Ah, December, a time for film critics across the country to gather in anemic herds to espouse their most effusive praise for films the general public won’t be able to see for another month and a half. So it was with the Gotham Independent Film Awards (sidenote: does “independent” even mean anything anymore?), who last awarded best picture to the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, which we proles won’t get to see until December 20th.
That said, it seems like the Gotham Awards (voted on by the IFP) mostly got things right. Best actor went to FilmDrunk favorite Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club (review forthcoming), and actress went to Brie Larson for Short Term 12, which she’s fantastic in. Best documentary went to Act of Killing, as it should, as any other winner would be a farce. Meanwhile, 12 Years a Slave, which led both the Gotham and the Independent Spirit Awards in nominations, was shut out. That’s a bummer for the nominated actors, who were great, but as it should be for the film, which should do more than just wallow in misery the same way Shame did, if you ask me. I know, I know, you didn’t ask. Anyway, congratulations to the winners (below).
Best Feature
- 12 Years a Slave
- Ain’t Them Bodies Saints
- Before Midnight
- Inside Llewyn Davis (winner)
- Upstream Color
Best Documentary
- The Act of Killing (winner)
- The Crash Reel
- First Cousin Once Removed
- Let the Fire Burn
- Our Nixon
Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award
- Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station) (winner)
- Adam Leon (Gimme the Loot)
- Alexandre Moors (Blue Caprice)
- Stacie Passon (Concussion)
- Amy Seimetz (Sun Don’t Shine)
Best Actor
- Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
- Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis)
- Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club) (winner)
- Robert Redford (All Is Lost)
- Isaiah Washington (Blue Caprice)
Best Actress
- Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
- Scarlett Johansson (Don Jon)
- Brie Larson (Short Term 12) (winner)
- Amy Seimetz (Upstream Color)
- Shailene Woodley (The Spectacular Now)
Breakthrough Actor
- Dane DeHaan (Kill Your Darlings)
- Kathryn Hahn (Afternoon Delight)
- Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station) (winner)
- Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)
- Robin Weigert (Concussion)