Inside Llewyn's Gotham Awards
Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 9:30AM It was a mix of oft rewarded icons (The Coens) and breakthrough leading movie roles from former awesome TV ensemble players (Jordan & Larson) for the Gotham Awards last night in NYC. 12 Years a Slave, which led nominations (not that that means much at the Gothams with so few categories), went home emptyhanded. No, not even for Lupita Nyong'o in Breakthrough! Bad luck or a sign that people respect but don't love the slavery drama? I don't personally understand this since it's a great film and great films are easy to love but though I'm a Gothamite, I'm not a Gotham voter. And full disclosure: I'm also cool on the Coen's chilly musical, apart from the music and the cat both of which are prize-worthy.
guitar > fiddle at the Gothams
Feature: Inside Llewyn Davis
The 60s folk scene/character study from Joel and Ethan Coen conquered the uneven field of nominees which included 12 Years..., Upstream Color, Before Midnight (read our just published interview with Julie Delpy), and Aint Them Bodies Saints
Documentary: The Act of Killing
Breakthrough Director: Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale Station
Breakthrough Actor: Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station
Will he take all the season's "Breakthrough" prizes or can Lupita rally to conquer?
Film Audience Award: Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings, Tadashi Nakamura
Spotlight on Women Filmmakers ‘Live the Dream’ Grant: Gita Pullapilly, director, Beneath the Harvest Sky
Brie Larson = Best Actress (Photo via Indiewire)
Actor: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
He won the Spirit Award last year for Magic Mike so this is another key indie acting prize for him. Can he convert all this into an Oscar acknowledgement that he's reinvented himself as an actor. That's what everyone was expecting but then the Best Actor race just got tighter and tighter.
Actress: Brie Larson, Short Term 12 (Interviewed)
This is quite a get since the Gothams didn't support Short Term 12 with nominations elsewhere. Larson beat Blanchett, Woodley, Scarjo, and busy indie darling Amy Seimetz
How do these prizes strike you this morning? Good, bad, indifferent?
Reader Comments (16)
Oh, c'mon, Nat, we all know you were squeeing harder for Brie Larson than the sedateness of this post suggests. I was genuinely looking forward to your reaction!
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Larson's is a good get for her. Will keep her in the conversation. She has two big wins now so can no longer be considered a flash in the pan.
Coen's almost always take a few prizes so not surprised.
I am surprised 12 years got nothing.
I'm happy for Jordan. Lupita will be an Oscar nominee and possible winner, but Jordan's category is so tight, the only prizes he's going to win are "breakthrough" ones.
I am weary of 12YAS and Blanchett steam rolling the awards season, so I'll be glad for any awards body that brings some diversity and excitement to the conversation. Also, Larson gives such a good performance and Grace is a role that more young people (men and women) should watch and think about and be inspired by, that I can't help but feel grateful for anyone willing to put a spotlight on either the actress or the movie.
Because the Breakthrough category for the Gothams is not split by gender, it was a tough call. Both Jordan and Nyong'o deserved it. Good for Matthew McConaughey; I've been on his side for years, ever since Dazed and Confused, and especially Lone Star, and even through the disasters, like Fool's Gold and Failure to Launch.
Really happy for Ryan Coogler and Brie Larson.
I love that they didn't seem to go with the Oscar favorites. Really happy for McConaughey and Larson. Michael B. Jordan may be more of a threat to make the cut for Actor than I thought.
I am so happy for Brie Larson!!! I like Cate's performance but Brie's performance is equally good and anything but steamrolling in awards season is great in my book.
I haven't seen Inside Llewyn Davis so I cannot comment about its winning over 12 Years A Slave.
Could Jordan's win be attributed because he has a lead role which gives him advantage over Lupita?
I feel Larson is our newbie indie girl at the oscars like Lawrence in 2010 or Swank in 99 pushing out Dench or Streep,i just don't buy the 5 former winners 5 that everyones thinking.
Very happy about Llewyn Davis, Act of Killing and Jordan.
Yay for Larson!
Henry - what was her other big win?
so happy about mcconaughey and larson. They both deserve it
Fingers crossed that Larson can pull a Jennifer Lawrence, circa Winter's Bone, and go all the way -- there's just so much damn competition. She'll need at least one major critics award to keep momentum going.
Larson won Locarno, a very european centric and respected festival last august. The film was also singled out. What made it more important was that both honors came out of the blue which caught everyone's eye. No matter what THR says, she has two divergent wins and a spirit nom. She has heat.
I agree with you so much about Llewyn Davis. I didn't warm up to it at all, but, then again, I don't suppose it was exactly trying to be a "warm" film. Still, it was just fine for me, nothing particularly special or outstanding EXCEPT for, as you said, the cat and the music which OMG GET ALL THE THE STARS.
Really surprised about Brie Larson winning, especially when facing Blanchett's mammoth performance. Gotham must have really liked her. I don't think Larson's turn is the best of the category but I'm happy for her, and I think it's a very respectable and unique win.