best Editing nominations (BAFTA, AA); SCORE: 32 Points
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING – Five Best Film nominations (GG, CC, PGA, BAFTA, AA), one Best Director nomination (BAFTA), four Best Actor wins (GG, SAG, BAFTA, AA), one Best Actor nominations (CC), five Best Actress nominations (SAG, GG, CC, BAFTA, AA), One Best Ensemble nomination (SAG), one Best Screenplay win (BAFTA) and two Best Screenplay nominations (CC, AA), one Best Editing nomination (BAFTA); SCORE: 25 Points
GONE GIRL – One Best Film win (HFA), one Top Film List (NBR), two Best Film nominations (CC, PGA), two Best Director nominations (GG, CC), five Best Actress nominations (SAG, GG, CC, BAFTA, AA), one Best Screenplay win (HFA), one Best Screenplay win (CC), and three nominations (GG, WGA, BAFTA), one Best Editing nomination (CC); SCORE: 21 Points
WHIPLASH – One Top Film List (AFI), four Best Film nominations (IS, CC, PGA, AA), two Best Director nominations (IS, BAFTA), one Best Actor nomination (GIFP), four Best Screenplay nominations (CC, WGA, BAFTA, AA), two Best Editing wins (BAFTA, IS) and one Best Editing win (AA) and one nomination (CC); SCORE: 20 Points
AMERICAN SNIPER – Two Best Film listings (AFI, NBR), two Best Film nominations (PGA, AA), one Best Director win (NBR) one Best Director nomination (DGA), two Best Actor nominations (CC, AA), three Best Screenplay nominations (WGA, BAFTA, AA), one Best Editing nomination (AA); SCORE: 18 points
NIGHTCRAWLER – Two Top Film Lists (AFI, NBR), two Best Film nominations (CC, PGA), five Best Actor nominations (IS, SAG, GG, CC, BAFTA), one Best Screenplay win (IS), four Best Screenplay nominations (CC, WGA, BAFTA, AA), one Best Editing nomination (BAFTA); SCORE: 18 Points (A Film Look Post)
FOXCATCHER – One Top Film List (AFI), two Best Film nominations (GG, PGA), one Best Director nomination (AA), three Best Actor nominations (SAG, GG, AA), one Best Ensemble Acting win (HFA) and one Ensemble Cast nomination (SAG), two Special Recognition Wins (GIFP, IS); two Best Screenplay nominations (WGA, AA); SCORE: 17 Points
SELMA – One Top Film List (AFI), four Best Film nominations (IS, GG, CC, AA), three Best Director nominations (IS, GG, CC), three Best Actor nominations (IS, GG, CC), one Best Ensemble Acting nomination (CC); SCORE: 14 Points
STILL ALICE – One Top Film List (NBR), nine Best Actress wins (HFA, GIFP, NBR, GG, SAG, CC, BAFTA, IS, AA); SCORE: 13 Points
UNBROKEN – Two Top Film Lists (AFI, NBR), one Best Film nomination (CC), one Best Director nomination (CC), one Best Screenplay nomination (CC), two Best Cinematography nominations (CC, AA); SCORE: 10 Points
WILD – Five Best Actress nomination (SAG, GG, CC, BAFTA, AA), two Best screenplay nominations (CC, WGA); SCORE: 8 Points
THE LEGO MOVIE – One Top Film List (NBR), one Best Film win (BAFTA) two Best Film nomination (GG, PGA), one Best Original Screenplay win (NBR); SCORE: 7 Points
MR. TURNER – One Top Film List (NBR), one Best Actor win (NYFCC), three Best Cinematography nominations (CC, BAFTA, AA); SCORE: 7 Points
A MOST VIOLENT YEAR – One Best Film win (NBR), one Best Actor win (NBR) and one Best Actor nomination (GIFP), one Best Screenplay nomination (IS) – SCORE: 6 Points
BIG EYES – One Best Screenplay nomination (IS), one Best Actor nomination (GG), one Best Actress win (GG) two Best Actress nomination (BAFTA); SCORE: 5 Points
INTO THE WOODS – One Top Film List (AFI), one Best Film nomination (GG), one Best Actress nomination (GG), one Best Acting Ensemble nomination (CC); SCORE: 5 Points
INTERSTELLAR – One Top Film List (AFI), two Best Cinematography nominations (CC, BAFTA), one Best Editing nomination (CC); SCORE: 5 Points
INHERENT VICE – One Best Actor nomination (GG), two Best Screenplay nomination (CC, AA); SCORE: 4 points
CAKE – Three Best Actress nomination (SAG, GG, CC); SCORE: 3 Points
THE IMMIGRANT – One Best Actress win (NYFCC) and one Best Actress nomination (IS), one Best Cinematography win (NYFCC); SCORE: 3 Points
LOCKE – One Top Film List (NBR), one Best Actor win (LAFCA); SCORE: 3 Points
OBVIOUS CHILD – One Top Film List (NBR), one Best Actress nomination (IS); SCORE: 3 Points
ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE – one Best Screenplay nomination (IS), one Best Actress nomination (IS); SCORE 2 Points
ST. VINCENT – One Best Film nomination (GG), one Best Actor nomination (GG); SCORE: 2 Points
UNDER THE SKIN – One Best Film nomination (GIFP), one Best Actress nomination (GIFP); SCORE: 2 Points
ANNIE – One Best Actress nomination (GG); SCORE: 1 Point
BEYOND THE LIGHTS – One Best Actress nomination (GIFP); SCORE: 1 Point
THE HUNDRED FOOT JOURNEY – One Best Actress nomination (GG); SCORE: 1 Point
JIMI: ALL IS BY MY SIDE – One Best Actor nomination (IS); SCORE: 1 Point
MAPS TO THE STARS – One Best Actress nomination (GG); SCORE: 1 Point
PRIDE – One Best Film nomination (GG); SCORE: 1 Point
TRACKS – One Best Actress nomination (GIFP); SCORE: 1 Point
THE NOMINATORS:
AA: Academy Awards (Oscars)
AFI: American Film Institute
BAFTA: British Academy of Film and Television Arts
CC: Critics’ Choice
DGA: Directors Guild of America
GG: The Golden Globes
GIF: Gotham Independent Film Project
IS: Independent Spirit
LAFCA: Los Angeles Film Critics Association
HFA: Hollywood Film Awards
NBR: National Board of Review
NYFCC: New York Film Critics Circle
PGA: Producers Guild of America
SAG: Screen Actors Guild
WGA: Writers Guild of America
Scoring Guide:
Film Win: 3 points
Best Film Listing: 2 points
Academy Award Nomination: 2 points
Best Film Nominations: 1 point
Ensemble Cast Nomination/win: 1 point
Lead Actor/Actress Nomination/Win: 1 point
Screenplay/Cinematography/Editing Nomination/Win: 1 point