The Movies, Books, Theater, Concerts, CDs I've Seen/Read/Heard So Far In 2023

Updated as of  September 29, 2023  

KEY: star rating is on the four star scale
          meaning of "/" or "\"
          *** is three stars out of four
          ***/ is three stars leaning towards  3 1/2
          ***\ is three stars leaning towards 2 1/2


The Movies, Books, Theater, Concerts, CDs I've Seen/Read/Heard So Far In 2023

BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS
(Increasingly, I am sampling books, reading 10%, 20% even 40 or 50% before deciding to move on. The books below are only the ones I've read completely. That also explains what looks like generous grading -- more and more, if I sense a book is not going to be among my favorites, I stop reading. Too many books; too little time!)

1. My Ántonia by Willa Cather **** 

2. Just William by Richmal Compton ** 1/2 (pleasant enough but repetitive) 

3. A Child's Garden Of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson *** 1/2 

4. Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov *** 1/2 (finished at The Mavericks concert Feb 17, 2023) 

5. Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond ** 1/2 

6. The Destroyer Of Worlds: Return To Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff *** 

7. Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens 

8. Boris by Jaap ter Haar; translated by Martha Mearns (1966) *** 1/2 

9. Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead *** 1/2 

10. Sorceror's Son by Phyllis Eisenstein *** 

11. The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka *** 1/2 

12. 150 Glimpes Of The Beatles aka One Two Three Four: The Beatles In Time by Craig Brown *** 

13. 

CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS (A strong emphasis on the ones I like, so don't think I love everything I listen to -- I just don't bother really listening to the ones I don't )

1. Marty Robbins -- Hawaii's Calling Me (1969) * 1/2 

2. Cheap Trick -- All Shook Up (1980) ** 1/2 

3. Daryl Hall & John Oates -- H2O *** 

4. The Beach Boys -- Carl And The Passions -- "So Tough" ** 1/2 

5. Sammi Smith -- Lonesome (1971) ** 1/2 

6. Willie Colon -- El Malo (w Hector Lavoe) (1967) *** 

7. Ismael Rivera -- Esto Si Es Lo Mio (1978) *** 1/2 

8. Ismael Rivera -- Feliz Navidad (1975) *** 

9. Sting -- If On A Winter's Night (2009) ** 

10. Marty Robbins -- Marty After Midnight (1969) ** 1/2 

11. Duke Ellington -- Money Jungle w Max Roach and Charles Mingus (1962) ** 1/2 

12. Michael Nesmith -- Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash (1973) *** 

13. Michael Nesmith -- And The Hits Just Keep On Comin' (1972) *** 1/2 

14. Daryl Hall & John Oates -- Voices (1980) ** 1/2 

15. Bette Midler -- The Divine Miss M (1972) ** 1/2 

16. Bette Midler -- Bette Midler (1973) ** 

17. Howdy Glenn -- I Can Almost See Houston ** 

18. Bob Dylan -- Time Out Of Mind (1997) *** 1/2 / 

19. Daryl Hall & John Oates -- Big Bam Boom (1984) ** 

20. Bob Dylan -- Fragments: Time Out Of Mind Sessions 1996-1997 *** 

21. Hank Williams -- Ramblin' Man (1954) **** 

22. Mavis Staples -- Mavis Staples (1969) ** 1/2 

23. Cheap Trick -- Heaven Tonight ((1978) *** / 

24. John Cale -- Paris 1919 *** 

25. Hank Williams -- Sings (1951) *** 1/2 

26. Dionne Warwick-- The Dionne Warwick Collection: Her All-Time Greatest Hits **** 

27. Hank Williams -- Honky Tonkin' (1954) *** 1/2 

28. The Movers -- Mr. Moonlight Meets Miss Starlight (1974) * 1/2 

29. Cymande -- Cymande (1972) *** 1/2 

30. Hank Williams -- I Saw The Light (1954) ** 1/2 

31. Marty Robbins -- Songs Of The Islands (1957) * 1/2 

32. Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys -- The Essential Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys (2013) *** / 

33. Steve Forbert -- Early Morning Rain (2020) ** 1/2 

34. Patty Loveless -- When Fallen Angels Fly (1994) ** 1/2 

35. The Selecter -- Too Much Pressure (1980) *** 1/2 

36. Wanda Jackson -- There's A Party Goin' On (1961) *** 

37. Buck Owens And His Buckaroos -- Bakersfield Gold: Top 10 Hits 1959-1974 (2022) *** 1/2 

38. Johnny Western -- Presenting Johnny Western (1958) ** 

39. Joe Henderson -- Page One (1963) *** 1/2 

40. Joe Bataan -- Riot! (1970) ** 1/2 

41. Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater -- Some Lovers (2021) *** 

42. Donald Byrd -- Chant (1961) *** 1/2 

43. Billy Preston -- Music Is My Life (1972) ** 1/2 

44. Booker Little -- Out Front (1961) *** 
45. Jerry Jeff Walker -- Viva Terlingua (1973) *** 

46. Os Mutantes -- Os Mutantes (1968) *** 1/2 \ 

47. David Axelrod -- Song Of Innocence (1968) *** 1/2 

48. Marty Robbins -- The Drifter (1966) *** 1/2 

49. Ernest Tubb -- The Ernest Tubb Story (1959) ** 1/2 (just don't like his voice) 

50. Be Bop Deluxe -- Futurama (1975) *** 
51. Pee Wee Russell and Coleman Hawkins -- Jazz Reunion (1961) **** 

52. Lefty Frizzell -- Look What Thoughts Will Do (1997) ***\ 

53. Julie Driscoll -- 1969 (1971) ** 1/2 

54. Art Farmer & Benny Golson -- Meet The Jazztet (1960) *** 1/2 

55. Cheap Trick -- Next Position, Please (The Authorized Version) (1983) *** 1/2 

56. Mal Waldron -- On Steinway (1972) *** 

57. Ray Charles -- The Genius Of Ray Charles (1959) *** 1/2 

58. Ray Charles -- The Genius After Hours (1961) *** 1/2 

59. Ray Charles -- The Genius Sings The Blues (1961) *** 1/2 

60. Merle Haggard -- The Legend Of Bonnie & Clyde (1968) *** 1/2 

61. Merle Haggard -- A Portrait Of Merle Haggard (1969) *** 

62. Led Zeppelin -- Houses Of The Holy (1973) **** 

63. Merle Haggard -- Same Train,  A Different Time: Merle Haggard Sings The Great Songs Of Jimmie Rodgers (1969) **** 

64. Hank Williams -- Sing Me A Blue Song (1957) *** 1/2 

65. Merle Haggard -- A Tribute To The Best Damn Fiddle Player In The World or My Salute To Bob Wills (1969) *** 1/2 

66. Ray Charles -- Soul Brothers (w Milt Jackson) (1958) *** 
67. Merle Haggard -- Sing Me Back Home (1968) *** 1/2 

68. Ray Charles -- At Newport (1958) *** 

69. Ray Charles -- In Person (1960) ** 12 

70. Led Zeppelin -- Physical Graffiti ((1975) **** 
71. Merle Haggard -- Hag (1971) ** 

72. Ray Charles -- Soul Meeting (w Milt Jackson) (1961) ** 1/2 

73. Ron Sexsmith -- The Vivian Line *** 

74. Jefferson Airplane -- Surrealistic Pillow (1967) *** 1/2 

75. Booker T and the M.G.s -- Green Onions (1962) *** 1/2 

76. Dinah Washington -- September In The Rain (1960) ** 1/2 

77. Irma Thomas -- Simply Grand (2008) ** 1/2 

78. Brian Eno -- Small Craft *** 

79. Weather Report -- Heavy Weather (1977) *** 

80. Peggy Lee -- Norma Deloris Egstrom From Jamestown North Dakota (1972) *** 

81. Marty Robbins -- The Return Of The Gunfighter (1963) *** 1/2 

82. Jimmy Cliff -- The Best Of Jimmy Cliff (1975) **** 

83. Marty Robbins -- Island Woman (1964) * 1/2 

84. Brad Mehldau -- Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays The Beatles *** 1/2 / 

85. Various Artists -- What A Groovy Day: The British Sunshine Pop Sound (1967-1972) *** 

86. Various Artists -- Stoned Cold Country: A 60th Anniversary Tribute To The Rolling Stones ** 1/2 

87. Delaney & Bonnie and Friends -- Accept No Substitute (1969) ***  

88. Delaney & Bonnie and Friends -- Motel Shot (1971) ** 1/2 

89. Dusty Springfield -- Dusty (1964) ***/ 

90. S.E. Rogie -- The New Sounds Of S.E. Rogie (1991) ** 1/2 

91. Cheap Trick -- The Latest (2009) *** 1/2 

92. Led Zeppelin -- Presence (1976) *** 

93. Eva Cassidy --  I Can Only Be Me *** 

94. Gorillaz -- Cracker Island *** 

95. Cheap Trick -- In Color (1977) *** 

96. Van Morrison -- Moving On Skiffle ** 

97. Johnny Adams -- From The Heart (1984) *** 1/2 

98. Molina, Talbot, Lofgren & Young -- All Roads Lead Home ** (but Young's "Song Of The Seasons"!) 

99. Emilie-Claire Barlow -- Spark Bird *** 

100. Joni Mitchell -- Wild Things Run Fast (1982) *** 

101. Louis Prima -- The Wildest! (1956) **** 

102. Mighty Poplar -- Mighty Poplar (bluegrass) ** 1/2 

103. Rotary Connection -- Peace (1968) * 1/2 (Xmas music, memorably eccentric) 

104. Joni Mitchell -- Dog Eat Dog (1985) ** 

105. S.E. Rogie -- Dead Men Don't Smoke Marijuana (1994) *** 1/2 

106. Gaz Coombes -- Turn The Car Around *** (first seven tracks great but last two v weak) 

107. Joni Mitchell -- Chalk Mark In A Rainstorm (1988) ** 1/2 

108. Charlie Cunningham -- Frame ** 

109. The Panhandlers -- Tough Country ** 

110. Joni Mitchell -- Night Ride Home (1991) *** 

111. Various Artists -- The Birth Of Bop: The Savoy 10-inch LP Collection *** 1/2 

112. Clifton Chenier -- King Of The Bayous: I'm Coming Home (1992) *** 1/2 

113. Hayden -- Are We Good ** 

114. Nickel Creek -- Celebrants ** 

115. Ismael Rivera with Kako Y Su Orquestra -- La Ültimo En La Avenida (1971) *** 1/2 

116. Joni Mitchell -- Turbulent Indigo (1994) *** 

117. Fall Out Boy -- So Much (For) Stardust *** 1/2 

118. Ann Hampton Calloway -- Fever: A Peggy Lee Celebration! ** 

119. Joel Scott Hill, John Barbata & Chris Ethridge -- L.A. Getaway (1971) *** 

120. Merle Haggard -- I'm A Lonesome Fugitive (1967) ** 1/2 

121. Merle Haggard -- Branded Man (1967) *** 1/2 

122. Stanley Turrentine -- Never Let Me Go (1963) *** 1/2 

123. Linda Thompson -- Won't Be Long Now (2013) *** 1/2 

124. Belle and Sebastian -- Late Developers **

125. Barry Adamson -- Moss Side Story (1989) ** 

126. Alick Nkhata -- Shalapo And Other Love Songs: Original Zambian Hits From The 1950s (1991) *** 

127. Boygenius -- The Record *** 1/2 

128. Joni Mitchell -- Taming The Tiger (1998) ** 1/2 

129. Van Halen -- Van Halen (1978) ***/ 

130. Pet Shop Boys -- Lost ep *** 

131. Jorge Ben /Jor -- África Brasil (1976) **** 

132. Johnny Adams -- Man Of My Word (1998) *** 

133. Susanna Hoffs -- The Deep End ***/ 

134. Roxy Music -- Roxy Music (1972) *** 

135. Everything But The Girl -- Fuse *** 1/2 

136. Blood, Sweat & Tears -- Child Is Father To The Man (1968) ** 

137. Roxy Music -- For Your Pleasure (1973) *** 

138. Sachal Vasandani & Romain Collin -- Midnight Shelter (2021) ** 

139. Johnny Adams -- One Foot In The Blues (1996) *** 1/2 

140. Roxy Music -- Stranded (1973) ***\ 

141. Cécile McLorin Salvant -- Mésuline *** 1/2 

142. Iris DeMent -- Workin' On A World ** (sentiments impeccable, songs not so much) 

143. Depeche Mode -- Music For The Masses (1987) *** 1/2 

144. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss -- Raising Sand **** 

145. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss -- Raise The Roof *** 1/2 

146. John Holt -- The Reggae Hits Christmas Album (1986) * 1/2 

147. Johnny Adams -- Good Morning Heartache (1993) *** 1/2 

148. Seafret -- Wonderland ** 

149. Metallica -- ...And Justice For All (1988) ** 

150. Minutemen -- Double Nickels On The Dime (1984) *** 1/2 

151. The Chemical Brothers -- Dig Your Own Hole (1997) *** 

152. Saint Etienne -- Foxbase Alpha (1991) ** 1/2 

153. Rickie Lee Jones -- Pieces Of Treasure ** 

154. Roxy Music -- Country Life (1974) *** 1/2 

155. Josh Ritter -- Spectral Lines *** 

156. Roxy Music -- Siren (1975) *** 1/2 

157. Johnny Adams -- After Dark (1986) ** 1/2 

158. The Yellow Balloon -- The Yellow Balloon (1967) ** 

159. Taj Mahal -- Savoy *** 1/2 

160. Red Snapper -- Our Aim Is To Satisfy (2000) ** 

161. The Modern Lovers -- The Modern Lovers (1976) **** 
162. Roxy Music -- Manifesto (1979) ***/ 

163. Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers (1976) *** 

164. Joni Mitchell -- Both Sides Now (2000) **** 

165. The Whiffs -- Scratch 'N' Sniff *** 1/2 

166. Johnny Adams -- South Side Of Soul Street (The SSS Sessions) (2022) **** 

167. Sister Sledge -- We Are Family (1979) *** 

168. Brian Eno and Fred Again... -- Secret Life ** 1/2 

169. Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers -- Rock 'N' Roll With Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers (1977) ** 1/2 

