2013

Best Picture nominees:

12 Years a Slave *
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
The Wolf of Wall Street

***

12 Years a Slave - A really good job on a not-well known story about a free black man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery and how he survives and makes it back to freedom.  Lupita Nyong'o becomes the first Kenyan-Mexican actress to win an Oscar.

American Hustle - Following the success of Silver Linings Playbook, this David O. Russell film also received a Best Pic nom. Same actors, same noms, funky costumes and makeup.

Captain Phillips - Based on the true story of a ship captain who is hijacked by Somali pirates and his cool actions under fire.  Breakthrough performance of Barkhad Abdi as one of the pirates in his first role ever.

Dallas Buyers Club - Story of an AIDS patient who obtains the drug cocktail that seems to work on the disease, which eventually gets approval for use.  Amazing performances by Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto who won both acting awards for their portrayals.

Gravity - Interesting tour-de-force performance by Sandra Bullock who is stranded in space, trying to get back to earth.  Won the most Oscars this year, including Best Director.

Her - Weird Spike Jonze film about an operating system that becomes sentient and has a relationship with her user. Have special disdain for this movie as my laptop crashed when I got home from the theater.

Nebraska - Funky black-and-white film about a crotchety old man who thinks he has won the lottery and his middle-aged son who helps him be a real winner.  Standout performance by 83 year-old June Squibb as his foul-mouthed wife.

Philomena - Charming story of Philomena Lee whose son was taken from her after birth and then lied to by the Irish government.  Judi Dench is utterly charming as Philomena, who doesn't want revenge, just wants to meet her son.

The Wolf of Wall Street - The one movie I was hoping not to be nominated, but since it was both a Scorsese and diCaprio film, it HAD to be nominated.  This film seemed to be without redeeming value, but apparently since it is a true story and people WANT diCaprio to win an Oscar, it HAD to be nominated.

***

My rankings of the Best Picture nominees:

1.  12 Years a Slave
2.  Gravity
3.  Nebraska
4.  Philomena
5.  Captain Phillips
6.  Dallas Buyers Club
7.  Her
8.  American Hustle
9.  The Wolf of Wall Street