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

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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

Favorite Films of 2013

Another year, another batch of Top-Films-of-the-Year lists will be coming your way soon. Below is mine - films are listed in no particular order. Enjoy. 

THE KINGS OF SUMMER - Reviewed for Twitch

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THE WAY, WAY BACK - Reviewed for Twitch

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THE SPECTACULAR NOW -  Reviewed for Twitch

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SHORT TERM 12

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CALL ME KUCHU

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WILD BILL

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UPSTREAM COLOR - Reviewed for We Got This Covered

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MAN OF STEEL - Reviewed for ChaseWhale.com

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PRINCE AVALANCHE  - Reviewed for We Got This Covered

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FAST & FURIOUS 6

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THIS IS MARTIN BONNER

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THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN

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GRAVITY

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SUN DON’T SHINE - Reviewed for Twitch

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NEW WORLD

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Honorable Mentions: 

AFTERNOON DELIGHT - Reviewed for Twitch

MR. NOBODY

C.O.G. - Reviewed for Twitch

Films I missed lots of folks are heehawing about:

DALLAS BUYER’S CLUB

12 YEARS A SLAVE

BLUE JASMINE

ENOUGH SAID (RIP MR. GANDOLFINI - Return if Possible)

NEBRASKA (Update: This is my favorite film of the year.)

Films I watched and liked just OK lots of folks are heehawing about:

BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR

MUD

FRANCES HA

Anticipated films not released at the time of this post:

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (Update: didn’t care for this one)

AMERICAN HUSTLE (Update: I liked this one)

HER (UPDATE: Warner Bros. sent me a For Your Consideration screener of HER. It’s a solid film but not a favorite of the year.)