GenReview Awards: Best In Drama

So the first annual GenReview Awards are here. These awards celebrate the best within a given genre, based on what I've seen over the course of the previous year. With that, there will be notable exceptions on the lists, but that is likely because I haven't seen the film (and I try very hard to see all I can). So here goes drama.

Best Picture: 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days

This haunting drama follows two girls in 1980s Romania, one of whom is seeking an abortion. But this is communist Romania, where abortions are illegal and carry hefty penalties. So what we have is an intense film, featuring two fine performances by the lead actresses. Cristian Mungiu, the writer and director, shoots up close and personal, utilizing long shots to build tension and draw out paranoia. This is a film that will stay with you.

Best Screenplay: Synecdoche, New York

I know, a Charlie Kaufman film winning best screenplay. Shocking, I know. But it was the finest script, turned into an excellent film, making it the most deserving. Synecdoche, New York is filled with complexities and builds to a wondrous finale, even if it is buried under a sea of abstractions. It's impossible to explain this film, so see it yourself.

Best Acting: Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)

Her finest work. Forget what you think you know about Hathaway and embrace her work here. She is intense, and funny, and obnoxious, but in a good way. It's acting, and I want to feel something out of a performance. Hathaway's was the best of the year, and deserves a win.

Best Production: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The effects work here is impressive, to say the least. What is CGI, what is excellent acting, and what is a mixture of both? That is what makes this film so good. Brad Pitt does a lot of the acting work, even as the old man/child version of himself. Plus, the set work and design was phenomenal. Great movie.

Best Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)

Slumdog Millionaire is a great movie. Why is it, because Danny Boyle can direct the shit out of a movie, and he does. At one point literally, when a feces covered boy asks a famous Bollywood star for his autograph. The style is where Boyle most succeeds, and filming in India didn't hurt. Colorful locations and perfectly executed camera shots are just his thing.