THE 2014 MURIEL AWARDS

Now that the trivial hoopla of the Oscars has finally been put to bed, it’s time to cap off the past year in movies with the awards that really matter. Named for award founder Paul Clark’s late, beloved guinea pig, the annual Muriel Awards, the current edition being the ninth, brings together an eclectic roster of Internet-based film writers whose passion for writing about film and films runs strong, even when the year’s offerings run relatively weak. It’s been my honor to have participated in the Muriels voting, and the subsequent writing about the winners, since their inception waaaaaay back in 2006, and hopefully we’ll all be here celebrating the Muriel’s 10^th birthday next year, and in 2026 their 20th...

But enough projecting into the future. What of the here and now (and, where our anniversary awards are concerned, the then)? Paul has been assembling and announcing the winners of this year’s awards, and he’s been inching ever closer to the big one. I’ll play catch-up today and keep you posted on further announcements of winners and runners-up (yes, Oscar, we do second and third place), including a couple of pieces written by Yours Truly which will be showing up over the next few days. Here’s what Muriel has served up so far. *

 

Best Editing, essay by Michael Lieberman

 

 

Best Film of 1989 (25th Anniversary Award), essay by Jim Emerson

 

Best Body of Work, essay by Matt Noller

Best Music, essay by Darren Hughes

Best Film of 1964 (50th Anniversary Award), essay by Patrick Williamson

Cinematic Breakthrough of 2014, essay by Adam Lemke



 

Best Supporting Actress, essay by Scott von Doviak



Best Supporting Actor, essay by Jeff McMahon

 



* All those pictured above-- Tom Cross (Whiplash), Crimes and Misdemeanors, Scarlet Johansson, Only Lovers Left Alive, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Ava DuVernay, Tilda Swinton (Snowpiercer) and Ethan Hawke (Boyhood) placed either second or third in the voting. To find out the winners, you'll just have to click.

And stay tuned. There are more Muriel Awards coming through the weekend and into next week!

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