170. Brit Taylor -- Kentucky Blue ** 1/2 

171. La Lupe -- La Lupe Es La Reina (1969) *** 1/2 

172. Rodney Crowell -- The Chicago Sessions *** 1/2 

173. Roxy Music -- Flesh + Blood (1980) ** 

174. Jimmy Hughes -- The Best Of Jimmy Hughes ** 1/2 

175. Jim Ford -- Harlan County (1969) ** 1/2 

176. Roxy Music -- Avalon (1982) **** 

177. Pee Wee Crayton -- Blues After Hours (1999 comp) *** 1/2 

178. Aerosmith -- Permanent Vacation (1987) ** 1/2 

179. Wilco -- Summerteeth (1999) **** 

180. The Isley Brothers -- Soul On The Rocks (1967) *** 

181. Joy Division -- Closer (1980) *** \ 
182. La Lupe and Tito Puente -- El Rey Y Yo (1967) *** 

183. Lisa Marini -- Buried Town ** 1/2 

184. MGMT -- Oracular Spectacular (2007) *** 1/2 

185. Bryan Ferry -- In Your Mind (1977) *** 1/2 

186. La Lupe -- La Pareja (w Tito Puente) (1978) *** 

187. The Go-Betweens --16 Lovers Lane (1988) *** 1/2 

188. Talking Heads -- Talking Heads: 77 (1977) **** 

189. Muddy Waters -- Hard Again (1977) *** 1/2 

190. Talking Heads -- More Songs About Buildings And Food (1978) **** 
191. Nico -- Chelsea Girl (1967) ** 1/2 

192. Eslabon Armado -- Desvelado *** 1/2 

193. Daniel Caesar -- Never Enough ** 1/2 

194. Muddy Waters -- At Newport 1960 (1960) ***\ 

195. Bryan Ferry -- These Foolish Things (1973) *** (but admirably wide-ranging) 

196. Talking Heads -- Fear Of Music (1979) **** 

197. The National -- First Two Pages Of Frankenstein *** 1/2 

198. Wynton Marsalis -- Tune In Tomorrow... (1990) *** 1/2 

199. Otis Spann -- Walking The Blues (1960/1972) *** 1/2 

200. Brandy Clark -- Brandy Clark ** 1/2 

201. Aerosmith -- Rocks (1976) *** 1/2 

202. Aerosmith -- Greatest Hits (1980) *** 1/2 

203. Johnny Adams -- Only Want To Be With You (2022) *** 1/2 

204. Tears For Fears -- Songs From The Big Chair (1985) ** 1/2 

205. Raul Malo -- Say Less ** 1/2 

206. Talking Heads -- Remain In Light (1980) **** 

207. Peggy Lee -- I'm A Woman (1963) **1/2 (but bonus tracks could make it ***) 

208. Crowded House -- Crowded House (1986) *** 

209. The Whiffs -- Take A Whiff (2017) *** 1/2 

210. The Whiffs -- Another Whiff (2019) *** 1/2 

211. Bryan Ferry -- Boys and Girls (1985) *** 
212. Tinariwen -- Amatssou *** 

213. Simply Red -- Time ** 

214. Daryl Hall -- Three Hearts In The Happy Ending Machine ** 1/2 

215. Dire Straits -- Dire Straits (1978) ** 
216. Bryan Ferry -- Bête Noire (1987) *** 

217. Crowded House -- Temple Of Low Men (1988) ** 1/2 

218. Led Zeppelin -- In Through The Out Door (1979) *** 1/2 

219. Cowboy Junkies -- Such Ferocious Beauty ***/ 

220. The Lemon Twigs -- Everything Harmony ***/ 

221. KC And The Sunshine Band -- A Sunshine Christmas (2015) * 

222. Joe Cocker -- Mad Dogs & Englishmen (1970) ** 1/2 

223. Crowded House -- Woodface (1991) *** 1/2 

224. Wilco -- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001) **** 
225. David Bowie -- Diamond Dogs (1974) ***/ 

226. Tanya Tucker -- Sweet Western Sound *** 1/2 

227. David Bowie -- The Man Who Sold The World (1970) ** 1/2 

228. The Who -- The Who By Numbers (1975) *** 1/2 

229. Bob Dylan -- Shadow Kingdom *** 1/2 

230. The Finn Brothers -- Everyone Is Here (2004) *** 1/2 

231. Crowded House -- Together Alone (1993) *** 1/2 

232. Garbage -- Garbage (1995) ***\ 

233. The Cranberries -- Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993) ** 

234. Muddy Waters -- Folk Singer (1964) **** 
235. Frankie Miller -- High Life (1974) *** 
236. Janelle Monáe -- The Age Of Pleasure *** 1/2 

237. John Mellencamp -- Orpheus Descending ** 1/2 

238. Niall Horan -- The Show ** 1/2 

239. Lead Belly -- "The Midnight Special" and Other Southern Prison Songs **** 

240. Ike & Tina Turner -- Proud Mary: The Best Of Ike & Tina Turner (1991) ** 1/2 

241. Dire Straits -- Making Movies (1980) ** 1/2 

242. Tommy Prine -- This Far South ** 

243. Kelela -- Raven ***  

244. Jess Williamson -- Time Ain't Accidental ** 

245. Bar Italia -- Tracey Denim ** 

246. Talking Heads -- Speaking In Tongues (1983) *** 1/2 

247. The Figgs -- Sucking In Stereo (2000) *** 1/2 

248. M. Ward -- Supernatural Thing *** 1/2 

249. Irma Thomas -- Full Time Woman: The Lost Cotillion Album (1971/1972; 2022) ** 1/2 

250. Rufus Wainwright -- Folkocracy ***\ 

251. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five -- The Message (1982) *** 1/2 

252. The Offspring -- Smash (1994) *** 

253. Alex Lahey -- The Answer Is Aways Yes *** 1/2 

254. Karol G -- Mañana Será Bonito *** 

255. The Jam -- Sound Affects (1980) *** 

256. Pink Floyd -- Meddle (1971) ** 1/2 

257. Cat Stevens -- King Of A Land ** 

258. Betty LaVette -- LaVette! *** 1/2 

259. Monaleo -- Where The Flowers Don't Die ** 

260. Nina Simone -- Wild Is The Wind (1966) ** 1/2 

261. The Byrds -- Mr. Tambourine Man (1965) *** 

262. Ella Fitzgerald -- Complete Decca Singles 1935-1939 w Chick Webb & His Orchestra (2017) *** 

263. Machito -- Kenya (1957) **** 

264. Blondshell -- Blondshell ** 

265. Genesis -- A Trick Of The Tail (1976) ** 

266. King Pleasure -- King Pleasure Sings, Annie Ross Sings (1957) *** 

267. B.B. King -- Live At The Regal (1965) **** 

268. Anita O'Day -- Anita (1955) *** 

269. Rafa Pabön -- Galería *** 

270. Julie London -- Her Name Is Julie (1955) ***  

271. Bonnie "Prince" Billy -- I See A Darkness (1999) ***\ 

272. The John Sally Ride -- JSR The Other Women ** 1/2 

273. Peso Pluma -- Génesis *** 1/2 

274. Joe Williams -- Count Basie Swings Joe Williams Sings (1955) *** 
275. Amanda Shires and Bobbie Nelson -- Loving You *** 

276. A Tribe Called Quest -- People's Instinctive Travels and The Paths Of Rhythm (1990) **** 

277. Megan Moroney -- Lucky *** 

278. Brian Eno -- 77 Million Paintings *** 

279. Big Joe Turner -- The Boss Of The Blues Sings Kansas City Jazz (1956) *** 1/2 

280. David Bowie -- Black Tie, White Noise (1993) *** 

281. Caroline Polachek -- Desire, I Want To Turn Into You ** 

282. Carìn Leon -- Colmillo De Leche *** 

283. Tito Puente -- Cuban Carnival (1956) *** 

284. Dinner Party -- Enigmatic Society ** 1/2 

285. Paul Simon -- Seven Psalms *** 

286. Johnny Adams -- After All The Good Is Gone (1978) *** 1/2 

287. Blossom Dearie -- Christmas Spice So Very Nice (1991) ** 

288. LCD Soundsystem -- American Dream (2017) ** 1/2 

289. Sunny War -- Anarchist Gospel ** 1/2 
290. Jessie Ware -- That! Feels! Good! *** 

291. Wild Style soundtrack (1983) *** 

292. Tony Bennett -- MTV Unplugged (1994) *** 

293. A Tribe Called Quest -- Midnight Marauders (1993) *** 

294. Blur -- The Ballad Of Darren ** 1/2 

295. Lee Morgan -- Search For The New Land (1966) *** 1/2 

296. Sonny Rollins -- Tenor Madness (1956) **** 

297. Ornette Coleman -- This Is Our Music (1961) *** 1/2 

298. Clifford Brown and Max Roach -- Study In Brown (1955) **** 
299. Sonny Criss -- Criss Craft (1975) *** 1/2 

300. Sonny Criss -- Sonny's Dream (Birth Of The New Cool) (1968) **** 

301. The Modern Jazz Quartet -- Fontessa (1956) *** 
302. Lionel Hampton and Stan Getz -- Hamp and Getz (1955) **** 
303. Lee Konitz -- Subconscious-Lee (1955) *** 
304. Herbie Hancock -- Maiden Voyage (1965) *** 1/2 

305. Lee Morgan -- The Sidewinder (1963)  **** 

306. Clifford Brown -- Clifford Brown with Strings (1955) ** 1/2 

307. Milt Jackson -- Wizard Of The Vibes (1952) *** 

308. Goldie -- Timeless (1995) ** 

309. Miles Davis -- Sketches Of Spain (1960) *** 
310. Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers -- Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (1956) **** 

311. Lennie Tristano -- Lennie Tristano (1956) **** 
312. Lennie Tristano -- The New Tristano (1962) *** 1/2 

313. Cannonball Adderley -- Somethin' Else (1958) **** 

314. Theo Croker -- Blk2Life/A Future Past (2021) ** 1/2 

315. Everything But The Girl -- At Maida Vale ep *** 1/2 (esp "Nothing Left To Lose" acoustic) 

316. Skip James -- Today! (1966) *** 

317. Molly Raccoon -- Frankincense and Myrrh ** 

318. David Bowie -- The Next Day (2013) ***/ 

319. The Byrds -- Turn! Turn! Turn! *** \ 

320. Bryan Ferry -- Frantic (2002) *** 1/2 

321. The Budos Band -- Frontier's Edge ep *** 

322. Vince Gill -- Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price and the Cherokee Cowboys ***  

323. Elvis Costello -- My Aim Is True (1977) **** 

324. Neil Young -- American Chrome Rust Stars N Bars Never Sleeps Dreams (1977/2023) **** 

325. Count Basie -- April In Paris (1957) *** 

326. Chuck Berry -- After School Session (1957) ** 1/2 

327. Buddy Holly -- The "Chirping" Crickets (1957) *** 1/2 

328. Rick Springfield -- Automatic *** 
329. Henry Red Allen -- The Incomparable Henry Red Allen: The Golden Years Vol. 1 **** 

330. Metro Boomin -- Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse ** 1/2 

331. Durand Jones -- Wait Till I Get Over *** 1/2 

332. The Pretty Things -- S.F. Sorrow (1968) ** 1/2 or *** 

333. Henry Red Allen -- The Incomparable Henry Red Allen: The Golden Years Vol. 2 *** 1/2 

334. Elvis Costello -- This Year's Model (1978) **** 
335. Bully -- Lucky For You ** 1/2 

336. Mark Erelli -- Lay Your Darkness Down ** 1/2 

337. Henry Red Allen -- The Incomparable Henry Red Allen: The Golden Years Vol. 3 *** 1/2 

338. Anita O'Day -- Cool Heart (1959) ** 

339. Henry Red Allen -- The Incomparable Henry Red Allen: The Golden Years Vol. 4 *** 1/2 

340. The Sugarcubes -- Life's Too Good (1988) ** 1/2 

341. Teddy Thompson -- My Love Of Country *** 1/2 

342. Louis Armstrong -- The Complete RCA Victor Recordings 1932-1933/1946-1947 **** 

343. Meshell Ndegeocello -- The Omnichord Real Book ** 1/2 

344. Ravi Shankar -- The Sounds Of India (1957) *** 1/2 

345. Little Richard -- Here's Little Richard (1957) **** 
346. Gina Burch -- I Play My Bass Loud *** 1/2 

347. The Raincoats -- The Raincoats (1979) *** 1/2 

348. Henry Red Allen -- Ride, Red, Ride In Hi-Fi aka World On A String (1957) **** 

349. Soul II Soul -- Club Classics, Vol. One (1989) *** 
350. Margaret Glaspy -- Echo The Diamond ** 1/2 

351. Jenny Lewis -- Joy'All ** 1/2 

352. Anita O'Day -- Pick Yourself Up (1956) *** 

353. Talking Heads -- Little Creatures (1985) ** 1/2 

354. Baaba Maal -- Being ** 1/2 

355. B.B. King -- Singin' The Blues (1957) *** 1/2 

356. Spinners -- The Very Best Of the Spinners (1993) *** 1/2 

357. Jelly Roll -- Whitsitt Chapel ** 

358. Eddie Chacon -- Sundown ** 

359. Magic Sam -- West Side Soul (1968) ****  

360. Nakhane -- Bastard Jargon ** 

361. Sandy Denny -- The North Star Grassman and The Ravens (1971) ** 

362. Ike & Tina Turner -- Come Together (1970) ** 1/2 

363. Ali Farka Touré -- Voyageur ** 1/2 

364. Led Zeppelin (1969) *** 1/2 

365. GZA -- Liquid Swords (1995) ** 1/2 

366. Ella Fitzgerald -- Like Someone In Love (1957) ****  

367. Daryl Hall -- Can't Stop Dreaming (1996) *** 1/2 

368. Kali Uchis -- Red Moon In Venus ** 1/2 

369. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Orchestra -- Safe As Milk (1967) *** 1/2 

