The Movies, Books, Theater, Concerts, CDs I Saw In 2022

Updated as of  December 31, 2022 

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


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. A Great Deliverance (Inspector Lynley #1) by Elizabeth George *** 

2. The Method: How The Twentieth Century Learned To Act by Isaac Butler *** 1/2 

3. The Tiger In The Smoke  by Margery Allingham *** 1/2 

4. I Was Better Last Night by Harvey Fierstein *** 

5. The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais *** 

6. Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris *** 

7. Still Alright by Kenny Loggins ** 

8. The Covenant by James Michener *** 1/2 

9. The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough (read by Edward Herrmann) *** 1/2 /

10. The Steam Pig by James McClure *** 1/2 

11. Lud-In-The-Mist by Hope Mirrlees *** 1/2 

12. Them by Joyce Carol Oates *** 

13. Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates *** 

14. Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates *** 1/2 

15. Babysitter by Joyce Carol Oates *** 

16. The Extraordinary Life Of An Ordinary Man by Paul Newman ** 1/2 

17. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler **** 

18. Growing Up by Russell Baker **** 

19. All Quiet On The Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque **** 

20. Walt & Skeezix aka Gasoline Alley: The Complete Daily Strips 1927-1928 by Frank King ** 1/2 

21. Pogo: The Complete Syndicated Comic Strips Volume 5 -- Out Of This World At Home by Walt Kelly ****  

22.  Jock of the Bushveld by J. Percy Fitzpatrick (1907) *** (casually racist) 

23. The Scramble For Africa by Thomas Pakenham *** 1/2 

24. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane *** 

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. Cat Stevens -- Harold & Maude soundtrack ** 1/2 

2. The Cactus Blossoms -- One Day ** 1/2 

3. Judy Garland -- The Letter (1959) * 

4. Elvis Costello -- The Boy Named If ***/ 

5. Studio Electrophonique -- Happier Things ** 

6. Punch Brothers -- Hell On Church Street ** 1/2 

7. Frank Turner -- FTHC *** 

8. Fleetwood Mac -- Rumours *** 1/2 

9. Del McCoury Band -- Almost Proud ** 1/2 

10. Natalie Cole -- Unforgettable...With Love ** 1/2 

11. Aoife Donovan -- Age of Apathy ** 1/2 

12. Judy Collins -- Spellbound ***/ 

13. Keb Mo -- Good To Be... ** 

14. Spoon -- Lucifer On The Sofa ** 

15. North Mississippi Allstars -- Set Sail ** 

16. Dhruv -- Rapunzel ** 1/2 

17. Janis Ian -- The Light At The End Of The Line ** 

18. Various Artists -- Ocean Child: The Songs Of Yoko Ono *** 

19. Bastille -- Give Me The Future ** 1/2 

20. Various Artists -- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season Four soundtrack ***  

21. Irma Thomas -- Wish Someone Would Care (1964) *** 1/2 

22. John Mellencamp -- Strictly A One-Eyed Jack ** 1/2 

23. Toots and the Maytals -- Sweet and Dandy (1969) *** 

24. Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg -- Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg ** 

25. Gal Costa -- Gal aka Cinema Olympia (1969) *** 

26. Don McLean -- Christmastime! The Complete Collection * 

27. Phil Ochs -- I Ain't Marching Anymore * 1/2 

28. Dolly Parton -- Run, Rose Run ** 

29. Pentangle -- The Pentangle (1968) *** 

30. Judy Garland -- Miss Show Business (1955) ** 1/2 

31. John Luther Adams -- Become River (2020) *** 1/2 

32. Bryan Adams -- So Happy It Hurts ** 1/2 

33. Gilberto Gil -- Gilberto Gil (1971) ***/ 

34. Michael Feinstein -- Gershwin Country ** 

35. Milton Nascimento -- Courage ** 1/2 

36. John Luther Adams -- Lines Made By Walking (2020) *** 

37. Dave Van Ronk -- Folksinger (1962) ** 

38. Françoise Hardy -- Comment te dire adieu *** 

39. Cecile McLorlin Salvant -- Ghost Song ***/ 

40. The Monks -- Black Monk Time (1966) *** 

41. Koobas -- The Koobas (1969) *** 

42. Novos Baianos -- Acabou Chorare (1972) **** 

43. Micky Dolenz -- Dolenz Sings Nesmith EP (2022) *** 

44. Eddie Harris -- The In Sound (1965) *** 1/2 

45. John Moreland -- LP5 (2020) *** 

46. Joan Jett -- Changeup ** 1/2 

47. Patty Waters -- Sings (2009) ** 1/2 

48. Michael Buble -- Higher ** 

49. Kenny Loggins -- Leap of Faith (1991) ***/ 

50. Utopia/Todd Rundgren -- Oops! Wrong Planet (1977) *** 1/2 

51. Utopia/Todd Rundgren -- Adventures in Utopia (1980) ***/ 

52. Daniela Cotton -- Good Day ** 1/2 

53. Loggins & Messina -- Sittin' In aka Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin' In (1972) *** 

54. Colin Hay -- Now And The Evermore *** 1/2 

55. Kenny Loggins -- Return To Pooh Corner (1994) **

56. Loggins & Messsina -- Loggins & Messina (1972) *** 

57. Kenny Loggins -- December (1998) ** 1/2 

58. Kenny Loggins -- More Songs From Pooh Corner (2000) ** 1/2 

59. Loggins & Messsina -- Full Sail (1973) ** 

60. Poco -- Pickin' Up The Pieces (1969) *** 

61. Little Freddie King -- Goin' Upstairs *** 

62. Jon Cleary -- So Swell *** 

63. Barbra Streisand -- Release Me 2 * 

64. Melody Gardot -- Sunset In The Blue ** 1/2 

74. Karen Dalton -- In My Own Time ** 1/2 

75. Lady Blackbird -- Black Acid Soul *** 1/2 

76. Sonny Red -- Out Of The Blue (1960) *** 1/2 

77. Margo Timmins -- The Ty Tyrfu Sessions (2021) *** 1/2 

78. Kenny Loggins -- Keep The Fire (1979) ** 1/2 

79. Kenny Loggins -- Nightwatch (1978) ***

80. Kenny Loggins -- High Adventure (1982) ***

81. Kenny Loggins -- Vox Humana (1983) * 

82. Loggins & Messina -- On Stage (1974) ***

83. Charles Mingus -- Mingus Three (1957) ** 1/2 

84. Horace Andy -- Midnight Rocker *** 

85. Jason Aldean -- Georgia ***\ 

86. Kiki Dee -- The Long Ride Home ** 

87. Joshua Hadley -- Neon Blue ** 1/2 

88. Miles Davis -- In A Silent Way (1969) **** 

89. Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder -- Get On Board ***\ 

90. Brad Mehldau -- Jacob's Ladder ** 1/2 

91. Maren Morris -- Humble Quest ***/ 

92. Chanticleer -- Chanticleer Sings Christmas (2020) *** 

93. The Saints -- (I'm) Stranded (1977) *** 1/2 

94. Daryl Hall -- Before After *** 

95. Rumer -- B Sides & Rarities Vol. 2 *** 

96. Judy Garland -- That's Entertainment! (1960) ** 

97. George Winston -- Night ** 

98. Willie Nelson -- A Beautiful Time *** 

99. Miranda Lambert -- Palomino ***/ 

100. Grant Green -- Idle Moments (1965) **** 

101. John Luther Adams -- Arctic Dreams (2021) ** 1//2 

102. Wet Leg -- Wet Leg *** 1/2 

103. Tord Gustavsen Trio -- Opening ** 1/2 

104. Trombone Shorty -- Lifted ** 1/2 

105. Midlake -- For The Sake Of Bethel Woods *** 

106. Lyle Lovett -- 12th Of June ** 1/2 

107. Brennen Leigh w Asleep At The Wheel -- Obsessed With The West ** 

108. Kevin Morby -- This Is A Photograph ** / 

109. The Waterboys -- All Souls Hill *** 

110. Big Thief -- Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You ** 

111. The Beach Boys -- Pet Sounds **** 

112. John Scofield -- John Scofield ** 

113. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever -- Endless Rooms ** 

114. Altameda -- Born Losers *** 1/2 

115. Ella Fitzgerald -- Easy Living (w Joe Pass) (1986) *** 1/2 

116. Eslabón Armado -- Nostalgia *** 1/2 

117. Irma Thomas -- Take A Look (1966) **** 

118. Irma Thomas -- In Between Tears (1973) *** 1/2 

119. Harry Styles -- Harry's House *** 1/2 

120. The Lickerish Quartet -- Threesome (3 eps over two years) *** 1/2 

121. Melody Gardot -- Entre eux deux (w Philippe Powell) ** 1/2 

122. Mavis Staples -- Carry Me Home (live album w Levon Helm) *** 

123. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band -- Dirt Does Dylan ** 1/2 

124. Binker & Moses -- Feeding The Machine *** 1/2 

125. Son House -- Forever On My Mind ** 1/2 

126. Freddie Hubbard -- Ready For Freddie (1961) *** 1/2 

127. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Co-Starring Too ** 

128. Various Artists -- A New Orleans Christmas (1997) ** 1/2 

129. Oumou Sangaré -- Timbuktu ***/ 

130. Alec Benjamin -- (Un)Commentary ***/ 

131. Steve Earle -- Jerry Jeff *** 

132. Wilco -- Cruel Country ** 1/2 

133. Terry Riley -- In "C" (1968) **** 

134. Kenny Loggins -- The Essential Kenny Loggins (2002) *** 1/2 

135. Kenny Loggins -- Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (1997) *** 1/2 

136. Erroll Garner -- Concert By The Sea (1955) *** 1/2 

137. Rosalía -- Motomami ** 1/2 

138. Arcade Fire -- We *** 

139. Frank Sinatra -- Watertown (1970) ** 

140. Chic -- Real People (1980) ** 

141. Tomberlin -- I Don't Know Who Needs To Hear This **/ 

142. Judy Garland -- Alone (1957) **** 

143. Charlie XCX -- Crash ** 1/2 

144. Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonius Monk (1958) *** 1/2 

145. The Wild Tchoupitoulas -- The Wild Tchoupitoulas (1976) *** 

146. Let's Eat Grandma -- Two Ribbons ** 

147. Randall King -- Shot Glass ** 

148. Irma Thomas -- The Story Of My Life (1997) ** 

149. Mary Gauthier -- Dark Enough To See The Stars ** 1/2 

150. The Linda Lindas -- Growing Up ** 

151. Carrie Underwood -- Denim and Rhinestones * 1/2 

152. Kate Bush -- 50 Words For Snow ***/ 

153. Elvis Presley -- His Hand In Mine (1960) **** 

154. Rufus Wainwright -- Rufus Does Judy At Capitol ** 

155. Odetta -- Odetta Sings Dylan (1965) ** 1/2 

156. Elvis Costello -- The Resurrection of Rust (w Rusty) ***/ 

157. Amber Mark -- Three Dimensions Deep ***\ 

158. The Everly Brothers -- Hey Doll Baby (WB compilation) ***/ 

159. Paul Winter Consort -- Concert in The Park ** 

160. Lucky Daye -- Candydrip ** 1/2 

161. Ibibio Sound Machine -- Electricity ** 1/2 

162. Elvis Presley -- Peace in The Valley ep (1957) *** 

163. Elvis Presley -- How Great Thou Art (1967) *** 

164. Elvis Presley -- He Touched Me (1972) ** 1/2 

165. Drake -- Honestly, Nevermind *** 

166. Puseletso Seema -- Mofata Seliba No. 3 (2000) ***/ 

167. Angel Olsen -- Big Time ** 1/2 

168. Jack White -- Fear Of The Dawn ** 

169. Irma Thomas -- Live! At New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 1976 *** (great perf; mic a mile) 

170. Michael McDermott -- St. Paul's Boulevard ** 1/2 

171. Ralfi Pagan -- With Love (Spanish Version) (1972) ** 1/2 

172. Waylon Jennings -- Honky Tonk Heroes (1973) ** 1/2 

173. Bad Bunny -- Un Verano Sin Ti *** 1/2 

174. Regina Spektor -- Home, Before And After ** 1/2 ("What Might Have Been" a keeper) 

175. Jackie McLean -- Bluesnik (1962) **** 

176. Fantastic Negrito -- White Jesus Black Problems ** 

177. Leyla McCalla -- Breaking The Thermometer ** 1/2 

178. The "5" Royales -- Monkey Hips and Rice *** 

179. Ella Fitzgerald -- Live At The Hollywood Bowl: The Irving Berlin Songbook *** 1/2 

180. Miles Davis -- Miles Ahead (1969) *** 1/2 

181. Ethel Cain -- Preacher's Daughter ** 

182. Miles Davis -- Milestones **** 

183. Charles Mingus -- The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (1963) **** 

184. Puseletso Seema -- Mofata Seliba No. 4 (2002) ***/ 

185. 49 Winchester -- Fortune Favors The Bold ** 

186. Kathryn Joseph -- For You Who Are The Wronged ** 

187. Sault -- Air ***/ 

188. M. Field -- Re M. Field ** 1/2 

189. Orville Peck -- Bronco ** 1/2 

190. Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart -- Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart (1976) ** 1/2 

