The 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards Voting Has Begun. Here Are My Picks

January 28, 2014 by Chase Whale

Hi. How are you? Here’s my favorite time of the year — voting for the Film Independent Spirit Awards. My heart and all efforts pour into supporting independent filmmaking, and I’m proud to be a voting member of the Spirit Awards.

Some nominees were a little more studio than what I’ve experienced in the past, but I’m happy to vote for him/her/it if the performance/film moved me more than the others.

Here’s who got my vote:

BEST FEATURE
NEBRASKA

BEST DIRECTOR
ALEXANDER PAYNE (NEBRASKA)

BEST SCREENPLAY
SCOTT NEUSTADTER & MICHAEL H. WEBER (THE SPECTACULAR NOW)

BEST FIRST FEATURE
WADJDA

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
JILL SOLOWAY (AFTERNOON DELIGHT)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
FRANK G. DEMARCO, PETER ZUCCARINI (ALL IS LOST)

BEST EDITING
SHANE CARRUTH AND DAVID LOWERY (UPSTREAM COLOR)

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
THIS IS MARTIN BONNER

BEST FEMALE LEAD
BRIE LARSON (SHORT TERM 12)

BEST MALE LEAD
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY (DALLAS BUYERS CLUB)

NOTE: If I could vote for two, Bruce Dern (NEBRASKA) would immediately get my second pick.

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
JUNE SQUIBB (NEBRASKA)

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
JARED LETO (DALLAS BUYERS CLUB)

BEST DOCUMENTARY
THE ACT OF KILLING

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
THE GREAT BEAUTY

My Favorite Films of 2013 I Saw After I Made My Favorite Films of 2013 List.

December 27, 2013 by Chase Whale

I made a Favorite Films of 2013 list, then saw more movies. Here are my Favorite Films of 2013 I Saw After I Made My Favorite Films of 2013 List. And don’t worry, if I can, I’ll make My Favorite Films of 2013 I Saw After I Made Two Previous Favorite Films of 2013 Lists list.

In no particular order:

CUTIE AND THE BOXER