370. T. Rex -- Electric Warrior (1971) *** 1/2 

371. Cream -- Disraeli Gears (1967) ** 1/2 

372. Miles Davis -- 'Round About Midnight (1957) *** 
373. Foo Fighters -- Foo Fighters (1995) *** 
374. Nat King Cole -- Love Is The Thing (1957) ** 1/2 

375. Raye -- My 21st Century Blues *** 1/2 

376. Neu! -- Neu! 75 **** 

377. June Christy -- The Misty Miss Christy (1956) ** 

378. Desmond Dekkar & The Aces -- Action! (1967) *** 1/2 

379. Mose Allison -- The Word From Mose (1964) ** 

380. The Cramps -- Songs The Lord Taught Us (1980) ** 1/2 

381. The Fall -- This Nation's Saving Grace (1988) ** 1/2 

382. Count Basie -- The Atomic Mr. Basie (1958) **** 

383. Tucky Buzzard -- Tucky Buzzard (1971) *** 

384. Bunny Wailer -- Blackheart Man (1976) **** 
385. Muse -- Black Holes and Revelations (2006) *** 

386. Amaarae -- Fountain Baby ** 

387. The Sparks -- The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte *** / 

388. David Bowie -- Heathen (2002) **** 

389. Lloyd Cole -- On Pain *** 

390. Otis Spann -- Otis Spann Is The Blues (1960) *** 1/2 

391. The Who -- A Quick One (1966) ** 1/2 

392. Aya Nakamura -- DNK ** 

393. John Mayall with Eric Clapton -- Bluesbreakers (1966) ** 1/2 

394. Elton John -- Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player (1973) ** 1/2 

395. Neil Finn -- Try Whistling This (1998) *** 1/2 

396. Ella Fitzgerald -- Ella and Oscar (w Oscar Peterson) (1975) *** 1/2 

397. Julie Byrne -- The Greater Wings ** 

398. Le Tigre -- Le Tigre (1999) ** 1/2 

399. Ella Ftzgerald -- Rhythm Is My Business (1962) *** 1/2 

400. The Yardbirds -- Roger The Engineer aka Yardbirds aka Over Under Sideways Down (1966) *** 

401. Ella Fitzgerald -- Sings Sweet Songs For Swingers (1958) *** 1/2 

402. Ella Fitzgerald -- Songs In A Mellow Mood (1954) *** 

403. Lauren Calve -- Shift ** 

404. Ella Fitzgerald -- Whisper Not (1966) ** 

405. Nick Cave -- Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus (2004) *** 1/2 

406. Nino Tempo & April Stevens -- All Strung Out (1966) *** ("The Habit Of Lovin' You") 
407. Joe Gibbs -- African Dub All-Mighty Chapter 3 (2007) *** 
408. Bebel Gilberto -- João *** 

409. Joni Mitchell -- At Newport ** 1/2 (but quite moving at times) 

410. Wynton Marsalis -- Plays Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Hot Sevens *** 1/2 

411. Pink Floyd -- Meddle (1971) ** 1/2 

412. Michael Jackson -- Thriller (1982) **** 

413. Ella Fitzgerald -- Nice Work If You Can Get It: Ella and André Do Gershwin (1983) *** 1/2 

414. Anohni featuring Antony and the Johnsons -- My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross ** 

415. Jenni Muldaur & Teddy Thompson -- Once More: Jenni Muldaur & Teddy Thompson Sing The Great Country Duets *** 1/2 

416. Ella Fitzgerald -- And Gordon Jenkins Invite You To Listen and Relax (1955) * 1/2 

417. Youssou N'dour -- Immigrés (1985) *** 

418. Davy Knowles -- If I Should Wander ** 1/2 

419. The Coral -- Sea Of Mirrors ***/ 

420. Chris Pierce -- Let All Who Will ** 

421. Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie -- A Classy Pair (1979) ** 1/2 

422. Patoranking --World Best ** 

423. Ella Fitzgerald -- Get Happy! (1959) ** (but excellent "Blue Skies") 

424. Ella Fitzgerald -- Hello Love (1959) ** 

425. Spiritualized -- Ladies And Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space... (1997) ** 1/2 

426. Ella Fitzgerald -- Swings Gently With Nelson (1962) ** 1/2 (but "All Of Me" strong) 

427. Little Simz -- Grey Area (2019) ** 1/2 

428. Desmond Dekker -- Israelites: The Best Of Desmond Dekker 1963-1971 (1999) *** 1/2 

429. Herbie Hancock -- Head Hunters (1973) *** 

430. Albert King -- Born Under A Bad Sign (1967) *** 1/2 

431. The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy -- Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury (1992) ** 1/2 

432. Carlene Carter -- Musical Shapes (1980) *** 

433. The One Eighties -- Minefield ** 

434. The Charlatans -- Tellin' Stories (1997) *** 

435. John Cale -- Mercy ** 1/2 

436. Ella Fitzgerald -- Sings The Johnny Mercer Songbook (1964) *** 
437. Graham Parker -- Last Chance To Learn The Twist ** 1/2 

438. M.I.A. -- Kala (2007) ** 

439. Louis Armstrong -- Louis Armstrong and the Mills Brothers (1954) *** 1/2 

440. Howlin' Wolf -- Howlin' Wolf (1962) **** 

441. Turbonegro -- Apocalypse Dudes (1998) ** 
442. Ella Fitzgerald -- Ella Sings Gershwin(1950) **** 
443. Split Enz -- True Colours (1980) ***\ 

444. Willie Nelson -- Bluegrass *** 

445. Ella Fitzgerald -- Brighten The Corner (1969) *** 

446. Corinne Bailey Rae -- Black Rainbows ** 1/2 

447. Pretenders -- Relentless ** 1/2 

448. Iron Maiden -- The Number of The Beast (1982) ** 1/2 

449. Olivia Rodrigo -- Guts ***/ 

450. Gil Scott-Heron -- Winter In America (1974) *** 

451. Johnny Adams -- Heart & Soul (1969) **** 

452. Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald -- Songs From Pete Kelly's Blues (1955) ** 1/2 

453. Ella Fitzgerald -- Misty Blue (1968) * 

454. Herb Alpert -- Wish Upon A Star ** 

455. Robert Black/ John Luther Adams -- Darkness and Scattered Light ** 1/2 

456. African Head Charge -- A Trip To Bolgatonga *** 1/2 

457. Ray Price -- Night Life (1963) *** 

458. The Hives -- The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons *** 1/2 

459. Joshua Redman -- Where Are You ** 

460. Joesef -- Permanent Damage ** 1/2 

461. Ella Fitzgerald -- Speak Love w Joe Pass (1983) *** 1/2 

462. Rhiannon Giddens -- You're The One ** 1/2 

463. Ella Fitzgerald -- For Sentimental Reasons (1955) ** 1/2 

464. Ben Goldsmith -- The World Between My Ears ** 1/2 

465. Hawkwind -- Space Ritual (1973) * 

466. The Replacements -- Tim (1985) (Ed Stasium Mix) **** 

467. Gorillaz -- Gorillaz (2001) *** 

468. Ella Fitzgerald -- 30 by Ella (1968) *** 1/2 (or 35?) 

469. Buzzcocks -- Another Music In A Different Kitchen (1978) *** 1/2 

470. DeBarge -- In A Special Way (1983) *** 1/2 

471. Ella Fitzgerald -- Take Love Easy (w Joe Pass) (1974) **** 
472. Van Morrison -- Into The Music (1979) ** 1/2 

473. Buck Owens -- I've Got A Tiger By The Tail (1965) *** 1/2 

474. Ella Fitzgerald -- These Are The Blues (1963) ***/ 

475. Ella Fitzgerald -- All That Jazz (1990) *** 

476. Olivia Jean -- Raving Ghost ** 

477. Cocteau Twins -- Treasure (1984) ** 

478. Cocteau Twins -- Heaven Or Las Vegas (1990) ** 1/2 

479. Ella Fitzgerald -- A Perfect Match (w Count Basie) (live) (1979) ** 1/2 

480. Guns n Roses -- Appetite For Destruction (1987) *** 1/2 

481. Brian Setzer --- The Devil Always Collects ** 1/2 

482. Ella Fitzgerald -- Ella Swings Lightly (1958) ***/ 

483. 

MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES 

(Not TV movies, of course, but movies and TV shows -- and TV movies if it comes to that. Mostly I only list TV shows when I've tackled an entire season at once or reappraising an entire series after it's over This doesn't really capture my ongoing watching of current TV.)

1. All The King's Men (1949) ** 1/2 

2. The Big Lebowski (1998) *** 1/2 

3. Coming To America (1988) ** 1/2 

4. Raising Arizona (1987) *** 1/2 

5. Spaceballs (1987) ** 

6. My Best Friend's Wedding ***/ 

7. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (in theater) **** 
8. Joni Mitchell: The Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song **** 

9. Pilgrims (Lithuanian drama) *** 1/2 

10. John Wick: Chapter 4 *** 1/2 

11. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret *** 
12. It (1927) ** 1/2 all due to Clara Bow 

13. He Who Gets Slapped (1924) ** 1/2 

14. Zero For Conduct (1933) *** 

15. The Scarecrow (1921 short, Buster Keaton) *** 1/2 

16. Fireworks (1947 short; dir Kenneth Anger)  ***\ 

17. Faust (1926; dir Murnau) **** 
18. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse *** 1/2 

19. Asteroid City * 1/2 

20. Past Lives *** 1/2 

21. Rye Lane *** (good dir debut, cinematography, appealing leads, but still modest overall) 

22. Indiana Jones and the Dial Of Destiny **

23. Close (2022, Belgium) *** 1/2 

24. The Phantom Carriage (1921) *** 

25. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves *** 

26. Tickled (2016) *** 

27. Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning Part 1 *** 

28. City Girl (1930) *** 1/2 

29. Oppenheimer *** 
30. Barbie ** 1/2 

31. Heartstopper S2 *** 

32. The Black Pirate (1926) *** (but seen w dreadful score on Amazon) 

33. The Spanish Dancer (1923) *** 
34. Her Man (1930) *** 
35. Stop Making Sense (1984) **** 

36. One Piece S1 (live action) ** 1/2 

37. 

THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS
(The names after the shows are the people who joined me at the performance.)

1. The Mavericks at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta on Friday Feb 17 *** 1/2 (finished Pale Fire) 

2. The Harder They Come (at the Public w Noam and Zoe March 12, 2023) ** 1/2 

3. Love (play by Alexander Zeldin at the Park Armoury w Noam March 13 2023) **** 

4. Lohengrin at the Met (w Stephen March 14, 2023) * 1/2 

5. Arden Of Faversham (Red Bull Theatre at Lucille Lortel w Noam) March 15, 2023 ** 

6. Museum of Broadway (w Noam March 15, 2023) ** 1/2 

7. Dear World (at Encores starring Donna Murphy) (w Luis March 17, 2023) *** (but the show itself is **) 

8. Wilco at Avondale Brewing Co. outdoors in Birmingham AL; opening act The A's *** 1/2 

9. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit outdoors at Avondale Brewing in Birmingham AL *** 1/2 

10. 

Updated as of  September 29, 2023 

THE IRA OF IRAS — A 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

 THE IRA OF IRAS — A 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

For the 50th anniversary in 2024, we will vote on the IRA of IRAs — the best film among the 49 nominees during the first half century of the IRA Awards. 

Only films named Best Picture are eligible. 

Members will rank all 49 films from their top pick (receiving 49 points) down to their bottom pick (receiving 1 point). Ballots are due two weeks before the 50th IRA Awards in early 2024. 

The results will be tabulated. Any ties will be broken blindly in advance — movies that are tied will be listed alphabetically and voters asked to choose between them without knowledge of whether the tie they are breaking is at #1 or #17 or #48. [For example, “Please choose between American Graffiti  and Monty Python And The Holy Grail.”) 

The firm of Robinson, Robinson, Marcks and Giltz will be sworn to secrecy and the final list will be revealed on the big night, ensuring the evening lasts longer than ever. We could do it after the negative awards if so desired. 

On the off chance that 2023 produces a film so undeniably brilliant that everyone stands in awe, there will be a vote among the members present asking if they want to crown that year’s winner of Best Picture the IRA of IRAs instead. If this occurs, the result will be unofficial until the entire group has an opportunity to weigh in.

THE 48TH IRA FILM AWARDS: ENJOYING "GREAT FREEDOM" (WHILE IT LASTS)

THE 48TH IRA FILM AWARDS: ENJOYING "GREAT FREEDOM" (WHILE IT LASTS)  

Date: March 25, 2023 

Location: New York City and far-flung locales via Zoom

The IRAs are a mysterious but august film society launched in 1976 when it proudly named Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon the best film of 1975. Officially known as the New York Independent Film Critics Awards -- but lovingly nicknamed the IRAs -- it is more international and indie focused than the Oscars, more mercurial than the LA Film Critics and even more loyal to their favorites than the Golden Globes. The IRAs are proud to announce its picks for the best movies released commercially on any platform since the last IRAs in March of 2022.

Without further ado, the IRA goes to... 

Best Picture: Great Freedom 

           Runner-up: Petite Maman 

Best Director: Sebastian Miese for Great Freedom 

            Runner-up: Céline Sciamma for Petite Maman

Best Actors:  Franz Rogowski for Great Freedom 

                            

                            Aubrey Plaza for Emily The Criminal 

             Runner-up: Colin Farrell for After Yang and The Banshees Of Inisherin 

Best Supporting Actors: Hong Chau for The Menu and The Whale

                                                     Barry Keoghan for The Banshees Of Inisherin

            Runner-up: Dolly De Leon for Triangle Of Sadness

Best Nonfiction Film: The Fire Within: A Requiem For Katia and Maurice Krafft  

            Runner-up: The Territory 

Best Screenplay: Thomas Reider & Sebastian Miese for Great Freedom  

            Runner-up: John Patton Ford for Emily The Criminal

Best Cinematography: Hoyte Van Hotema for Nope  

            Runner-up: Katia and Maurice Krafft for Fire of Love and The Fire Within: A Requiem For Katia and Maurice Krafft 

Best Production Design: Michael Randel for Great Freedom    

            Runner-up: Alexandra Schaller for After Yang 

Best Score/Use Of Music: ASKA aka Aska Matsumiya  for After Yang  

            Runner-up: Hildur Guðnadóttir for Tár and Women Talking

Best Editing: Blair McClendon for Aftersun 

            Runner-up: Joe Murphy for Barbarian 

Best Costumes: Shirley Kurata  for Everything Everywhere All At Once 

            Runner-up: Arjun Bhasin for After Yang (tie) 

                                      Jenny Beavan for Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris (tie) 

Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): All Quiet On The Western Front 

            Runner-up: Avatar: The Way Of Water (tie) 

                                      The Fabelmans (tie) 

Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): Tár 

            Runner-up: Triangle Of Sadness

Mechanical Actors: Tom Hanks for Elvis, A Man Called Otto and Pinocchio 

                                          Sadie Sink for The Whale

            Runner-up: Tom Cruise for Top Gun: Maverick

This year, the 48th Annual IRA Awards took place on March 25, 2023. Films are eligible based on our newly established standards. Any film that is widely available roughly since our last ceremony qualifies for an IRA. This includes any film you can see in any way: a streamer, a digital download, a rental, a BluRay, a drive-in or -- our favorite option -- an indoor movie theater. Festival play does not qualify on its own. 

And now a blow-by-blow description of the night, in order of voting. We begin, as always, with the category of Best Costumes. Instead of our traditional first vote led by the titular Ira (whose presence was greatly missed), we began with M. George reading the ballot of the absent Adam -- who was busy hobnobbing with Ethan Hawke -- and then Greg and so on.  The IRA goes to...


BEST COSTUME

1. Shirley Kurata  for Everything Everywhere All At Once -- 16 pts. out of a possible 50 pts.

2. Jenny Beavan for Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris (tie) -- 14 pts. 

    Arjun Bhasin for After Yang (tie) -- 14 pts. 

4. Jessica Ray Harrison for Down With The King -- 12 pts. 

5. Tanja Hausner and Andrea Hölzl for Great Freedom -- 11 pts. 

    

POINT OF ORDER: This year, about ten ballots were in play throughout the night for most categories. With a top score for each nominee of 5 pts, the maximum any one nominee could achieve in any category was 50 pts. when everyone was voting. Voting begins with each member naming their top pick. If a majority of the ballots name the same winner, this triumph is acknowledged as a win "by acclamation." However a winner is chosen (by acclamation or by a complete tally), this is followed by the automatic vote to rescind.

The Vote To Rescind is offered after every single category. Why? Once the totals are in, members may feel the actual winner doesn't reflect the best choice. Or perhaps they prefer the runner-up. After the winner is announced, members are asked to consider a Vote To Rescind. If a majority of the members actively voting support it, the winner is rescinded and the runner-up is made the official champion. The winner is then named the runner-up. The Vote To Rescind is seen by some as a last minute stop-gap to avoid a bland consensus pick. It is vehemently opposed by Andy, who registers his displeasure over this rule with the dependable consistency of Old Faithful.  

Oscar winner Everything Everywhere All At Once triumphs at the IRAs right off the bat. At the Academy Awards, it lost Best Costumes to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. At the IRAs, it beat back close competition from Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris and After Yang (a film that will factor prominently throughout the night). The IRAs and the Oscars rarely overlap: only twice in the 48 year history of the IRAs have both named the same film as the Best Picture of the year.  1977's Annie Hall and 2016's Moonlight each won the top prize from both AMPAS and the IRAs. While the IRAs certainly lean more indie and international, even the Oscar winner for Best International/Foreign Film has never won the top IRA for Best Picture. 

In fact, the IRAs overlap very little with any other awards group. The films it honors are acclaimed, well reviewed all over the world and appear on many "best of the year" lists. And yet, its top honor often goes to a film overlooked by the others. Eclectic, thy name is IRA. And that's a great reason to check out our winners. 

 BEST EDITING

1. Blair McClendon for Aftersun -- 16 pts. 

2. Joe Murphy for Barbarian -- 13 pts.
3. Eddie Hamilton for Top Gun: Maverick -- 12pts.
4. Paul Rogers for Everything Everywhere All At Once  -- 11 pts. 

5. Géraldine Mangenot for Happening  -- 10 pts. 

NOTE: When editing was added to the list of categories that the IRAs vote on, some concern arose it might be dominated by nonfiction films. Not so! This year, no documentary made the shortlist. Aftersun is the winner, stoking Michael's hopes for both it and Happening to go the distance.   

 BEST SCORE/USE OF MUSIC

1. ASKA aka Aska Matsumiya  for After Yang -- 18 pts. 
2. Hildur Guðnadóttir for Tár and Women Talking -- 15 pts.
3. Carter Burwell for The Banshees Of Inisherin -- 14 pts.
4. Alexandre Desplat for Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio -- 12 pts. 

5. Jung Jae-Il for Broker -- 10 pts. 


NOTE: The first win for After Yang, a movie touted by Alex that gained momentum in the final days before voting -- and then some! -- thanks to a last-minute wave of viewing by other members. It's never been easier for IRA voters to watch most of the films people are raving about in our group. In the old day, that might have meant trading BluRays by mail or making a quick trip into a major city when a movie played in theaters (or re-opened briefly). Nowadays many films are available at the click of a button (and for less money). Yes, we'd prefer to see every film in a movie theater with an audience. But that's not the choice: it's online or not at all and so we'll gladly take online. Certainly everyone had plenty of time to catch The Banshees Of Inisherin, which ran and ran in movie theaters for months on end, a rare treat these days. For a movie that wouldn't prove a factor in Best Picture or Director, it did very well indeed in multiple categories. 

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

1. Michael Randel for Great Freedom -- 20 pts. 

2. Alexandra Schaller for After Yang -- 19 pts.
3. Ruth De Jong for Nope -- 13 pts.   

4. Mark Tildesley for The Banshees Of Inisherin and Empire Of Light -- 12 pts.

5. Rossitsa Bakeva for Barbarian -- 10 pts. 

NOTE: Great Freedom consistently ranked as one of the most popular films in regular polling during the year at the IRAs. (A new feature to keep members apprised of what movies we've seen and loved, this polling proved very popular. Humble brag!)  And here it snags its first IRA. Sometimes, tech awards like Production Design go to films with flashy work that otherwise don't factor in the big awards. "That space station was amazing!" or "Man, I'd love to have a villa on the South Of France" might prompt someone to vote for a film like Downton Abbey: A New Era even though the film itself wasn't very good.  Not this year. We honored the decades-spanning work of Michael Randel, who captured life in and out of prison for a gay man in Germany from World War II to the falling of the Berlin Wall with admirable specificity. The subtle near-future vibe of After Yang (dig the plants found inside their car/taxi/self-driving vehicle) was also highly admired, along with Nope (though as Greg wondered, is a camera in the bottom of a well even a thing?) and the rest. Newcomer Robert made his presence felt early on by rallying support for the Airbnb-gone-bad flick Barbarian. While the IRAs embrace genre pics ahead of noble, well-intentioned middlebrow fare, horror is not exactly a strength of the group. Robert would prove successful, enshrining Barbarian on the IRA honor list for the year. 


BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

1. Hoyte Van Hotema for Nope -- 20 pts. 
2. Katia and Maurice Krafft for Fire of Love and The Fire Within: A Requiem For Katia and Maurice Krafft  -- 19 pts.
3. Roger Deakins for Empire Of Light -- 13 pts.
4. Benjamin Loeb for After Yang (tie)-- 12 pts.
    Claire Mathon for Petite Maman (tie) -- 12 pts. 

NOTE: Sometimes at the IRAs, you'r3e rooting against a film yuo really don't want to win the top prize just as much as you're rooting for a personal favorite. That was the case with Michael and Nope. He lived in fear that a film Michael just didn't get the fuss over (it was better than Us but not as good as Get Out, which was over-rated anyway) might triumph. He isn't vehemently opposed to Nope; if anything, it makes him shrug. But with Aftersun and After Yang and Great Freedom and Happening among his favorites and seemingly contenders for the top IRA Award, he'd rather say nope to Nope. And here it wins cinematography! Van Hotema is a talent, but Michael did not see that one coming. Production Design? Ok. Screenplay? Sure. Acting? Quite possibly. And of course Picture and Director. But Best Cinematography? That indicates a scary level of support, something more frightening than even whatever is hiding up in the clouds. But the second choice is inspired: two documentaries about the married scientists who died after a lifetime of studying and filming and photographing volcanoes. Both made extensive usage of their work and it was gorgeous, stunning, as George said simply some of the most beautiful images he'd ever seen on film. It's also a very IRA pick: unexpected, clever and spot-on. Now Alex is the king of supporting the Vote To Rescind, but he's also a big fan of Nope, so surely he won't -- wait! Yes, he IS supporting the Vote To Rescind! Michael eagerly chimes in. "What a cool win that would be!" And...nothing. Nope triumphs. Uh-oh. 

BEST SCREENPLAY

1. Thomas Reider & Sebastian Miese for Great Freedom  -- 27 pts. 
2. John Patton Ford for Emily The Criminal -- 19 pts.

3. James Gray for Armageddon Time-- 12 pts.
4. Céline Sciamma for Petite Maman -- 9 pts.
5. Kore-eda Hirokazu for Broker (tie) -- 8 pts. 

    Martin McDonagh for The Banshees Of Inisherin (tie) -- 8 pts.


NOTE: Here's where Great Freedom began to flex its muscles. Its 27 points for Best Screenplay was tied for the second-highest total of the night, adjusted for inflation (more on that later).  Only one other category winner racked up more points -- and that went to Great Freedom as well. Three more films established themselves as players: the widely admired Emily The Criminal, the Korean film Broker (a good double bill with the Belgian film L'Enfant, IRA winner for Best Picture in 2006) and Armageddon Time, quietly supported by the Merchant-Ivory contingent of the IRAs that appreciates solid, classic filmmaking. Insults were quickly lobbed and just as quickly returned. 

BEST NONFICTION FILM 

1. The Fire Within: A Requiem For Katia and Maurice Krafft  -- 14 pts. 

2. The Territory (tie) -- 12 pts. 

     The U.S. And The Holocaust (tie) -- 12 pts. 
4. Mr. Bachman And His Class (tie) -- 10 pts.
    Three Minutes: A Lengthening (tie) -- 10 pts. 

NOTE: The Best Nonfiction Film is a fairly recent add to the IRAs and not without controversy (of course), since creating a category like this almost ensures a nonfiction film won't win the much-desired top prize for Best Film ever again.  (Eyes On The Prize won for 1986 and Decasia won for 2003.) That's a pity since so many great documentaries are being released now. That's why The Fire Within: A Requiem For Katia and Maurice Krafft won with just 14 points and the category included two ties. The appreciation for documentaries is wide and deep. 

FOOD BREAK

Pizza!  

BEST SUPPORTING ACTORS

1. Hong Chau for The Menu and The Whale -- 54 pts. out of a possible 100 pts.

    Barry Keoghan for The Banshees Of Inisherin -- 39 pts. out of a possible 100 pts.

3. Dolly De Leon for Triangle Of Sadness -- 28 pts.
4. Theo Rossi for Emily The Criminal -- 26 pts.
5. Kerry Condon for The Banshees Of Inisherin --17 pts.
6. Ke Huy Quan for Everything Everywhere All At Once -- 16 pts. 

7. Anna Mouglalis for Happening -- 15 pts. 

8. Brendan Gleeson for The Banshees Of Inisherin -- 14 pts. 

9. Brian Tyree Henry for Causeway (tie) -- 13 pts. 

     Judith Ivey for Women Talking (tie) -- 13 pts. 

     Gabrielle Sanz for Petite Maman (tie) -- 13 pts.  

NOTE: This category marks a major change for the IRAs. A modest proposal that we treat the acting categories like every other category and not break it down by gender/body parts/how a person identifies themselves created a firestorm of controversy. We don't include a category for "female production designers" or "people of color screenplays" or "queer cinematographers," so why do that for acting? This follows in the footsteps of other awards groups and was intended as more practical than progressive, given the increase in nonbinary actors and so on. Nonetheless, it opened a can of worms -- the smaller the stakes the greater the passions, after all. Will female actors become invisible? Won't we be honoring fewer people? What happens with the vote to rescind? All valid points and all discussed at length, at least by Michael (who types very fast). Here is the result. 

We've added an official runner-up to every category. We've ended gendered acting categories so they reflect our approach to every other area of filmmaking. Voters may nominate up to ten people for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, rather than five. We will declare TWO winners -- they might be two women, two men, or RuPaul and Asia Kate Dillon or any other combination thereof. We'll celebrate the best, honor their talent, worry about how to properly spell their name and not worry about the politics of it all. 

Hong Chau and Barry Keoghan are honored here, a man and a woman, as it happens. Chau was arguably the best thing in two movies that had their fans and detractors. Chau's 54 points out of a possible 100 is equal to Great Freedom's Best Screenplay win with 27 points. Keoghan was the tip of the spear for Banshees, which saw all three of its secondary actors included here: Keoghan, Kerry Condon and Brendan Gleeson. This bodes well for fans of Colin Farrell and his chances as Best Actor. Not to mention Banshees for Best Director and Best Picture. 

One definite plus with the new voting system? We get to highlight eleven great performances. 

                                            

BEST ACTORS

1. Franz Rogowski for Great Freedom -- 62 pts. out of a possible 100 pts.

                            

    Aubrey Plaza for Emily The Criminal -- 42 pts. out of a possible 100 pts.

3. Colin Farrell for After Yang and The Banshees Of Inisherin -- 37 pts. 

4. Anamaria Vartolomei for Happening  -- 36 pts.
5. Frankie Corio for Aftersun -- 28 pts.
6. Maya Vanderbeque for Playground -- 23 pts.
7.  Mia Goth for Pearl, X -- 20 pts. 

8. Paul Mescal for Aftersun -- 18 pts. 

9. Josephine Sanz for Petite Maman -- 15 pts. 

10. Ralph Fiennes for The Menu (tie) -- 14 pts. 

      Brendan Fraser for The Whale (tie) -- 14 pts. 


NOTE: Again, our two Best Actors are a man and a woman. In both categories, the nominees split almost evenly between men and women. That won't happen every year, but at least this first time we didn't experience a worst-case scenario. And again, we get to highlight eleven great performances.  

That distracts from the big news: Franz Rogowski won Best Actor with a massive 62 points (31 p-points when comparing to most other categories). That's the biggest win of the night and showed the German film had three IRAs and was the front runner for Best Picture and Director. But here comes Emily The Criminal! Star Aubrey Plaza was a strong second for her turn in the much admired crime flick. Plus, it scored a second place finish in Best Screenplay. The only problem? Both times, it was beaten by Great Freedom. 

As expected, Colin Farrell was a favorite for his turn in Banshees and After Yang. Would he carry two films into the Top 5 IRA movies of the year list? Or which one would be the favorite? Don't ask Yang; he'd just turn the question back on you and ask what you think the favorite will be. Michael's hopes for Happening peaked here with the lead's solid placement on the list, though he kept hope alive. His hopes for the widely admired Apples -- which barely made a peep the entire night -- ended long ago. 

Worth noting are the four child performances in the two acting categories. Heck, Aftersun star Frankie Corio even placed higher than her Oscar-nominated costar Paul Mescal. She was that good. And isn't it interesting that the two child actors of IRA favorite Céline Sciamma's Petite Maman made the list? 

BEST DIRECTOR

1. Sebastian Miese for Great Freedom  -- 22 pts. 
2. Céline Sciamma for Petite Maman -- 20 pts.
3. Kogonada for After Yang -- 12 pts.
4. Audrey Diwan for Happening -- 10 pts. 

5. Jordan Peele for Nope -- 9 pts.

NOTE: Unlike the Oscars, you get to see the level of support for a film all evening long. We've reached Best Director and the votes make clear its down to two films. Great freedom and Petite Maman duked it out with Great Freedom eking out a win by two points. The three other films were way back, reflecting a lot of good movies and strong support for the two on top. Last year, we saw a similar battle between Drive My Car and A Hero. Car steered its way to Best Director...and then A Hero flipped the script and stole Best Picture right from under Drive My Car's nose. Will Petite Maman get larcenous tonight? 

BEST PICTURE

1. Great Freedom -- 24 pts. 
2. Petite Maman -- 20 pts.
3. After Yang -- 16 pts.
4. Barbarian -- 11 pts.
5. Happening -- 10 pts.

Nope! Great Freedom was strong all  night long, winning Best Production Design, Best Screenplay, and dominating in Best Actor. So it's no surprise that one of the best films of the year, a movie passionately loved by many and admired by the rest (no one said a word against it) would also win Best Director and the top prize Best Picture. It's five IRAs make Great Freedom one of the most laureled IRA winners in history. But with nine films winning or sharing a top prize in the nine categories, it certainly didn't feel like a boring sweep or a fait accompli. 


FOOD BREAK 

Cake!  

 

SOMINEX (The movie that put us to sleep)

1. All Quiet On The Western Front -- 17 pts.

2. Avatar: The Way Of Water (tie) -- 11 pts.

    The Fabelmans (tie) -- 10 pts.

4. Benediction -- 7 pts.

5. Bardo (tie) -- 5 pts.
    The Eternal Daughter (tie) -- 5 pts. 

    Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (tie) -- 5 pts. 

    Pleasure (tie) -- 5 pts. 

    Tár (tie) -- 5 pts. 

    Three Thousand Years Of Longing (tie) -- 5 pts. 

    Top Gun: Maverick (tie) -- 5 pts.

             

DRAMAMINE (The film that made us sick)

1    1. Tár -- 18 pts.

2. Triangle Of Sadness -- 17 pts.

3. The Whale -- 12 pts.

4. Blonde -- 11 pts. 

5. Avatar: The Way Of Water -- 10 pts. 

6. Babylon (tie) -- 5 pts. 

    Don't Worry Darling (tie) -- 5 pts. 

    Fire Island (tie) -- 5 pts. 

    To Leslie (tie) -- 5 pts. 

10. All Quiet On The Western Front (tie) -- 3 pts. 

      Bones And All (tie) -- 3 pts. 

      The Cathedral (tie) -- 3 pts. 

      Elvis (tie) -- 3 pts. 

MECHANICAL ACTOR

1. Tom Hanks for Elvis, A Man Called Otto and Pinocchio -- 32 pts. out of 100 pts.

     Sadie Sink for The Whale -- 28 pts. out of  possible 100 pts. 

3. Tom Cruise for Top Gun: Maverick -- 27 pts.

4. Adam Gopnik for Tár -- 21 pts.
5. Anthony Hopkins for Armageddon Time -- 19 pts.
6. Luma The Cow for Cow -- 17 pts. 

7. Anya Taylor-Joy for The Menu -- 14 pts.  

8. Michelle Williams for The Fabelmans -- 13 pts.  

9. Keke Palmer for Nope -- 12 pts. 

10. Evelyn Claire for Pleasure (tie) -- 10 pts. 

      Marc Maron for To Leslie (tie) -- 10 pts. 

THE 2021-2022 FILMS HONORED BY THE IRAS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER 

Aftersun 

After Yang 

Armageddon Time 
The Banshees Of Inisherin 

Barbarian 

Broker 

Causeway 

Emily The Criminal 

Empire Of Light 

Everything Everywhere All At Once 

Fire of Love 

The Fire Within: A Requiem For Katia and Maurice Krafft

Great Freedom 

Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio 

Happening 

The Menu 

Mr. Bachman And His Class 

Nope 

Pearl

Petite Maman 

Playground 

Tár 

The Territory 

Three Minutes: A Lengthening 

Top Gun: Maverick  

Triangle Of Sadness 

The U.S. And The Holocaust 

The Whale 

Women Talking 

X

WHO OR WHAT ARE THE IRAS? A HISTORY

The IRAs are a mysterious but august film society that has voted on the best films of the year since 1976. Officially known as the New York Independent Film Critics Awards -- but lovingly nicknamed the IRAs -- they are more international and indie focused than the Oscars, more mercurial than the LA Film Critics, more loyal to their favorites than the Golden Globes. 

The IRAs began when passionate film students and friends complained about the parade of annual awards shows, declaring, "We could do better!" What followed was an all-night, knock-down, drag-out fight to establish the very first winners of the IRAs. (One of the members is named Ira, but how his name became the name of the award is a story lost in the mist of time, alcohol and since it was the 1970s perhaps cannabis.) The IRAs group has been profiled in The New Yorker, so it is officially a New York institution, though no one has ever heard of it. Over the years, its rotating cast of voting members have included Oscar-winning writers, major directors, top studio execs, best-selling and critically acclaimed authors of books on movies, critics, screenwriters, budding playwrights, film scholars, plain old movie buffs and so on. 

Every year, the IRAs shine a light on some of the best movies of the year. The secret reason the IRAs flourish is that its members are passionate film lovers. Many have careers involving the arts, but it's not always easy to stay in the swim of things, to keep on top of the flood of new releases every year, especially when the movies favored by IRA members are not always playing at your local multiplex for weeks at a time. The movies they appreciate tend to be harder to catch, playing in theaters only briefly before popping up (hopefully) eventually on some streaming service or DVD. Quite simply, the IRAs force them to stay committed to seeing new movies with the same fervor they felt in their college days when going to see a film was the only purpose in life, before jobs and family made frivolous claims on their time. So if you want to stay on top of great cinema every year or explore its history, there's no better place to start than the award winners of the IRAs. 

True, the IRAs have no more claim to pronounce the best films of the year than anyone else. But they've been doing it for decades so hey, it's tradition! 


PAST IRA WINNERS 



THE COMPLETE IRA MOVIE AWARD WINNERS

1975 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Barry Lyndon
Best Director: Claude Chabrol for La Rupture and Just Before Nightfall
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Best Actress: Ellen Burstyn in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Best Supporting Actor: François Perrier in Just Before Nightfall
Best Supporting Actress: Blythe Danner in Hearts Of The West
Best Screenplay: Tom Stoppard and Thomas Wiseman for The Romantic Englishwoman
Best Cinematography: John Alcott for Barry Lyndon


1976 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: (tie) Lipstick and The Marquise Of O
Best Director: Eric Rohmer for The Marquise Of O
Best Actor: Sean Connery in Robin And Marian
Best Actress: Sissy Spacek in Carrie
Best Supporting Actor: Jason Robards in All The President’s Men
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Bancroft in Lipstick
Best Screenplay: Alain Tanner and John Berger for Jonah Who Will Be 25 In The Year 2000
Best Cinematography: Nestor Almendros for The Marquise Of O


1977 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Annie Hall
Best Director: Wim Wenders for The American Friend
Best Actor: John Gielgud in Providence
Best Actress: Dianne Keaton in Annie Hall and Looking For Mr. Goodbar
Best Supporting Actor: G. D. Spradlin in One On One
Best Supporting Actress: Vanessa Redgrave in Julia
Best Screenplay: Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman for Annie Hall
Best Cinematography: Robby Müller for The American Friend


1978 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Days Of Heaven
Best Director: Terence Malick for Days Of Heaven
Best Actor: Jon Voight in Coming Home
Best Actress: Jane Fonda in Coming Home
Best Supporting Actor: Dom DeLuise in The End
Best Supporting Actress: Stephane Audran in Violette
Best Screenplay: Eric Rohmer for Perceval
Best Cinematography: Nestor Almendros for Days Of Heaven


1979 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Fedora
Best Director: Blake Edwards for 10
Best Actor: Clint Eastwood in Escape From Alcatraz
Best Actress: Hanna Schygulla in The Marriage Of Maria Braun
Best Supporting Actor: Denholm Elliott in Cuba and Saint Jack
Best Supporting Actress: Frances Sternhagen in Fedora and Starting Over
Best Screenplay: Billy Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond for Fedora
Best Cinematography: Tak Fujimoto for Last Embrace and Remember My Name
Best Music: Miklos Rozsa for Fedora and Last Embrace
Best Production Design: Dean Edward Mitzner for 1941


1980 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: The Big Red One
Best Director: Sam Fuller for The Big Red One
Best Actor: Lee Marvin for The Big Red One
Best Actress: Jodie Foster for Carny and Foxes
Best Supporting Actor: (tie) Joe Pesci in Raging Bull and Harry Dean Stanton in The Black Marble, The Long Riders, Private Benjamin and Wise Blood
Best Supporting Actress: Pamela Reed in The Long Riders and Melvin And Howard
Best Screenplay: Sam Fuller for The Big Red One
Best Cinematography: Jordan Cronenweth for Altered States
Best Music: Dana Kaproff for The Big Red One
Best Production Design: Tambi Larsen for Heaven’s Gate


1981 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Cutter’s Way
Best Director: Ivan Passer for Cutter’s Way
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges in Cutter’s Way
Best Actress: Faye Dunaway in Mommie Dearest
Best Supporting Actor: Jack Nicholson in Reds
Best Supporting Actress: Mona Washbouurne in Stevie
Best Screenplay: John Guare for Atlantic City
Best Cinematography: Jordan Cronenweth for Cutter’s Way
Best Music: Georges DeLerue for The Last Metro, Rich and Famous, True Confessions and The Woman Next Door
Best Production Design: Ken Adam for Pennies From Heaven
Best Costume Design: Shirley Russell for Reds


1982 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Victor/Victoria
Best Director: Blake Edwards for Victor/Victoria
Best Actor: Jack Lemmon in Missing
Best Actress: (tie) Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria and Jessica Lange in Frances
Best Supporting Actor: Robert Preston in Victor/Victoria
Best Supporting Actress: Lesley Ann Warren in Victor/Victoria
Best Screenplay: Blake Edwards for Victor/Victoria
Best Cinematography: Xaver Schwartzenberger for Lola and Veronika Voss
Best Music: Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse for Victor/Victoria
Best Production Design: Rodger Maus for Victor/Victoria
Best Costume Design: Patricia Norris for Victor/Victoria


1983 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Berlin Alexanderplatz
Best Director: Andrzej Wajda for Danton
Best Actor: Eric Roberts for Star ’80
Best Actress: Shirley MacLaine for Terms Of Endearment
Best Supporting Actor: Jerry Lewis for The King Of Comedy
Best Supporting Actress: Jamie Lee Curtis for Trading Places
Best Screenplay: Bill Forsyth for Local Hero
Best Cinematography: Sven Nykvist for Star ’80
Best Music: Peer Raben for Berlin Alexanderplatz
Best Production Design: Fernando Scarfiotti for Scarface
Best Costume Design: Yvonne Sassinot DeNestle for Danton
Sominex Award: The Dresser
Dramamine Award: The Big Chill
Mechanical Actor: Matt Dillon for The Outsiders and Rumble Fish 
Mechanical Actress: Nastassja Kinski for The Moon In The Gutter and Exposed


1984 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: (tie) L’Argent and Once Upon A Time In America
Best Director: Sergio Leone for Once Upon A Time In America
Best Actor: Clint Eastwood in Tightrope
Best Actress: Helen Mirren in Cal
Best Supporting Actor: Jean-Luc Godard in First Name: Carmen
Best Supporting Actress: Christine Lahti in Swing Shift
Best Screenplay: Franco Arcalli, Leonardo Benvenuti, Piero De Bernardi, Franco Ferrini, Sergio Leone, Enrico Medioli for Once Upon A Time In America
Best Cinematography: Robby Müller for Paris Texas and Repo Man
Best Music: Ennio Morricone for Once Upon A Time In America
Best Production Design: James Singelis for Once Upon A Time In America
Best Costume Design: Mic Cheminal for Entre Nous
Sominex Award: 
Dramamine Award: 
Mechanical Actor:  
Mechanical Actress: 


1985 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Prizzi’s Honor
Best Director: Martin Scorsese for After Hours
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson in Prizzi’s Honor
Best Actress: Mia Farrow in The Purple Rose Of Cairo
Best Supporting Actor: William Hickey in Prizzi’s Honor
Best Supporting Actress: Anjelica Huston in Prizzi’s Honor
Best Screenplay: Joseph Minion for After Hours
Best Cinematography: Andrzej Bartkowiak for Prizzi’s Honor
Best Music: Brian Gascoigne and Junior Hamrich for The Emerald Forest
Best Production Design: Jeffrey Townsend for After Hours
Best Costume Design: Ann Roth for The Jagged Edge and Sweet Dreams
Sominex Award: 
Dramamine Award: 
Mechanical Actor:  
Mechanical Actress: 


1986 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Eyes On The Prize
Best Director: David Lynch for Blue Velvet
Best Actor: (tie) Daniel Day-Lewis in My Beautiful Laundrette and Jeff Goldblum in The Fly
Best Actress: Laura Dern in Smooth Talk
Best Supporting Actor: Steve Buscemi in Parting Glances
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Stuart Masterson in At Close Range
Best Screenplay: Hanif Kureishi for My Beautiful Laundrette
Best Cinematography: Frederick Elmes for Blue Velvet
Best Music: (tie) George Delerue for Platoon and Herbie Hancock for Round Midnight
Best Production Design: Patricia Norris for Blue Velvet
Best Costume Design: Jenny Beaven and John Bright for A Room With A View
Sominex Award: Brighton Beach Memoirs
Dramamine Award: Crocodile Dundee
Mechanical Actor: Jon Cryer for Pretty In Pink 
Mechanical Actress: Meryl Streep for Heartburn


1987 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Housekeeping
Best Director: Bill Forsyth for Housekeeping
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Prick Up Your Ears
Best Actress: Christine Lahti in Housekeeping
Best Supporting Actor: John Mahoney in Moonstruck and Tin Men
Best Supporting Actress: Vanessa Redgrave in Prick Up Your Ears
Best Screenplay: Bill Forsyth for Housekeeping
Best Cinematography: Phillippe Rousselot for Hope And Glory
Best Music: David Byrne, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Cong Su for The Last Emperor
Best Production Design: Santo Loquasto for Radio Days
Best Costume Design: Mary-Jane Reyner for Housekeeping
Sominex Award: Dark Eyes
Dramamine Award: Fatal Attraction
Mechanical Actor: Eddie Murphy for Beverly Hills Cop II 
Mechanical Actress: Sean Young for No Way Out and Wall Street


1988 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Dead Ringers
Best Director: David Cronenberg for Dead Ringers
Best Actor: Jeremy Irons in Dead Ringers
Best Actress: Jodie Foster in The Accused
Best Supporting Actor: Divine in Hairspray
Best Supporting Actress: Claudia Karvan in High Tide
Best Screenplay: Christopher Hampton for Dangerous Liaisons
Best Cinematography: Vittorio Storaro for Tucker: The Man And His Dream
Best Music: George Fenton for Dangerous Liaisons
Best Production Design: Dean Tavoularis for Tucker: The Man And His Dream
Best Costume Design: Van Smith for Hairspray
Sominex Award: Wings Of Desire
Dramamine Award: Mississippi Burning (by acclamation!)
Mechanical Actor: William Hurt for Broadcast News 
Mechanical Actress: Maria Conchita Alonso for Extreme Prejudice and The Running Man


1989 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Story Of Women
Best Director: Claude Chabrol for Story
Of Women
Best Actor: John Hurt in Scandal
Best Actress: Isabelle Huppert in Story Of Women
Best Supporting Actor: Ethan Hawke in Dad and Dead Poets Society
Best Supporting Actress: Anjelica Huston in Enemies: A Love Story
Best Screenplay: Blake Edwards for Skin Deep
Best Cinematography: Jeff Preiss for Let’s Get Lost
Best Music: Michael Kamen for The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen
Best Production Design: Dante Ferretti for The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen
Best Costume Design: Jane Robinson for Scandal
Sominex Award: Batman
Dramamine Award: Steel Magnolias
Mechanical Actor: Spike Lee for Do The Right Thing 
Mechanical Actress: Roseanne Barr for She-Devil


1990 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: GoodFellas
Best Director: Martin Scorsese for GoodFellas
Best Actor: Michel Blanc in Monsieur Hire
Best Actress: Anjelica Huston in The Grifters
Best Supporting Actor: Joe Pesci in GoodFellas
Best Supporting Actress: Lorraine Bracco in GoodFellas
Best Screenplay: Craig Lucas for Longtime Companion
Best Cinematography: Oliver Stapleton for The Grifters
Best Music: Elmer Bernstein for The Grifters
Best Production Design: Dennis Gassner for The Grifters
Best Costume Design: Richard Bruno for The Grifters
Sominex Award: 
Dramamine Award: 
Mechanical Actor:  
Mechanical Actress: 


1991 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: The Man In The Moon
Best Director: Robert Mulligan for The Man In The Moon
Best Actor: River Phoenix in Dogfight and My Own Private Idaho
Best Actress: Judy Davis in Barton Fink, Impromptu, and Naked Lunch
Best Supporting Actor: Harvey Keitel in Bugsy, Mortal Thoughts, and Thelma (ampersand) Louise
Best Supporting Actress: Juliette Lewis in Cape Fear
Best Screenplay: Michael Tolkin for The Rapture
Best Cinematography: Freddie Francis for Cape Fear and The Man In The Moon
Best Music: Ennio Morricone for Bugsy
Best Production Design: Dennis Gassner for Barton Fink and Bugsy
Best Costume Design: Albert Wolsky for Bugsy
Sominex Award: 
Dramamine Award: 
Mechanical Actor:  
Mechanical Actress: 


1992 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Raise The Red Lantern
Best Director: Robert Altman for The Player
Best Actor: Tim Robbins in Bob Roberts and The Player
Best Actress: Emma Thompson in Howards End
Best Supporting Actor: Jaye Davidson in The Crying Game
Best Supporting Actress: Judy Davis in Husbands And Wives
Best Screenplay: Michael Tolkin for The Player
Best Cinematography: Zhao Fei and Lun Yang for Raise The Red Lantern
Best Music: Lenny Niehaus for Unforgiven
Best Production Design: Marc Caro for Delicatessen
Best Costume Design: Alexander Julien for The Player
Sominex Award: A Few Good Men
Dramamine Award: Basic Instinct
Mechanical Actor: Michael Douglas in Basic Instinct
Mechanical Actress: ****


1993 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Six Degrees Of Separation
Best Director: Nancy Savoca for Household Saints
Best Actor: Dennis Quaid in Flesh And Bone
Best Actress: Stockard Channing in Six Degrees Of Separation
Best Supporting Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio in A Boy’s Life and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?
Best Supporting Actress: Regina Tourney in Like Water For Chocolate
Best Screenplay: Mike Leigh for Naked
Best Cinematography: Michael Balhaus for The Age Of Innocence
Best Music: Elmer Bernstein for The Age Of Innocence and The Cemetery Club
Best Production Design: Dante Ferretti for The Age Of Innocence
Best Costume Design: Gabriella Pescucci for The Age Of Innocence
Sominex Award: Heaven And Earth
Dramamine Award: Falling Down
Mechanical Actor: Richard Gere in Sommersby
Mechanical Actress: Madonna in Body Of Evidence


1994 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Red
Best Director: Krzyzstof Kieslowski for Red and White
Best Actor: Terence Stamp in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Best Actress: Linda Fiorentino in The Last Seduction
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale in Little Women
Best Supporting Actress: Kristin Scott Thomas in Four Weddings and a Funeral
Best Screenplay: Steve Baranczek for The Last Seduction
Best Cinematography: Stephen Czapsky for Ed Wood
Best Music: Zbigniew Preissner for Red and White
Best Production Design: Dennis Gastner for The Hudsucker Proxy
Best Costume Design: Lizzie Gardiner and Tim Chappel for Priscilla, Queen of The Desert
Sominex Award: Wyatt Earp


1995 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Exotica
Best Director: Terry Zwigoff for Crumb
Best Actor: John Travolta in Get Shorty
Best Actress: (A three-way tie) Mia Kershner in Exotica; Alicia Silverstone in Clueless; Nicole Kidman in To Die For
Best Supporting Actor: Tim Roth in Rob Roy
Best Supporting Actress: Mare Winningham in Georgia
Best Screenplay: (tie) Atom Egoyan for Exotica and Buck Henry for To Die For
Best Cinematography: Newton Thomas Sigel for The Usual Suspects
Best Music: John Ottman for The Usual Suspects
Best Production Design: Dante Ferretti for Casino
Best Costumes: Mona May for Clueless
Sominex Award: The Brothers McMullen
Dramamine Award: Braveheart
Mechanical Actor: Dennis Miller in The Net and the cast of The Brothers McMullen
Mechanical Actress: Annette Bening in The American President


1996 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: La Ceremonie
Best Director: Claude Chabrol for La Ceremonie
Best Actor: Ewen McGregor in Trainspotting
Best Actress: (tie) Kristin Scott Thomas in The English Patient and Emily Watson in Breaking The Waves
Best Supporting Actor: Ian Holm in Big Night
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Kay Place in Citizen Ruth and Manny and Lo
Best Screenplay: John Sayles for Lone Star
Best Cinematography: (tie) Darius Khondji for Stealing Beauty and Oliver Stapleton for Kansas City
Best Music: Tiffany Anders, Burt Bacharach, David Baerwald, Carole Bayer Sager, Ed Berghoff, Elvis Costello, Gerry Goffin, Louise Goffin, Tonio K, Larry Klein, J. Mascis, Joni Mitchell, Boyd Rice, David A. Stewart, and J. Mayo Williams for Grace Of My Heart
Best Production Design: Harley Jessup for James And The Giant Peach
Best Costume Design: Dona Granata for Kansas City
Sominex Award: The English Patient
Dramamine Award: A Time To Kill
Mechanical Actor: All the men in She’s The One
Mechanical Actress: Maxine Bahns in She’s The One


1997 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: (tie) Crash and Grosse Pointe Blank
Best Director: David Cronenberg for Crash
Best Actor: John Cusack for Grosse Pointe Blank
Best Actress: Julie Christie in Afterglow
Best Supporting Actor: Kevin Spacey in L. A. Confidential
Best Supporting Actress: Christina Ricci in The Ice Storm
Best Screenplay: Neil LaBute for In The Company Of Men
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins for Kundun
Best Music: (tie) Eleni Karaindrou for Ulysses’ Gaze and Michael Nyman for Gattaca
Best Production Design: (tie) Dan Weil for The Fifth Element and Jan Roelfs for Gattaca
Best Costume Design: Denise Cronenberg for Crash
Sominex Award: The Pillow Book
Dramamine Award: Con Air
Mechanical Actor: Billy Zane in Titanic
Mechanical Actress: Elisabeth Shue in Deconstructing Harry and The Saint


1998 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Gods And Monsters
Best Director: (tie) Bill Condon for Gods And Monsters and Todd Solondz for Happiness
Best Actor: Ian McKellen in Gods And Monsters
Best Actress: Christina Ricci in The Opposite Of Sex
Best Supporting Actor: Dylan Baker in Happiness
Best Supporting Actress: Lisa Kudrow in The Opposite Of Sex
Best Screenplay: Bill Condon for Gods And Monsters
Best Cinematography: Maryse Alberti for Happiness and Velvet Goldmine
Best Music: Carter Burwell for Gods And Monsters
Best Production Design: Thérèse DePrez for Happiness
Best Costume Design: Bruce Finlayson for Gods And Monsters
Sominex Award: Dangerous Beauty
Dramamine Award: Stepmom
Mechanical Actor: Bruce Willis in Armageddon, The Siege and Mercury Rising
Mechanical Actress: Jena Malone in Stepmom


1999 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Fight Club
Best Director: (tie) David Fincher for Fight Club and Spike Jonze for Being John Malkovich
Best Actor: Terence Stamp in The Limey
Best Actress: (tie) Nicole Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut and Hillary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry
Best Supporting Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman in Magnolia and The Talented Mr. Ripley
Best Supporting Actress: Catherine Keener in Being John Malkovich
Best Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor for Election
Best Cinematography: Robert Richardson for Bringing Out The Dead and Snow Falling On Cedars
Best Music: Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman for South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut
Best Production Design: Owen Paterson for The Matrix
Best Costume Design: Michael Kaplan for Fight Club
Sominex Award: The World Is Not Enough
Dramamine Award: The Green Mile
Mechanical Actor: Kevin Spacey in American Beauty
Mechanical Actress: Annette Bening in American Beauty


2000 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: L’ Humanite
Best Director: (tie) Terence Davies for The House Of Mirth and Jim Jarmusch for Ghost Dog: Way Of The Samurai
Best Actor: Forrest Whitaker in Ghost Dog: Way Of The Samurai
Best Actress: (tie) Severine Caneele in L’ Humanite and Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Best Supporting Actor: Jack Black in High Fidelity and Jesus’s Son
Best Supporting Actress: Lupe Ontiveros in Chuck And Buck
Best Screenplay: Kenneth Lonnergan for You Can Count On Me
Best Cinematography: Remi Adefarasin for The House Of Mirth
Best Music: RZA for Ghost Dog: Way Of The Samurai
Best Production Design: Gideon Ponte for American Psycho and Hamlet
Best Costume Design: Monica Howe for The House Of Mirth
Sominex Award: Mission Impossible 2
Dramamine Award: The Replacements (aka The Scabs)
Mechanical Actor: Ian Holm in Joe Gould’s Secret
Mechanical Actress: Charlize Theron in Reindeer Games


2001 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: The Werckmeister Harmonies
Best Director: Bela Tarr for The Werckmeister Harmonies
Best Actor: John Cameron Mitchell for Hedwig And The Angry Inch
Best Actress: Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive
Best Supporting Actor: Steve Buscemi in Ghost World
Best Supporting Actress: Scarlett Johansson in Ghost World and The Man Who Wasn’t There
Best Screenplay: Daniel Clowes and Terry Zwigoff for Ghost World
Best Cinematography: (tie) Peter Deming for From Hell and Mulholland Drive and Christopher Doyle and Mark Lee Ping-bin for In The Mood For Love
Best Music: Mihály Vig for The Werckmeister Harmonies
Best Production Design: Edward T. McAvoy for Ghost World
Best Costume Design: Mary Zophres for Ghost World
Sominex Award:
Dramamine Award:
Mechanical Actor:
Mechanical Actress:


2002 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: (tie) Far From Heaven and The Son’s Room
Best Director: (tie) Todd Haynes for Far From Heaven and Aleksandr Sokurov for Russian Ark
Best Actor: Greg Kinnear in Auto Focus
Best Actress: (tie) Emmanuelle Devos in Read My Lips and Julianne Moore in Far From Heaven and Samantha Morton in Minority Report and Morvern Callar
Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Izzard in The Cat’s Meow
Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Clarkson in Far From Heaven
Best Screenplay: Bill Condon for Chicago
Best Cinematography: Tilman Büttner for Russian Ark
Best Music: Elmer Bernstein for Far From Heaven
Best Production Design: Mark Friedberg for Far From Heaven
Best Costume Design: Sandy Powell for Far From Heaven and Gangs Of New York
Sominex Award: Naqoyqatsi
Dramamine Award: Bowling For Dollars
Mechanical Actor: Anthony Hopkins in Red Dragon
Mechanical Actress: Catherine Keener in Lovely And Amazing


2003 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Decasia
Best Director: Bill Morrison for Decasia
Best Actor: Johnny Depp in Pirates Of The Caribbean
Best Actress: Hope Davis in American Splendor and The Secret Lives Of Dentists
Best Supporting Actor: Max Pirkis in Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World
Best Supporting Actress: Ludivine Sagnier in Swimming Pool
Best Screenplay: Shari Springer Bergman and Robert Pulcini for American Splendor
Best Cinematography: Peter Suschitzky for Spider
Best Music: Michael Gordon for Decasia
Best Production Design: Andrew Laws for Down With Love
Best Costume Design: Daniel Orlandi for Down With Love
Sominex Award:
Dramamine Award: In My Skin
Mechanical Actor: Anthony Hopkins in The Human Stain
Mechanical Actress: Nicole Kidman in The Human Stain


2004 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Kinsey
Best Director: Bill Condon for Kinsey
Best Actor: Ethan Hawke in Before Sunset
Best Actress: Laura Linney in Kinsey and P.S.
Best Supporting Actor: Peter Sarsgaard in Kinsey
Best Supporting Actress: Kirsten Dunst in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Best Screenplay: Bill Condon for Kinsey
Best Cinematography: Christopher Doyle for Hero, Last Life In The Universe and Days Of Being Wild
Best Music: Alberto Iglesias for Bad Education
Best Production Design: Dante Ferretti for The Aviator
Best Costume Design: Emi Wada for Hero and House Of The Flying Daggers
Sominex Award: The Village
Dramamine Award: The Passion Of The Christ
Mechanical Actor: Cate Blanchett in The Aviator
Mechanical Actress: Anthony Hopkins in Alexander


2005 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Mysterious Skin
Best Director: Gregg Araki for Mysterious Skin
Best Actor: Joseph Gordon-Leavitt in Mysterious Skin
Best Actress: Maria Bello in A History Of Violence
Best Supporting Actor: Paddy Constantine in My Summer Of Love
Best Supporting Actress: Catherine Keener in Capote
Best Screenplay: Gregg Araki for Mysterious Skin
Best Cinematography: Robert Elswit for Good Night And Good Luck and Syriana
Best Music: Howard Shore for A History Of Violence
Best Production Design: William Chang Suk Ping for 2046
Best Costume Design: William Chang Suk Ping for 2046
Sominex Award: Saraband
Dramamine Award: Crash
Mechanical Actor: Tom Cruise for War Of The Worlds
Mechanical Actress: Dakota Fanning for War Of The Worlds 
Complete coverage of the 2005 IRAs here.


2006 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: L’Enfant
Best Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne for L’Enfant
Best Actor: Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson
Best Actress: Maggie Cheung in Clean
Best Supporting Actor: Anthony Mackie in Half Nelson
Best Supporting Actress: Carmen Maura in Volver
Best Screenplay: (tie) Guillermo Del Toro for Pan’s Labyrinth and Jean- Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne for L’Enfant
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki for Children Of Men
Best Production Design: Eugenio Caballero for Pan’s Labyrinth
Best Music: Philip Glass for Notes On A Scandal and The Illusionist
Best Costume Design: Sharon Davis for Dreamgirls
Sominex Award: The Da Vinci Code
Dramamine Award: Babel
Mechanical Actor: Robert Downey, Jr. in Fur and A Scanner Darkly
Mechanical Actress: Julianne Moore in Children Of Men 
Complete coverage of the 2006 IRAs here.


2007 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Best Director: Andrew Dominik for The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Best Actor: Casey Affleck in The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford and Gone Baby Gone
Best Actress: Marina Hands in Lady Chatterley
Best Supporting Actor: Paul Schneider in The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford and Lars And The Real Girl
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone
Best Screenplay: Corneliu Porumboiu for 12:08 East Of Bucharest
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins for The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, In The Valley Of Elah and No Country For Old Men
Best Production Design: Patricia Norris for The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Best Music: Nick Cave and Warren Ellis for The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Best Costume Design: Patricia Norris for The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Sominex Award: Youth Without Youth
Dramamine Award: Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead
Mechanical Actor: John Travolta in Hairspray
Mechanical Actress: Meryl Streep in Lions For Lambs and Rendition 
Complete coverage of the 2007 IRAs here.


2008 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: The Edge Of Heaven
Best Director: Fatih Akin - The Edge Of Heaven
Best Actor: Michael Shannon - Shotgun Stories
Best Actress: Anamaria Marinca - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Best Supporting Actor: Emile Hirsch - Milk
Best Supporting Actress: Hanna Schygulla - The Edge Of Heaven
Best Screenplay: Fatih Akin - The Edge Of Heaven
Best Cinematography: Jody Shapiro - My Winnipeg
Best Production Design: Rejean Labrie - My Winnipeg
Best Music: Carter Burwell for In Bruges and Burn After Reading
Best Costumes: Danny Glicker - Milk
Sominex: The Happening
Dramamine: The Reader
Mechanical Actor: Mark Wahlberg for The Happening
Mechanical Actress: Meryl Streep for Doubt 
Complete coverage of the 2008 IRAs here.


2009 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: Hunger
Best Director: Olivier Assayas - Summer Hours
Best Actor: Sharlto Copley - District 9
Best Actress: Catalina Saavedra - The Maid
Best Supporting Actor: Liam Cunningham - Hunger
Best Supporting Actress: Anna Faris - Observe And Report
Best Screenplay: Olivier Assayas - Summer Hours
Best Cinematography: Sean Bobbitt - Hunger
Best Production Design: Philip Ivey - District 9
Best Music: Marvin Hamlisch - The Informant!
Best Costumes: Janet Patterson - Bright Star
Sominex: Public Enemies
Dramamine: Anti-Christ
Mechanical Actor: Peter Sarsgaard for An Education
Mechanical Actress: Hilary Swank for Amelia


2010 IRA Film Award Winners
Best Picture: A Prophet/Un Prophete
Best Director: Jacques Audiard - A Prophet/Un Prophete
Best Actor: Edgar Ramirez - Carlos
Best Actress: Tilda Swinton - I Am Love
Best Supporting Actor: Niels Arestrup - A Prophet/Un Prophete
Best Supporting Actress: Dale Dickey - Winter's Bone
Best Screenplay: Thomas Bidegain and Jacques Audiard - A Prophet/Un Prophete
Best Cinematography: Yorick Le Saux - I Am Love
Best Production Design: Francesca Balestra Di Mottola - I Am Love
Best Music: John Adams - I Am Love
Best Costumes: Antonella Cannarozzi - I Am Love
Sominex: Cairo Time
Dramamine: Black Swan
Mechanical Actor: Vincent Cassel for Black Swan
Mechanical Actress: Natalie Portman for Black Swan
The Governor Scott Walker Award For Achievement In Political Thuggery: Waiting For "Superman" 
Complete coverage of the 2010 IRAs here.


2011 IRA FILM AWARD WINNERS
Best Picture: The Tree Of Life
Best Director: Terrence Malick - The Tree Of Life
Best Actor: Peyman Moadi - A Separation
Best Actress: Leila Hatami - A Separation
Best Supporting Actor: Hunter McCracken - The Tree Of Life
Best Supporting Actress: Sareh Bayet - A Separation
Best Screenplay: Ashgar Farhadi - A Separation
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki - The Tree Of Life
Best Production Design: Dante Ferretti - Hugo
Best Score: Alberto Iglesias - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Skin I Live In
Best Editing: Hank Corwin, Jay Rabinowitz, Daniel Rezende, Billy Weber, Mark Yoshikawa - The Tree Of Life
Best Costumes: Jacqueline Durran - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): Midnight In Paris
Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): The Help
Mechanical Actress: Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Mechanical Actor: Owen Wilson - Midnight In Paris 
Complete coverage of the 2011 IRAs here.


2012 IRA FILM AWARD WINNERS
Best Picture: Once Upon A Time In Anatolia

Best Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan - Once Upon A Time In Anatolia

Best Actor: Jean-Louis Trintignant - Amour

Best Actress: Rachel Weisz - The Deep Blue Sea

Best Supporting Actor: Taner Birsel - Once Upon A Time In Anatolia

Best Supporting Actress: Cecile De France - The Kid With A Bike

Best Screenplay: Ebru Ceylan and Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Ercan Kesal - Once Upon A Time In Anatolia

Best Cinematography: Gokhan Tiryaki - Once Upon A Time In Anatolia

Best Production Design: Arvinder Grewal - Cosmopolis
Best Score: Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin - Beasts Of The Southern Wild

Best Editing: Todd Woody Richman and Tyler H. Walk - How To Survive A Plague

Best Costumes: Kari Perkins - Bernie
Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): (tie) Les Miserables and Beasts Of The Southern Wild

Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): The Intouchables

Mechanical Actress: Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables
Mechanical Actor: Russell Crowe - Les Miserables 
Complete coverage of the 2012 IRAs here.


2013 IRA FILM AWARD WINNERS
Best Picture: Laurence Anyways

Best Director: Xavier Dolan for Laurence Anyways and I Killed My Mother

Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix for Her

Best Actress: Hadas Yaron for Fill The Void

Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Bruhl for The Fifth Estate and Rush

Best Supporting Actress: Nathalie Baye for Laurence Anyways

Best Screenplay: Sarah Polley for Stories We Tell

Best Cinematography: Asaf Sudri for Fill The Void

Best Production Design: K.K. Barrett for Her
Best Score: (tie) Alex Ebert for All Is Lost and Arcade Fire for Her

Best Editing: Mike Munn for Stories We Tell

Best Costumes: Francois Barbeau, Xavier Dolan for Laurence Anyways
Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): Faust

Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): The Great Gatsby

Mechanical Actress: Meryl Streep for August: Osage County
Mechanical Actor: Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club  
Complete coverage of the 2013 IRAs here. 


2014 IRA FILM AWARD WINNERS
Best Picture: Nightcrawler

Best Director: Dan Gilroy for Nightcrawler

Best Actor: Jake Gyllenhaal for Nightcrawler

Best Actress: Essie Davis for The Babadook

Best Supporting Actor: Ethan Hawke for Boyhood

Best Supporting Actress: Agata Kulesza for Ida

Best Screenplay:  Dan Gilroy for Nightcrawler

Best Cinematography: Robert Elswit for Nightcrawler and Inherent Vice

Best Production Design: Suzie Davies for Mr. Turner
Best Score: Mica Levi for Under The Skin

Best Editing: (tie) Simon Njoo for The Babadook; Jay Cassidy, Stuart Levy and Conor O'Neill for Foxcatcher

Best Costumes: (tie) Kasia Walicka-Maimone for Foxcatcher and A Most Violent Year (but not St. Vincent);       Jacqueline Durran for Mr. Turner
Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): The Monuments Men

Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): The Imitation Game

Mechanical Actress: Lilla Crawford for Into The Woods
Mechanical Actor: The Entire Cast of The Monuments Men  
Complete coverage of the 2014 IRAs here. 


2015 IRA FILM AWARD WINNERS
Best Picture: Tangerine

Best Director: Miroslav Slaboshpytski for The Tribe

Best Actor: Jason Segel for The End Of The Tour 

Best Actress: (tie) Anne Dorval for Mommy
                   (tie) Kitana Kiki Rodriguez for Tangerine

Best Supporting Actor: Alexander Skarsgård for The Diary Of A Teenage Girl

Best Supporting Actress: Mya Taylor for Tangerine by acclamation
Best Nonfiction Film: In Jackson Heights 

Best Screenplay:  Donald Margulies for The End Of The Tour

Best Cinematography: Sean Baker and Radium Cheung for Tangerine

Best Production Design: (tie) Judy Becker for Carol
                                    (tie) Colin Gibson for Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Score: (tie) Junkie XL for Mad Max: Fury Road
                 (tie) Atticus Ross and Brian Wilson for Love And Mercy 

Best Editing: Sean Baker for Tangerine

Best Costumes: Shih-Ching Tsou for Tangerine
Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): The Assassin

       Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): Chi-Raq

Mechanical Actress: Eddie Redmayne for The Danish Girl
Mechanical Actor: John Cusack for Chi-Raq and Love And Mercy 
Complete coverage of the 2015 IRAs here.


2016 IRA FILM AWARD WINNERS

Best Picture: Moonlight

Best Director: Barry Jenkins for Moonlight

Best Actor: Antonythasan Jesuthasan for Dheepan

Best Actress: Annette Bening for 20th Century Women

Best Supporting Actor: Ralph Fiennes for A Bigger Splash and Hail, Caesar!

Best Supporting Actress: Linda Emond for Indignation
Best Nonfiction Film: O.J.: Made In America
Best Screenplay: Taylor Sheridan for Hell Or High Water

Best Cinematography: James Laxton for Moonlight

Best Production Design: (tie) Craig Lathrop for The Witch
                                            (tie) Ryan Warren Smith for Green Room
Best Score: Nicholas Britell for Moonlight

Best Editing: Andrey Paperniy for Under The Sun

Best Costumes: Madeline Fontaine for Jackie
Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): Girl On A Train

       Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): Nocturnal Animals

Mechanical Actress: Nicole Kidman for Lion
Mechanical Actor: Aaron Taylor-Johnson for Nocturnal Animals 
Complete coverage of the 2016 IRAs here.


2017 IRA FILM AWARD WINNERS

Best Picture: BPM

Best Director: Robin Campillo for BPM

Best Actor: Michael Keaton for The Founder

Best Actress: Daniela Vega for A Fantastic Woman (Una Mujer Fantástica)

Best Supporting Actor: Willem Dafoe for The Florida Project

Best Supporting Actress: Lesley Manville for Phantom Thread
Best Nonfiction Film: Dawson City: Frozen Time
Best Screenplay:  Robert Siegel for The Founder

Best Cinematography: Alexis Zabe for The Florida Project

Best Production Design: Stephonik Youth for The Florida Project
Best Score: Daniel Lopatin aka Oneohtrix Point Never for Good Time

Best Editing: Robin Campillo, Stéphanie Léger and Anita Roth for BPM

Best Costumes: Pascaline Chavanne for Frantz
Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): The Post
Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): mother!
Mechanical Actress: Emma Watson for Beauty and the Beast and The Circle
Mechanical Actor: James Franco for The Disaster Artist, et. al 
Complete coverage of the 2017 IRAs here.


2018 IRA FILM AWARD WINNERS 

Best Picture: Capernaum

Best Director: Nadine Labaki for Capernaum

Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix for Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far On Foot; Mary Magdalene; The Sisters Brothers; You Were Never Really Here

Best Actress: Sakura Andô for Shoplifters

Best Supporting Actor: Brian Tyree Henry for Hotel Artemis, If Beale Street Could Talk, Spiderman: Into The Spiderverse, White Boy Rick, Widows 

Best Supporting Actress: Regina King for If Beale Street Could Talk
Best Nonfiction Film: Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Best Screenplay:  Barry Jenkins for If Beale Street Could Talk

Best Cinematography: Alfonso Cuaron for Roma

Best Production Design: Eugenio Caballero for Roma
Best Score/Use Of Music: Nicholas Britell for If Beale Street Could Talk

Best Editing: Nick Fenton, Chris Gill and Julian Hart for American Animals

Best Costumes: Caroline Eselin for If Beale Street Could Talk
Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): On The Basis Of Sex
Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): The Favourite
Mechanical Actress: Tilda Swinton for Suspiria 
Mechanical Actor: Rami Malek for Bohemian Rhapsody 
Complete coverage of the 2018 IRAs here. 

2019 IRA FILM AWARD WINNERS 

Best Picture: End Of The Century

Best Director: Lucio Castro for End Of The Century

Best Actor: Antonio Banderas for Pain And Glory

Best Actress: Lupita Nyong'o for Us

Best Supporting Actor: Asier Etxeandia for Pain And Glory 

Best Supporting Actress: Shuzhen Zhao for The Farewell 
Best Nonfiction Film: American Factory 
Best Screenplay:  Pedro Almodóvar for Pain And Glory

Best Cinematography: David Gallego for Birds Of Passage

Best Production Design: Barbara Ling for Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood 
Best Score/Use Of Music: Mary Ramos for Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood

Best Editing: Kim Horton for 63 Up 

Best Costumes: Arianne Phillips for Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood
Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): The Lighthouse 
Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): Joker
Mechanical Actress: Renee Zellwegger for Judy  
Mechanical Actor: Joaquin Phoenix for Joker 

      2020 IRA FILM AWARD WINNERS 

Best Picture: Kajillionaire

Best Director: Miranda July for Kajillionaire

Best Actor: Bartosz Bielenia for Corpus Christi 

Best Actress: Kate Winslet for Ammonite

Best Supporting Actor: Glynn Turman for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom  

Best Supporting Actress: Robyn Nevin for Relic 
Best Nonfiction Film: Dick Johnson Is Dead and My Octopus Teacher (tie) 
Best Screenplay:  Miranda July for Kajillionaire 

Best Cinematography: Benjamin Kracun for Beats and Monsoon and Promising Young Woman 

Best Production Design: Mayne Berke for Sylvie's Love and Sergey Ovanov for Beanpole (tie)  
Best Score/Use Of Music: Volker Bertelmann and Dustin O'Halloran for Ammonite 

Best Editing: Andrew Patterson for The Vast Of Night 

Best Costumes: Michael O'Connor for Ammonite 
Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): Tenet 
Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): Mank
Mechanical Actress: Elizabeth Moss for The Invisible Man and Shirley  
Mechanical Actor: James Corden for The Prom 

      2021 IRA FILM AWARD WINNERS 

Best Picture: A Hero 

Best Director: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi for Drive My Car 

Best Actor: Hidetoshi Nishijima for Drive My Car  

Best Actress: Jasna Djuricic for Quo Vadis, Aida? and Kristen Stewart for Spencer (tie)

Best Supporting Actor: Ethan Darbone for Red Rocket 

Best Supporting Actress: Suzanna Son for Red Rocket 
Best Nonfiction Film: Flee  
Best Screenplay:  Asghar Farhadi for A Hero  

Best Cinematography: Jessica Beshir for Faya Dayi  

Best Production Design: Adam Stockhausen for The French Dispatch and West Side Story   
Best Score/Use Of Music: Naren Chandavarkar (music producer and pre-mix) and Aneesh                                                Pradhan (music an research consultant/muisc design)  for The Disciple 

Best Editing: Jennifer Vecchiarello for C'mon C'mon 

Best Costumes: Mark Bridges  for Licorice Pizza 
Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): Passing  
Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): The Lost Daughter 
Mechanical Actress: Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence & Meryl Streep  for Don't Look Up   
Mechanical Actor: Ansel Elgort for West Side Story 

 

  

     2022 IRA FILM AWARD WINNERS 

Best Picture: Great Freedom 

Best Director: Sebastian Miese for Great Freedom  

Best Actors: Franz Rogowski for Great Freedom   

                      Aubrey Plaza for Emily The Criminal

Best Supporting Actor: Hong Chau for The Menu and The Whale 

                                          Barry Keoghan for The Banshees Of Inisherin   

Best Nonfiction Film: The Fire Within: A Requiem For Katia and Maurice Krafft   
Best Screenplay: Thomas Reider & Sebastian Miese for Great Freedom  

Best Cinematography: Hoyte Van Hotema for Nope   

Best Production Design: Michael Randel for Great Freedom    
Best Score/Use Of Music: ASKA aka Aska Matsumiya  for After Yang  

Best Editing: Blair McClendon for Aftersun  

Best Costumes: Shirley Kurata  for Everything Everywhere All At Once  
Sominex Award (The Movie That Put Us To Sleep): All Quiet On The Western Front   
Dramamine Award (The Movie That Made Us Sick): Tár  
Mechanical Actor: Tom Hanks for Elvis, A Man Called Otto and Pinocchio 
                                   Sadie Sink for The Whale 

 

IRA BEST PICTURE WINNERS

Barry Lyndon (1975)
Lipstick and The Marquise Of O (tie) (1976)
Annie Hall (1977)
Days Of Heaven (1978)
Fedora (1979)

The Big Red One (1980)
Cutter’s Way (1981)
Victor/Victoria (1982)
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1983)
L’Argent and Once Upon A Time In America (tie) (1984)
Prizzi’s Honor (1985)
Eyes On The Prize (1986)
Housekeeping (1987)
Dead Ringers (1988)
Story Of Women (1989)

GoodFellas (1990)
The Man In The Moon (1991)
Raise The Red Lantern (1992)
Six Degrees Of Separation (1993)
Red (1994)
Exotica (1995)
La Ceremonie (1996)
Crash (the David Cronenberg film) and Grosse Pointe Blank (tie) (1997)
Gods And Monsters (1998)
Fight Club (1999)

L’ Humanite (2000)
The Werckmeister Harmonies (2001)
Far From Heaven and The Son’s Room (tie) (2002)
Decasia (2003)
Kinsey (2004)
Mysterious Skin (2005)
L’Enfant (2006)
The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007)
The Edge Of Heaven (2008)
Hunger (2009)

A Prophet/Un Prophete (2010) 
The Tree Of Life (2011)
Once Upon A Time In Anatolia (2012)
Laurence Anyways (2013)
Nightcrawler (2014)
Tangerine (2015)
Moonlight (2016)
BPM (2017)
Capernaum (2018)
End Of The Century (2019)  

Kajillionaire (2020) 

A Hero (2021) 

Great Freedom (2022) 

THE IRA AWARDS: THE TOP 100 FILMS OF THE 1940S

1. Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941)
2. Letter From An Unknown Woman (Max Ophüls, 1948)
3. The Magnificent Ambersons (Orson Welles, 1942)
4. Notorious (Alfred Hitchcock, 1946)
5. The Big Sleep (Howard Hawks, 1946)
6. Shadow Of A Doubt (Alfred Hitchcock, 1943)
7. Red River (Howard Hawks, 1948)
8. It's A Wonderful Life (Frank Capra, 1946)
9. To Have And Have Not (Howard Hawks, 1944)
10. The Palm Beach Story (Preston Sturges, 1942)

See the complete list of the Top 100 Films Of The 1940s here.


THE IRA AWARDS: THE TOP 100 FILMS OF THE 1950s

1. The Earrings of Madame de… (Max Ophüls, 1953)
2. Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958)
3. Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958)
4. Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) 
5. The Searchers (John Ford, 1956) 
6. In a Lonely Place (Nicholas Ray, 1950) 
7. Anatomy of a Murder (Otto Preminger, 1959) 
8. Tokyo Story (Yasujiro Ozu, 1953) 
9. North by Northwest (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) 
10. Pickpocket (Robert Bresson, 1959) 

See the complete list of the Top 100 Films Of The 1950s here. 


THE IRA AWARDS: THE TOP 100 FILMS OF THE 1960s

1. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
2. The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960)
3. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (John Ford, 1962)
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)
5. Chimes At Midnight (Orson Welles, 1965)
6. Once Upon A Time In The West (Sergio Leone, 1968) 
7. The Birds (Alfred Hitchcock, 1963) 
8. Marnie (Alfred Hitchcock, 1964) 
9. When A Woman Ascends The Stairs (Mikio Naruse, 1960)
10. Contempt (Jean-Luc Godard, 1963)....

See the complete list here.


THE IRA AWARDS: THE TOP 100 FILMS OF THE 1980s

1. Dekalog 

2. Shoah  

3. Housekeeping 

4. Berlin Alexanderplatz

5. Raging Bull

6. Fanny and Alexander

7. Once Upon A Time In America  

8. Eyes On The Prize

9. Danton

10. Crimes and Misdemeanors

See the complete list here.  

THE IRA AWARDS: THE BEST FILMS OF THE 2000s (2000-2009) (voted in 2010)

1. The Son/Le Fils (Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, 2002)
2. Zodiac (David Fincher, 2007)
3. Yi Yi (Edward Yang, 2000)
4. The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (Andrew Dominik, 2007)
5. The Edge Of Heaven (Fatih Akin, 2007) (tie)
    In The Mood For Love (Kar Wai Wong, 2000) (tie)
7. The Heart Of The World (Guy Maddin, 2001)
8. Mysterious Skin (Gregg Araki, 2004) (tie)
    Bus 174 (José Padilha and Felipe Lacerda, 2002) (tie)
10. The Death Of Mr. Lazarescu (Cristi Puiu, 2005) (tie)
      Head-On (Fatih Akin, 2004) (tie)
      Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki, 2001) (tie) 


THE IRA AWARDS: THE BEST FILMS OF THE 2010s (2010-2019) (voted in 2021)

1. A Separation (Asghar Farhadi, 2011)  

2. Nightcrawler (Dan Gilroy, 2014)  

3. Moonlight (Barry Jenkins, 2016)  

4. (tie) Un Prophète (Jacques Audiard, 2009/2010)  

    (tie) Tangerine (Sean Baker, 2015)  

6. Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood (Quentin Tarantino, 2019)  

7. Laurence Anyways (Xavier Dolan, 2012)  

8. In Jackson Heights (Frederick Wiseman, 2015)  

9. The Tree Of Life (Terrence Malick, 2011)  

10. The Tribe (Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi, 2014) 

THE IRA AWARDS: THE TOP 100 FILMS OF ALL TIME (voted in 2012)

1. The Rules Of The Game (Jean Renoir, 1939)
2. The Magnificent Ambersons (Orson Welles, 1942)
3. Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941)
4. Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958)
5. The Searchers (John Ford, 1956)
6. Letter From An Unknown Woman (Max Ophüls, 1948)
7. The Big Sleep (Howard Hawks, 1946)
8. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
9. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (John Ford, 1962)
10. The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960)

See the complete list of the Top 100 Films Of All Time here. 

THE IRA AWARDS: THE TOP 100 FILMS OF ALL TIME (voted in 2022) 

1. The Rules Of The Game (Jean Renoir, 1939)
2. Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941) 

3. The Earrings Of Madame de... (Max Ophuls, 1953) 
4. Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958)
5. Tokyo Story (Yasujirō Ozu, 1953) 
6. The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960) 

7. The Searchers (John Ford, 1956)
8. Letter From An Unknown Woman (Max Ophüls, 1948) 
9. Sunrise: A Song Of Two Humans (F.W. Murnau, 1927)
10. The Magnificent Ambersons (Orson Welles, 1942) 

See the complete list of the Top 100 Films Of All Time (2022 edition) here.