191. Kendrick Lamar -- Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers *** 

192. She & Him -- Melt Away: A Tribute To Brian Wilson *** 1/2 

193. Neil Young -- Toast ** 1/2 

194. Stanley Turrentine -- Jubilee Shout! (1962) **** 

195. Duke Ellington & John Coltrane -- Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (1963) ***/ 

196. R.E.M. -- Chronic Town ep **** 

197. John Moreland -- Birds In The Ceiling ** 

198. Josh Rouse -- Going Places ** 1/2 

199. Duncan Sheik -- Claptrap *** 1/2  

200. John Luther Adams -- Houses Of The Wind ** 1/2 

201. Jim Lauderdale -- Game Changer ** 

202. Clark Terry -- Color Changes (1961) *** 

203. Booker Ervin -- That's It! (1961) *** 1/2 

204. Charley Pride -- Charley Pride's 10th Album (1970) ** 1/2 

205. Connie Smith -- Connie Smith (1965) *** 1/2 

206. Omar Apollo -- Ivory *** 

207. Guy Clark -- Old No. 1 (1975) *** 

208. Reba McEntire -- Rumor Has It (1990) ** 1/2 

209. Willie Nelson -- Phases and Stages (1974) ** 1/2 

210. Flatt & Scruggs -- Foggy Mountain Jamboree (1957) **** 

211. Sebastian Yatra -- Dharma ***\ 

212. George Formby Jr. -- The Best Of George Formby  ** 1/2 ("Leaning On A Lampost") 

213. Clint Black -- Killin' Time (1989) ***/ 

214. Julian Lennon -- Jude ** 

215. Panic! At The Disco -- Viva Las Vengeance ***/ 

216. Amanda Shires -- Take It Like A Man ** 1/2 

217. Sammi Smith -- He's Everywhere aka Help Me Make It Through The Night (1970) **** 

218. Ryan Adams -- FM ***/ 

219. Tom T. Hall -- In Search Of A Song (1971) ***/ 

220. Michelle Branch -- The Trouble With Fever ** 

221. Freddy Fender -- Before The Next Teardrop Falls (1975) *** 

222. Creedence Clearwater Revival -- At The Royal Albert Hall April 14 1970 *** 

223. Jerry Lee Lewis -- Another Place, Another Time (1968) **** 

224. Marina Allen -- Centrifics ** 1/2 (song "New Song Rising" a keeper) 

225. Marcus Mumford -- Marcus Mumford ** 1/2 

226. Joe Bataan -- St. Latin's Day Massacre (1971) *** 

227. Rolling Stones -- Live At The El Mocambo (1977/2022) *** 1/2 

228. The Stovall Sisters -- The Stovall Sisters ** 1/2 

229. Sharon Van Etten -- We've Been Going About This All Wrong ** 

230. The Tallest Man On Earth -- Too Late For Edelweiss ** 1/2 

231. Hank Williams -- Moanin' The Blues (1952) **** 

232. Freedy Johnston -- Back On The Road To You ** 

233. Marty Robbins -- Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1959) **** 

234. John Legend -- Legend ** 1/2 

235. Loudon Wainwright -- Lifetime Achievement *** 

236. Hank Williams -- Memorial Album (1953) **** 

237. Fleet Foxes -- A Very Lonely Solstice (2021) *** 1/2 

238. Jessi Colter -- I'm Jessi Colter (1975) ** 1/2 

239. Fonseca -- Viajente ** 1/2 

240. Buck Owens and His Buckaroos -- Carnegie Hall Concert (1966) ** 1/2 

241. Kenny Dorham -- Quiet Kenny (1960) ** 1/2 

242. Darden Smith -- Western Skies ** 1/2 

243. Buddy Guy -- The Blues Don't Lie ** 1/2 

244. Leon Bibb -- Foment, Ferment, Free...Free (1969) ** 

245. Elsa y Elmar -- Ya No Somos Los Mismos ** 1/2 

246. Marlon Williams -- My Boy ** 1/2 

247. Richard Marx -- Songwriter ** 

248. Joss Stone -- Merry Christmas, Love * 

249. The Psychedelic Furs -- The Psychedelic Furs (1979) ** 

250. The Psychedelic Furs -- Forever Now (1982) ** 1/2 

251. Meschiya Lake -- Lookin' The World Over ** 

252. Jack White -- Entering Heaven Alive ** 1/2 

253. Puseletso Seema -- Mofata Seliba No. 5 (2000) ***/ 

254. Johnny Adams -- Sings Doc Pomus (1991) *** 1/2 

255. Celia Cruz -- Etc. Etc. Etc. (1970) **** 

256. Garth Brooks -- No Fences * 1/2 

257. Charlie Puth -- Charlie ** 1/2 

258. Vince Gill -- When Love Finds You (1994) ** 

259. Willie Colon and Ruben Bladés -- Siembra (1978) *** 1/2 

260. Marty Robbins -- More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1960) *** 1/2 

261. The Heavy Heavy -- Life and Life Only *** 

262. Caroline Shaw and Attacca Quartet -- Evergreen *** 

263. Johnny Paycheck -- Take This Job And Shove It (1977) ** 

264. Pink Floyd -- Animals (1977) ***\ 

265. Bjork -- Fossorra ** 1/2 

266. Johnny Adams -- Walking On A Tightrope: The Songs Of Percy Mayfield (1989) *** 1/2 

267. Jorge Drexler -- Tinta Y Tiempo ***/ 

268. Martha Spencer -- Wonderland ** 1/2 

269. Cowboy Junkies -- Sharon *** 

270. Various Artists -- Here It Is: A Tribute To Leonard Cohen ** 1/2 

271. Leonard Cohen -- Hallelujah & Songs From His Albums *** 

272. The Fermweh-- Torschlusspanik ** 1/2 

273. Joni Mitchell -- For The Roses (1972) *** 1/2  

274. Joni Mitchell -- Court And Spark (1974) **** 

275. Joni Mitchell -- Miles Of Aisles (1974) *** 

276. Joni Mitchell -- The Hissing Of Summer Lawns (1975) *** 1/2 

277. Chris Isaak -- Everybody Knows It's Christmas *** 

278. Puseletso Seema -- Mofata Seliba No. 6 *** 

279. Loretta Lynn -- Country Christmas (1966) ** 

280. Charlie Rich -- Behind Closed Doors (19973) ** 

281. Marty Robbins -- Christmas With Marty Robbins (1969) ** 

282. The Beths -- Experts In A Dying Field *** 

283. Marvin Gaye -- That's The Way Love Is (1970) *** 1/2 

284. Bailey Zimmerman -- Leave The Light On ** 1/2 

285. Hank Snow -- The Essential Hank Snow (1999) **** 

286. Black Midi -- Hellfire ** 

287. Simple Minds -- Direction of The Heart ** 

288. John Luther Adams -- Sila: The Breath Of The World *** 

289. The Beatles -- Revolver (2022 Mono) **** 

290. The Beatles -- Revolver (2022 Stereo Mix) **** 

291. The Beatles -- Revolver Super Deluxe Boxed Set w extras (1966/2022) **** 

292. Lizzo -- Special ***\ 

293. Brian Eno -- Foreverandevernomore ** 1/2 

294. Johnny Adams -- Christmas In New Orleans (1994?) ** 

295. Laurie Berkner -- Another Laurie Berkner Christmas ** 

296. Joey Alexander -- A Joey Alexander Christmas ** 

297. Louis Armstrong -- Louie Wishes You A Cool Yule (2022) *** 

298. Todd Rundgren -- Space Force *** 

299. Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler -- For All The Days That Tear Our Heart ** 

300. Mahler/conductor Gustavo Dudamel -- Mahler Symphony No. 5 ** 1/2 

301. Stevie Wonder -- Talking Book (1972) *** 1/2 

302. Backstreet Boys -- A Very Backstreet Christmas * 

303. George Strait -- Strait From The Heart (1982) ** 1/2 

304. Gloria Scott -- What Am I Gonna Do? (1974) ** 1/2 

305. Tim Bernardes -- Mil Coisas Invisívies ** 1/2 

306. Terry Allen -- Lubbock (on everything) (1979) *** 

307. Brian Harnetty/Thomas Merton -- Words and Silences ** 1/2 

308. Dr. John -- Things Happen That Way *** 1/2 

309. Jose Feliciano -- Love & Christmas ** 

310. The Movers -- Vol. 1: 1970-1976 (2022) *** 1/2 / 

311. Barbra Streisand -- Live At The Bon Soir (1962/2022) **** 

312. Gyedu-Blay Ambolley -- And Hi-Life Jazz ** 1/2 

313. Harry Belafonte -- Calypso (1956) *** 

314. Loretta Lynn -- The Definitive Collection (2005) *** 1/2 

315. Irma Thomas -- The Soul Queen Of New Orleans 50th Anniversary Celebration (2009) *** 1/2 

316. Daryl Hall & John Oates -- Do It For Love (2003) *** 1/2 

317. Various Artists -- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Music From And Inspired By *** 1/2 

318. Lee Fields -- Sentimental Fool *** 

319. Brandi Carlile -- In These Silent Days (In The Canyon Haze Edition) *** 1/2 

320. Lone Bellow -- Love Songs For Losers ***/ 

321. Merle Haggard -- Serving 190 Proof (1979) *** 1/2 

322. Beth Orton -- Weather Alive ** 1/2 

323. Johnny Adams -- The Verdict (1995) **** 

324. John Mellencamp -- Scarecrow *** / 

325. Reba McEntire -- The Ultimate Christmas Collection (2022) ** 

326. A-Ha -- True North ** 1/2 

327. Chris Byars -- Rhythm And Blues Of The 20s ** 

328. Jake Blount -- The New Faith ** 

329. Morris Day -- Last Call ** 

330. Ramsey Lewis -- The Beatles Songbook (poor audio) ** 

331. Sloan -- Steady ** 1/2 

332. Sasha Berliner -- Onyx ** 

333. Peter Rowan -- Calling You From My Mountain *** 

334. Steve Lacy -- Gemini Rights *** 1/2 

335. Victoria Clark -- December Songs For Voice And Orchestra ** 

336. Sean Thompson's Weird Ears -- Weird Ears ** 

337. Neil Diamond -- A Neil Diamond Christmas ** 

338. Sam Smith -- The Holly And The Ivy ** 1/2 

339. Vieux Farka Touré and Khruangbin -- Ali *** 

340. Vieux Farka Touré  -- Les Racines ** 1/2 

341. Puseletso Seema -- No. 10 *** 

342. Harry Belafonte -- To Wish You A Merry Christmas (1958) *** 

343. Loretta Lynn -- White Christmas Blues (2016) ** 1/2 

344. Joe Liggins -- Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers (1990 comp on Specialty) ** 1/2 

345. The Movers -- The Movers (1970) *** 1/2 

346. Nelson -- A Nelson Family Christmas ** 

347. Roy Milton -- Roy Milton and His Solid Senders (1992 comp) *** 1/2 

348. Toledo -- How It Ends ** 1/2 

349. Kirsten Lambert -- From A Window To A Screen ** 

350. Shania Twain-- Come On Over (1997) ** 1/2 

351. Gary Stewart -- Out Of Hand (1975) ** 1/2 

352. Taylor Swift -- Midnights ** 1/2 

353. Harry Belafonte -- At Carnegie Hall 1959 *** 1/2 

354. Oliver Sim -- Hideous Bastard ** 

355. Waylon Jennings -- Dreaming My Dreams (1975) *** 1/2 

356. Samara Joy -- Linger Awhile *** 

357. Neil Young -- World Record * 1/2 

358. Esther Phillips -- The Country Side Of Esther Phillips ((19966) ** 1/2 

359. Loretta Lynn -- Coal Miner's Daughter (1971) *** 1/2 

360. Christine McVie -- Songbird (A Solo Collection) ** 

361. Leona Lewis -- Christmas With Love, Always * 1/2 

362. Amos Lee -- My Ideal (tribute to Chet Baker Sings) ** 

363. Kacey Musgraves -- A Very Kacey Christmas *** 

364. Gintis -- Hope Is All We Have ** 1/2 

365. Malo -- Malo (1972) ** (but "Suavecito") 

366. Kenny Roby -- Kenny Roby ** 

367. Weyes Blood -- And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow *** 1/2 

368. Makaya McCraven -- In These Times ** 1/2 

369. Interpol -- The Other Side Of Make-Believe ** 1/2 

370. Noori & His Dorpa Band -- Beja Power! Electric Soul & Brass From Sudan's Red Sea Coast *** 1/2 

371. Silvana Estrada -- Marchita *** 1/2 

372. Allen Toussaint & Friends -- A New Orleans Christmas (1997) ** 1/2 

373. Zach Bryan -- Summertime Blues * 1/2 

374. Stefan Smith -- Thlostones ** 1/2 

375. Cheap Trick -- Cheap Trick (1977) ** 1/2 

376. Various Artists -- Rise Jamaica! Jamaican Independence Special ** 1/2 

377. Paul Kelly -- Paul Kelly's Christmas Train (2021) ** 

378. Enrico Rava and Fred Hersch -- The Song Is You *** 

379. Sessa -- Estrela Acesa *** 

380. Sault -- Aiir ***/ (symphonic) 

381. Eric Chenaux -- Say Laura ** 

382. Ari Lennox -- Age/Sex/Location ** 1/2 

383. Maya Hawke -- Moss ** 1/2 

384. Thee Sacred Souls -- Thee Sacred Souls *** 

385. Horsegirl -- Versions of Modern Performances ** 

386. Gogol Bordello -- Solidaritine *** 1/2 

387. Tim Burgess -- Typical Music ** 

388. Meghan Trainor -- Takin' It Back ***/ 

389. Fred Again -- Actual Life 3 ** 1/2 

390. Davis Causey & Jay Smith -- Pickin' On Christmas ** 

391. M.J. Lenderman -- Boat Songs ** 

392. S.G. Goodman -- Teeth Marks ** 1/2 

393. Jimmy Cliff -- Refugees ** 1/2 

394. Julia Bullock -- Walking In The Dark ***/ 

395. Alvvays -- Blue Rev *** 
396. Anitta -- Versions Of Me ** 

397. Sault -- 11 *** 

398. Sault -- (Untitled) God ** 1/2 

399. iLe -- Nacarile *** 1/2 

400. Johnny Adams -- Room With A View Of The Blues (1988) *** 1/2 

401. Frank Sinatra -- September Of My Years **** 

402. Brockhampton -- The Family ** 1/2 

403. Shannon Moser -- The Sun Still Seems To Shine ** 

404. The Isley Brothers -- This Old Heart Of Mine (1966) *** 

405. Peter Green -- In The Skies (1979) *** 1/2 

406. Linda Ronstadt -- A Merry Little Christmas *** (pop side *** and religious side ****) 

407. Charlie Crockett -- The Man From Waco ** 

408. Caroline -- Caroline ** 

409. Nancy Mounir -- Nozhet El Nofous ** 1/2 

410. Nilüfer Yanya -- Painless ** 1/2 

411. Sudan Archives -- Natural Born Prom Queen ** 

412. Sault -- Earth ** 

413. Bones -- 2MillionBlunts ** 1/2 

414. Camilo -- De Adentro Pa Afuera *** \ 

415. SZA -- SOS ** 1/2 

416. Charles Lloyd -- Trio: Chapel (Live) *** 

417. Ryan Adams -- Romeo & Juliet ** 1/2 

418. J-Hope -- Jack In The Box * 1/2 

419. Tetel Di Babuya -- Meet Tetel * 1/2 

420. Redman Mehldau McBride Blade -- LongGone *** 

421. Ian Noe -- River Fools and Mountain Saints *** 1/2 

422. Tommy McLain -- I Ran Down Every Dream *** 1/2 

423. Charlie Gabriel and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band -- 89 *** 1/2 

424. Father John Misty -- Chloë and the Next 20th Century *** 

425. Various Artists -- High In The Morning: British Progressive Pop Sounds Of 1973 ** 

426. Adrian Quesada -- Boleros Psicodelicos ***/ 

427. King Princess -- Hold On Baby ** 1/2 

428. Various Artists -- Gotta Get A Good Thing Goin': Black Music In Britain In The Sixties *** 1/2 

429. Parker Gispert -- Golden Years ** 1/2 

430. Gabe Lee -- The Hometown Kid *** 

431. Benjamin Lackner -- Last Decade *** 1/2 

432. Juan Ortiz Hiroshi Takase Gene Jackson -- Better Days *** 1/2 

433. Various Artists -- Before The Day Is Done: The Story Of Folk Heritage Records 1968-1975 ** 1/2 

434. Joel Ross -- The Parable of the Poet *** 1/2 

435. Asake -- Mr. Money With The Vibe *** 

436. Noah Cyrus -- The Hardest Part ** 1/2 

437. Vigüela -- A La Manera Artesana *** 1/2 

438. Madonna -- Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones *** / 

439. Renée Fleming -- Voice Of Nature: The Anthropocene *** 1/2 

440. 1975 -- Being Funny In A Foreign Language *** 

441. Jóhann Jóhannsson -- Drone Mass *** 1/2 

442. Alexandre Desplat -- Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio *** (better in context, charming songs) 

443. Yahritza Y Su Esencia -- Obsessed *** 

444. Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard -- Backhand Deals *** 1/2 

445. Lou Reed -- Words And Music, May 1965 *** 

446. Tchotchke -- Tchotchke *** 1/2 

447. Tears For Fears -- The Tipping Point ** 1/2  

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. Downstairs (1932) ** 

2.  The River (1951) ** 1/2 

3. Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story ** 1/2 

4. The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? (2020) *** 1/2 

5. Everything Everywhere All At Once *** 1/2 

6. Doctor Strange in The Multiverse Of Madness ** 

7. Petite Maman *** 1/2 

8. Downton Abbey: A New Era ** 1/2 

9. Pleasure *** 1/2 

10. Top Gun: Maverick ** 

11. Heartstopper S1 *** 

12. Sherlock Jr. (1924) **** 

13. Absence Of Malice (1981) ** 1/2 

14. The Last Movie Stars (doc on Newman/Woodward) *** 1/2 

15. Buster Keaton -- The Railrodder (1965) ** 

16. The Woman King (at drive-in) ** 1/2 

17. Derry Girls S3 *** (but solid and good ending) 

18. The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power S1 ** 1/2 

19. Anne Of Green Gables (1934) ** 1/2 

20. Tár ** 1/2 (Nina Hoss v good as wife) 

21. Häxan aka The Witches (1922 Swedish film, saw 1968 edited version w live score) ** 1/2 

22. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ** 1/2 

23. The Banshees Of Inisherin ***  (Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan) 

24. Pilgrims (screening of Lithuanian Oscar hopeful) *** 1/2 

25. Apples (Greek drama) *** 1/2 

26. Wendell & Wild ** 1/2 

27. Andor Season One **** 

28. The Menu * 

29. Nope ** 1/2 

30. The Fabelmans ** / 

31. Bones And All ** 1/2 

32. Rothaniel: Jerrod Carmichael *** (great editing)

33. Blank Narcissus (2022 short spoof on Pink Narcissus) ** 1/2 

34. Good Night, Oppy ** 1/2 

35. The Territory *** 1/2 

36. Turning Red *** 1/2 

37. Avatar: The Way Of Water * 1/2 

38. Funny Pages ** 

39. Emily The Criminal *** 1/2 

40. Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues ** 1/2 

41. Benediction ** 

42. Decision To Leave *** 

43. Great Freedom *** 1/2 

44. Apollo 10 1/2 *** 

45. Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio *** 1/2 

46. The U.S. And The Holocaust *** 1/2 

47. Happening *** 1/2 

48. Vengeance ** 

49. Mr. Bachmann and His Class ****  

50. All Quiet On The Western Front (2022) * 1/2 

51. Women Talking *** 

52. Fire Of Love *** 1/2 

53. Navalny *** 1/2 

54. RRR ** 

55. Argentina, 1985 ** 1/2 

56. After Yang *** 1/2 

57. Playground **** 

58. 

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. Retrospectrum -- Bob Dylan exhibit of artwork at Frost Museum in Miami at FIU *** 

After two and a half years! After 29 months to be exact, I'm attending live theater for the first time since March of 2020! Hallelujah! 

2. 101 Dalmatians (at Regents Park Open Air) * 1/2 

3. Jack Absolute Flies Again! (At the National w Leslie) *** 

4. The Gunpowder Plot (immersive theater and VR spectacle at Tower of London w John) ** 1/2 

5. King Lear (w Kathryn Hunter as lead at Globe, no guest, had to leave early due to heat, age!) *** 

6. The Southbury Child (starring Alex Jennings) (at Bridge, w Leslie) *** 

7. Tom, Dick and Harry (at Alexandra Palace, w Leslie) ** 1/2 

8. Daniel Kitson (COVID show at Regents Park Open Air 2022 on stage w 101 Dalmatians set) *** 

9. Jack Absolute Flies Again! (at National w Zoe) (better audience) *** 1/2 

10. Patriots (at Almeida 2022 w Zoe) ** 1/2 

11. Life Of Pi (at Wyndham 2022 w Zoe) ** 1/2 (but puppetry and effects **** War Horse level) 

12. Dennis Sever's House tour/performance 2022 (w Zoe) *** 1/2 

13. Punchdrunk: The Burnt City (2022 alone) *** 1/2 

14. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (at Gillian Lynne 2022 w Luis) *** 

15. Back To The Future 2022 in London (w Luis and Leslie) ** 1/2 

16. A Prairie Home Companion Live From Town Hall streaming on 11-26-2022 ** 1/2 

17. A Prairie Home Companion Live from Fox Theatre in St. Louis streaming on 12-15-2022 ** 1/2 

18. Daniel Kitson audio production Shenanigans on CD *** 1/2 

 

Updated as of December 31, 2022 

ELECTION DAY PLAYLIST

 ELECTION DAY PLAYLIST (on Amazon Music)  

RAY CHARLES -- "America The Beautiful" 

JOHN LENNON --     "Power To The People" 

ARETHA FRANKLIN -- "Think"

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- "Wrecking Ball" 

BOB MARLEY -- "One Love/People Get Ready" 

GREEN DAY -- "American Idiot" 

DOLLY PARTON -- "9 to 5" 

MANU CHAO -- "Clandestino" 

PUBLIC ENEMY -- "Fight The Power" 

BRAD PAISLEY -- "American Saturday Night" 

JONI MITCHELL -- "Big Yellow Taxi" 

TRACY CHAPMAN -- "Talkin' Bout A Revolution" 

JOHN MELLENCAMP -- "Small Town" (acoustic) 

THE BEATLES -- "All You Need Is Love"  

LOS LOBOS -- "Will The Wolf Survive?" 

BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO --     "All You Fascists" 

BEYONCÉ -- "Run The World (Girls)" 

NEIL DIAMOND -- "America" 

LONDON CALLING: THEATER, MUSEUMS, PINTS, JAM SANDWICHES BUT NO PADDINGTON

MICHAEL IN LONDON

THEATER 

101 Dalmatians The Musical – at Regent’s Park Open Air * out of ****

Jack Absolute Flies Again at the National (team behind One Man, Two Guvnors) *** 1/2 out of ****

Kathryn Hunter’s last day doing King Lear at the Globe -- had to leave early, but solid

The Southbury Child (Alex Jennings at the Bridge) ***

Tom, Dick and Harry at Alexandra Palace (stage version of the true story behind The Great Escape **

At the Tower of London: immersive event with actors and VR: The Gunpowder Plot w Tom Felton of Harry Potter fame (Draco Malfoy) typecast as  Guy Fawkes **

Patriots at the Almeida (opens in West End next May w Tom Hollander and Will Keen w Lukie Thallon as Abramovich *** (but fades quickly from the mind)

Life Of Pi at the Wyndham ** 1/2 (great puppetry)

Dennis Severs’ House tour *** 1/2

Punchdrunk’s The Burnt City – telling of The Iliad. ***1/2

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe *** (if you are into TLTWATW)

 

Back To The Future in West End ** 1/2 (a tad generous)

Can NOT get ABBA tickets!

MUSEUMS

TATE MODERN -- Beyond Surrealism -- two or three really great pieces in this good exhibit, including a nine meter scroll lots of artists contributed to and a Magritte with a train coming out of a fireplace that was gorgeous and clearly shows his influence on Chris Van Allsburg

TATE BRITAIN --

Walter Sickert career retrospective *** 1/2

Cornelia Parker -- some great showstoppers *** 1/2

Hew Locke: The Procession *** 1/2 (parade down main hallway, fantastic)

HAYWARD  – In The Black Fantastic – first major UK exhibit devoted to artists of the African diaspora. 

Nick Cave (forearms gripping one another floor to ceiling sculpture) called Chain Reaction 

Kara Walker (short using silhouettes etc to do animation) 

Some very good multimedia installations 

ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS – summer exhibition. Bursting with some very cool stuff by young talent. Lots of climate crisis art. 

COURTAULD GALLERY – akin to the Frick. Great permanent collection. First two floors heavy on religious art and rather boring (another entombment, another crucifixion) but third floor has great stuff esp Impressionists Degas Renoir Monet Manet. Lots of good stuff. 

Exhibit was on Edvard Munch. Solid if not revelatory. 

SERPENTINE GALLERY --

Black Chapel ***

Brian Eno installation!!!! *** 1/2

Climate Crisis exhibits -- felt a bit collegiate, actually. Posters slapped on walls, some random bits along the floor. **

MARKETS 

BOROUGH MARKET – great cheeses and olives and the like. (one stall had very good looking cottage pies). Very food oriented. (Afternoon tea at Roast. -- Views better at spill-over area when you walk in rather than main seating area with buildings on all three sides)

SPITALFIELDS MARKET – bad food luck but otherwise another typical street fair w stalls of stuff ranging from nice to junk. 

PORTOBELLO ROAD MARKET – huge and sprawling but mostly junk. Like a NYC street fair. Wildly overpriced books at the main book stall. 

COAL DROPS YARD – outdoor mall w very upscale fashion stores, some stalls, and events all around, w people sunning themselves, picnicking etc. Lovely canal nearby with barges on them, including Word On The Water - a barge bookstore. 

FOOD 

THE ROAST– had afternoon tea about 35 pounds each. Fine. But view of market and streets was actually preferable on the side when you enter rather than the main dining area, which is closed in by buildings so the view is less good. 

NEAL'S YARD DAIRY – bought some cheese at an offshoot of Neal’s Yard Dairy, a major purveyor of cheeses. Delicious.

MIDDLE EASTERN CART OUTSIDE NATIONAL THEATRE – Yummy hummus and fried cheese (Halloumi) 

OTTOLENGHI near Almeida – great meal w broccoli, figs and cheese the best but all good. Dessert were cookies and a flourless muffin like dessert w chocolate ganache. Very moist. Got more cookies at another Ottolenghi two days later. 

THE LAMB — proper pub. Went at 6, so not busy yet. Before a show. Solid food and beer but mostly just felt like a real local w pub food done well. Waiter very charming. 

GOLDEN UNION – sustainable delicious fish and chips. Looks like a chain and certainly not fish and chips in a rolled up newspaper but very tasty. Waiter very fun, insisted if we wanted REAL fish and chips we needed to go three hours away to a seaside town and go out on the pier and get fish and chips in a rolled up newspaper. Wearing ring of Molljnir (Thor's Hammer).

THE ENGLISH – another pub, this one near Dennis Severs House. Food was actually a titch pricier and fancier than pub food. Tomato soup was great. Cheese toasties had a fancy name and also very taste. Risotto was good. Perhaps not pub enough or posh enough but was good. 

ST. JOHN BREAD AND WINE – wanted to go to dinner there, very hearty traditional English fare but they had a party of 30 coming and couldn't accommodate. But came back to get fresh madeleines to go, which takes at least 15 minutes because always made fresh. Had a drink at tiny bar (which is an uncomfortable height)and waited and chatted with friendly staff then watched an giant roast pig come out for big party and was carved up in front of all. So, not a place for vegetarians. The madeleines were warm and wonderful. 

FISH! around Borough Market -- fine fish and chips

SOHO HOUSE -- on 40 Greek Street. Mac n cheese comfort food. Too much!

JOHN LEWIS --

BARS

Duke Of Wellington

Old Comptons

SITES/STUFF  

ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL – did the whole shebang including tour of the Triforium. Turned out to be the “attic” where lots of storage and restoration takes place, along with working offices. Guide was nice if not gripping. Lots of things we walked by went unexplained and I expected more views down into St. Paul’s interior but the walkways up high are very narrow so you get near an interior view. Highlight was The Great Model, a room housing the model Christopher Wren of what he wanted to build. Huge and impressive and rejected. As a bonus, you’re a third way up to the top so after tour you just keep walking up to get to walkway and exterior of dome w great views. (Mostly obstructed so taking a photo means risking you drop it if you want to avoid being blocked by a bar or the like when snapping.) Then back down and wandered around interior for a while and then crypts. (Filled with elaborate monuments and plaques to this and that General and poets and a man who died “gloriously” in battle and so on. Then in one corner you have just the head of the explorer and a card that says simply “Lawrence of Arabia.” Mic drop. Puts the others to shame. In church itself its VERY tricky to see Adam and Eve mosaics discussed in tour; had to ask and wouldnt recognize if hadnt been on tour but just at center of church as it turns into Victorian gaudiness you stand on left side of main aisle headed to altar right by major column and peer up about two-thirds to spot Eve and even harder to do the same for Adam on the other side. 

ORIGINAL SITE CHRIST’S HOSPITAL/GREYFRIARS GARDEN/POSTMANS PARK/MEMORIAL TO HEROIC SACRIFICE/ST. MARY-LE-BOW CHURCH – Wandered around after St. Paul’s. Saw the original site of Christ’s Hospital marked by an ok sculpture of kids but now contains what looks like the bombed out remains of a church and a very curious but lovely wild garden may be called Greyfriar’s Garden. 

Then wander a few blocks to Postman’s Park, a pocket park people sat n having lunch on break. At one side along a wall is the odd Memorial To Heroic Sacrifice. Just an open wooden structure with a roof over a wall area  containing tiles, each one commemorating an ordinary everyday person who lost their lives saving or trying to save someone else from drowning, fire and the like. Finally went to St. Mary-le-Bow Church which I thought contained a memorial to journalists who died during WW II but couldn’t spot it. (I was looking for St Bride’s Church but got to the wrong one.) It does have a memorial to Norwegians in the Resistance, an underground cafe and an underground area of worship. If you’re born/live within the sound of the Bow Bells, you’re a Cockney. Also built by Wren. The Bells long used by the BBC radio to intro news. 

ROYAL ALBERT HALL TOUR -- Jonquil, tour guide whose first show at Royal Albert Hall was Siouxsie and the Banshees! Fun.

WORDS ON THE WATER --  a barge bookstore which I kept calling Books On The Boat. In "little Venice." 

THE SHARD -- better than the Eye? Yes!

DOUBLE DECKER BUS TOUR

TRAFALGAR SQUARE/ WORLD'S SMALLEST POLICE STATION/FORMER PRISONER HOLDING CELL -- w ice cream sundae being dismantled; found world's smallest police station, prob remnant of jail cell name-checked in Aubrey/Maturin novels

ADMIRALTY ARCH -- tried to find nose but construction blocking it off

THE 47TH ANNUAL IRA FILM AWARDS: HOLDING OUT FOR "A HERO"

THE 47TH ANNUAL IRA FILM AWARDS: HOLDING OUT FOR "A HERO"  

Date: March 19, 2022 

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 -- they are 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 their picks for the best movies released commercially on any platform since the last IRAs in March of 2021.

Without further ado, the IRA goes to... 

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 

This year, the 47th Annual IRA Awards took place on March 19, 2022. Films are eligible based on our newly established standard. Any film that is widely available 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 -- increasingly possible without risking life and limb -- an indoor movie theater. Festival play alone does not qualify. 

The actual gathering included six people in person, three people online (including the emeritus-like presence of the titular Ira) and two absentee ballots. This combination of live and digital is a great way to include those who can't travel, are busy, don't feel well, etc. However, the fusillade of quips and insults and witty banter which are a trademark of this Algonquin-like circle (or is it an oval?) suffer tremendously. Worse, Official Stenographer Alex again abandoned his usual role of transcriber of the best bon mots. Will he resume this task next year or has he slow-rolled his resignation (like so many others amidst the Great Resignation)? Should we offer him a raise? Post an opening on LinkedIn? 

I had two modest bits in my back pocket but never found the chance to use them. One, I wanted to call the Jane Campion film The Power Of The Puppy. Two, I imagined this exchange. Andy: "Michael, have you seen Passing? Did you like it?" Michael: "It didn't get under my skin." Alas. Or thank goodness, depending on your point of view.

Hilariously, after four or five categories I actually thought to myself, "Boy, we are whizzing through these! This will be the shortest IRA meeting ever!" Almost six hours later, we wound up the negative awards with four minutes to spare before Panera Bread turned off my wifi. Here's hoping everyone takes part any way they can in 2023 AND that most of us are together in the same damn room. 

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, we began with Andy and then Alex and so on.  The IRA goes to...


BEST COSTUME

1. Mark Bridges  for Licorice Pizza -- 15 pts. out of a possible 35 pts.
2. Milena Canonero for The French Dispatch -- 14 pts. 
3. No credit for About Endlessness (tie) -- 10 pts.
    Mitchell Travers for The Eyes Of Tammy Faye and In The Heights (tie) -- 10 pts. 

    Luis Sequeira for Nightmare Alley (tie) -- 10 pts. 

    Marci Rodgers for Passing and No Sudden Move (tie) -- 10 pts. 

    Paul Tazewell for West Side Story (tie) -- 10 pts.

POINT OF ORDER: This year, seven to nine ballots were in play throughout the night. (One ballot arrived after voting began and skipped the negative awards. Another ballot skipped most technical awards but offered a full complement of negative awards in the best IRA tradition.)  With a top score for each nominee of 5 pts, the maximum any one nominee could achieve in any category was 45 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 may be 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. This is followed by another vote to rescind until the victor is confirmed. It's a somewhat controversial tactic. But it rarely comes into play more than once a year and in a spirit of we're-all-in-this-together, the Vote To Rescind played no role this year. 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.  One can only look on in admiration when Andy refuses to support a Vote To Rescind even when the winner is one he can't abide.  

NOTE: Like Presidential nominating conventions of yore, the real action at the IRAs typically takes place in smoke-filled backrooms where pressure is applied, deals are made and better angels are fruitlessly appealed. OK, there's no smoke and we're usually eating cake and gobbling snacks but deals are struck. OK, I'll give you points for production design for -- ugh -- Wes Anderson -- but you have to give me points in the screenplay category for that four hour Albanian drama! It's fun! It works! And this year, it happened by text if at all. Not. The. Same. 

Runner-up The French Dispatch showed it was a player right off the bat. It would only win one category -- for a technical award, an area in which director Wes Anderson clearly brings out the best in his collaborators. Nonetheless, it was a presence all throughout the night, despite Anderson having worn out his whimsical welcome as far as some members were concerned. 

A five-way tie for third place proved a harbinger. In the major categories, this year would sport a remarkable TWELVE ties. In fact, only the Production Design and Best Film categories did NOT feature a tie. 

 BEST EDITING

1. Jennifer Vecchiarello for C'mon C'mon -- 15 pts. 
2. Jaroslaw Kaminski for Quo Vadis, Aida? -- 13 pts.
3. Sarah Broshar and Michael Kahn  for West Side Story -- 12pts.
4. Lauren Hadaway for The Novice; Nathan Nugent for The Novice and Swan Song (tie)  -- 8 pts.
    Sean Baker for Red Rocket (tie)  -- 8 pts. 

    Affonso Gonçalves and Adam Kurnitz for The Velvet Underground (tie)  -- 8 pts. 

    Joi McMillon for Zola (tie)  -- 8 pts.


NOTE: A four way tie! The ties keep coming and we couldn't edit them down. 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, only one documentary made the shortlist. And the winner is an indie drama of the sort the IRAs love to tout. Sure, C'mon C'mon stars Joaquin Phoenix and any movie he's in will get attention. And yet, is this film being hailed as one of the best of the year? It is by the IRAs, shortlisting two actors in supporting roles and giving it the top prize for editing. Ironically, Joaquin Phoenix didn't make it onto the list of Best Actors, but George says simply, he's the best actor of his generation.  

 BEST SCORE/USE OF MUSIC

1. Naren Chandavarkar (music producer and pre-mix) and Aneesh Pradhan (music and research consultant/music design)  for The Disciple -- 21 pts. 
2. Alexandre Desplat for The French Dispatch (tie) -- 13 pts.
    Carter Burwell for The Tragedy of Macbeth (tie) -- 13 pts.
4. Bo Burnham for Bo Burnham: Inside (tie) -- 7 pts.
    Jonny Greenwood for Licorice Pizza, The Power Of The Dog and Spencer (tie) -- 7 pts.


NOTE: Two more ties! I was a big supporter of The Disciple and its win here gave me hope. (Best Actor? Best Film?) Nope. The movie is wall to wall classical Indian music (from a certain region and it's not really popular with critics or fans and even ardent collectors aren't so crazy about it, but that's because they don't appreciate its...oh, see the movie!) so this was a natural spot for it to shine. 

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

1. Adam Stockhausen for The French Dispatch and West Side Story -- 19 pts. 

2. Stephonik for Red Rocket -- 15 pts.
3. Frida E. Elström, Anders Hellström, Nicklas Nilsson, Sandra Parment and Isabel Sjöstrand for About Endlessness  

4. Hannes Sallat for Quo Vadis, Aida? -- 11 pts.

5. Tamara Deverell for Nightmare Alley -- 9 pts.

NOTE: No ties! The devastation of an entire city was captured with heartbreaking believability in Quo Vadis, Aida? When Kiev hit the news, anyone who saw the film immediately had flashbacks. And the devastation of the entire world was captured with deadpan humor and beauty in About Endlessness, which is exactly the sort of film the IRAs love and yet where's the love, people? Where's the love? Adam Stockhausen's bespoke work on The French Dispatch and his snapshot of "The Future Home Of Lincoln Center" proved his versatility. 


BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

1. Jessica Beshir for Faya Dayi -- 20 pts. 
2. Dan Laustsen for Nightmare Alley -- 13 pts.
3. Robert D. Yeoman for The French Dispatch-- 12 pts.
4. Bruno Delbonnel for The Tragedy Of Macbeth -- 9 pts.
5. Claire Mathon for Spencer (tie) -- 8 pts. 

    Gergely Pálos for About Endlessness (tie) -- 8 pts. 


NOTE: Ok,  finding examples of great cinematography is easy these days. We don't just mean pretty images, but movies whose look captures the soul of a film, whose visual style opens up a world or descends you into a nightmare. No one liked The Tragedy of Macbeth very much but boy did it look spectacular. (Those theatrical sets helped.) It's what Orson Welles might have done on Othello if he had more money. But the absolutely stunning work on the Ethiopian documentary Faya Dayi was impossible to ignore. It was shot by the director Jessica Beshir, making her a triple threat of a talent, at least. 

BEST SCREENPLAY

1. Asghar Farhadi for A Hero -- 19 pts. 
2. Ryûsuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe for Drive My Car -- 18 pts.

3. Tony Kushner for West Side Story-- 14 pts.
4. Mike Mills for C'mon C'mon --12 pts.
5. Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch for Red Rocket (tie) -- 8 pts. 

    Paul Thomas Anderson for Licorice Pizza (tie) -- 8 pts.


NOTE: A tie! One of the most competitive categories, Best Screenplay presaged the battle between Drive My Car and A Hero that would continue throughout the night and culminate with the see-sawing excitement of Best Director and Best Picture. 

BEST NONFICTION FILM 

1. Flee -- 23 pts. out of a possible 45 pts.

2. Summer Of Soul -- 13 pts.
3. The Velvet Underground -- 10 pts.
4. The Most Beautiful Boy in The World -- 9 pts. 

5. The Beatles: Get Back (tie) -- 8 pts. 

    Faya Dayi (tie) -- 8 pts. 

    Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It (tie) -- 8 pts.


NOTE: The Best Nonfiction Film is a 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.  That's a pity since so many great documentaries are being released now. It's fitting this category includes seven films. It could easily include seven more and not drop in quality at all. The total points available increased to a possible 45 pts. with all nine ballots now in play. 

More importantly, this category marked the entrance of the titular Ira in the role of Aaron. Longtime IRA member Aaron had in-laws visiting and couldn't attend via Zoom to mock other people's choices or defend his appreciation for Belfast. Without his presence, those nominations were received with withering disdain by some. Defenseless and alone, his ballot bravely but futilely spoke up for Judi Dench (one of the great actors of our time) and the like. It was the Irish Troubles all over again. And yet, he was given voice by Ira, who held Aaron's ballot and sat at the ready throughout the night. Aaron was unable to give votes for many technical categories, so round after round Ira as Aaron was called upon, only to meekly pass. And then, tick, tick...BOOM! The Best Nonfiction Film category was announced and Ira sprang to life, like a character who enters the film in the second or third act and changes EVERYTHING! And truly it must be said Ira embodied Aaron with uncanny accuracy -- to call it mimicry would be to shame the gift of acting at its highest level. Those brickbats Ira as Aaron was forced to endure? They were handled with a dignified silence that Joan of Arc might have aspired to but failed to achieve. 


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

1. Suzanna Son for Red Rocket -- 19 pts. 
2. Tôko Miura for Drive My Car -- 17 pts.
3. Gaby Hoffmann for C'mon C'mon (tie) -- 14 pts.   

    Park Yu-rim for Drive My Car (tie) --14 pts.
5. Ariana DeBose for West Side Story -- 11 pts.


NOTE: One tie! Wait, isn't this supposed to be a battle between Drive My Car and A Hero? The well-deserved winner is Strawberry, I mean Suzanna Son for her coquettish turn in Red Rocket. On the other hand, Drive My Car had three great female supporting performances and blanked out the women of A Hero, so maybe we're just seeing the depth of support for the Japanese drama. 

FOOD BREAK

The pizza took its own sweet time arriving at George's home. Blame supply chain issues. Finally, the three pies appeared. Since one of the pies contained mushrooms and anchovies, being on Zoom suddenly seemed like a blessing. 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1. Ethan Darbone for Red Rocket -- 17 pts. 
2. Woody Norman for C'mon C'mon -- 15 pts.
3. