Oscar Hopefuls Share Their Favorite Films of 2014 (So Far)
As awards-season buzz ramps up, Yahoo Movies caught up with an assemblage of film stars in attendance at last Saturday night’s Governors Awards. The annual black-tie event — a sort of dress rehearsal for the Oscars — is hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
We asked the stars, many of whom are Oscar hopefuls themselves, to name their favorite movies from this year (excluding, of course, their own projects). Some, it turns out, were too busy to check out their competition. From Kevin Costner to Jennifer Aniston, here’s how they answered:
Ellar Coltrane, Boyhood
”Birdman. Michael Keaton is having the most amazing comeback.”
Reese Witherspoon, (upcoming) Wild
”Foxcatcher, Whiplash — andMichael Keaton is great in Birdman. I haven’t seen Interstellar yet, though!”
Jennifer Aniston, (upcoming) Cake
”Into the Woods. Emily Blunt’s performance in it — it’s insane… Maybe I’m biased, but she was amazing.”
Tilda Swinton, Snowpiercer
“I haven’t seen anything! I’ve been making a movie in a rather remote area, and the nearby town doesn’t even have a cinema. By March, I can talk about it.”
Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
“I’m looking forward to the [Edward Snowden] documentary Citizenfour.”
Photo Gallery: Inside the 2014 Governors Awards
Marion Cotillard, (upcoming) Two Days, One Night
"I haven’t seen a lot…”
Steve Carell, (upcoming) Foxcatcher
“I saw Jon Stewart’s Rosewater. I’m so happy for him. We were commiserating in Telluride: ‘Hey, we’re both in the film business!’”
Jessica Chastain, Interstellar and (upcoming) A Most Violent Year
"The performances in Whiplash are amazing.”
Kevin Costner, (upcoming) Black and White and McFarland, USA
"Here’s the problem: I have a four-year-old girl and I don’t think I’ve seen anything but Frozen all year — all year. Her birthday party was Frozen. I’m walking down the hall and she freezes me. We haven’t really been out to the movies, because I’ve had my head under water making them.”
Jenny Slate, Obvious Child
"That’s a hard one! I saw The Lego Movie in the theater two times — and I was not with a child. I just like films — and art in general — that has a unique voice, takes risks, and comes from an original place.”
J.K. Simmons, (upcoming) Whiplash
"I’m the worst person to ask. I was just with Mark Ruffalo, Josh Brolin, Chris Waltz, and Ed Norton — I haven’t seen any of these movies! I’m finishing a film in about a week, and then I’m hoping to actually go see some movies. I’ve been to all the film festivals this year, but you don’t get to see movies because you’re doing [press] and answering questions about your own film. I’ve seen my own film four times! It’s awesome!”
Ron Howard, director of (the upcoming) In the Heart of the Sea
"I just got back from Europe, where I was making In the Heart of the Sea — and even our post-production was there — so I really haven’t seen much… I did catch my old pal Michael Keaton in Birdman. I can vouch for a couple performances I think are award-worthy: Chadwick [Boseman, who plays James Brown in Get on Up] and Keaton.”
Christoph Waltz, (upcoming) Big Eyes
"I’ve not seen them all. That’s not fair! Birdman was very very impressive. It’s an immense vision on a problem that we all have — from a very original and specific angle. Foxcatcher is enormous. Whiplash is fabulous. I haven’t seen Paul Thomas Anderson’s [Inherent Vice] yet. I’m extremely curious about that.”
Octavia Spencer, Get on Up and Black and White
"I saw Birdman. I thought Emma Stone and the whole entire cast was great. But I literally have been working 24/7, so I haven’t had the opportunity to get caught up.”
Photo: Getty Images
