Matty's Movies: THE MATTY'S (Pt. 5 "Best Picture")

We've made it!

It's been a long five weeks at The Matty Academy, but we have reached the pinnacle of "The Matty Awards."

It's not easy being the #1 movie awards show in America. We bust our humps all year long down at The Academy, trying to give you the most thorough and detailed movie reviews throughout the year, and we put the same effort into THE MATTY'S.

I'm serious, it takes FIVE weeks to put on this awards show, and right now I'm just about ready to get back to reviewing newly released films like "Pompeii," "Vampire Academy," "Robocop," and "The Lego Movie." (Everything is awesome!)

But not until we give out THE MATTY for "Best Picture of the Year."

This is a HUGE category, so let's get right to it.

And the nominees for "Best Picture" are:

"Captain Phillips": Hanks, pirates, and giant nipples. This film has all the makings to win a MATTY... but will it? Hmmm.

"Dallas Buyers Club": This movie has a great story with two great individual actors hitting their posts perfectly. But is the film altogether deserving of the Golden Nose? You'll have to read on to find out. (Note: the "Golden Nose" is the statuette given out to the winners.)

"Nebraska": This is one of my favorite states. It is also one of my favorite movies. It's a wonderful, offbeat story starring MacGruber himself, Will Forte. It also had other great actors too. But can "Nebraska" come sweeping down the plain and husk itself a MATTY? Tis' possible.

"The Wolf of Wall Street": Scorsese and DiCaprio. DiCaprio and Scorsese. Any way you want to put it, they are winners. They are a one/two punch that'll put you on the canvas. Hey, they layed me out in 2006, winning THE MATTY with "The Departed."

Can they do it again with "Wolf?" Stick around and listen for the howling.

"Gravity": This movie was heavy.... Actually, this movie was weightless. That's not to say it was bad, because it wasn't. It was great. Technically and visually one of the best films I saw all year.

Can "Gravity" swoosh to the stars and "finger the nostrils?" Or will it drift off into infinite space? That my friends is the million dollar question. (Note: "fingering the nostrils" is the way our winners accept and carry their "Golden Nose" statuette.) Yup, we have FUN at THE MATTY'S!

"American Hustle": Great ensemble cast. Very interesting story. Lovely wordrobes. Just an interesting film all around. This is the type of film that you could watch twice in a day. (and I did.) But is a great ensemble cast enough to hustle its way to the Golden Nose? Stay tuned.

"12 Years a Slave": I wouldn't want to be "one second a slave," nevermind 12 years. To me, this film was the most powerful film of the year. Painful to watch, but needed to be seen. How messed up was our country less the 150 years ago? I'll tell you, it was pretty messed up. I'm glad Steve McQueen made this film. He should win the Oscar for "Best Director."... But this isn't the Oscars, it's THE MATTY'S, and this award is for "Best Picture."

Can "Slave" run his way onto the podium and accept THE MATTY for "Best Pic?" you knows, but we're getting closer to finding out.

"Philomena": The Dame, Judi Dench is delightful as an old Irish mom looking to find her adopted son. The story is compelling.

Not taking a back seat to The Dame is Steve Koogan, who plays a journalist who helps out in the hunt for her long lost son. Touching story. Did it touch me enough to win THE MATTY? Who knows.

(Note: Steve Coogan and Keith Coogan are not the same person. Sadly, I found this out when I went to see this film, thinking I was going to see Keith, the kid from "Adventures in Babysitting."... Boy, was I let down.)

"Her": This is the most original film I saw this year. It was a beautiful love story about a man and his girlfriend named Commodore 64... Kidding, her name was Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johannson. The boyfriend was played by Joaquin Pheonix. Both were impressive, but the real winner here is writer/director, Spike Jones. He has an incredible mind and it shows with this film.

Can "Her" win THE MATTY? We're just about to find out... I just want to rattle off a few "snub votes, " you know, movies that MATTY liked, but got overlooked by Oscar.

"Mud," "Blue is the Warmest Color," "42," "World War Z," "Lone Survivor," and "Spring Breakers." (That's right, I said "Spring Breakers." That film was underrated!)

Ok, here we are, the moment of truth.

And THE MATTY for "Best Picture" goes to:

"American Hustle!" (and the crowd goes wild!)

This was not an easy decision. It was between this and "12 Years a Slave." Both films were incredible, I just liked this film a TINY bit more. Plus, this film was directed by David O. Russell.

Last year Russell gave us the film "Silver Linings Playbook," and although I thought it was a good film, I did not think it deserved all the acclaim that it received at the Oscars last year. I just can't get over the plot line where a bookie takes a bet for $25,000 on two mental patients in a dance recital. Believe me, I know a thing or two about bookies, and trust me, NO BOOKIE WOULD EVER TAKE THAT BET! (Hey, maybe I'm the mental patient here.)

Anyhoo, I love David O. Russell's work. He's given us great films like "The Fighter" and "I Heart Huckabees." I also love "Spanking the Monkey." (the movie...... and also the activity).

Congratulations David O. Russell,cast and crew! Well deserved.

Who WILL WIN The Oscar: "12 Years a Slave."

Who SHOULD WIN The Oscar: "12 Years a Slave."

So there it is folks, just like that, THE MATTY'S are done for another year! I hope you all enjoyed my Awards Show, but it's time for me to mosey on down to "The Matty Academy" and get back to doing what I love most, reviewing movies.

Thank you all for coming, and I'll see you in the back row!

Matty W. Kelley, A Seat Apart Productions, reporting.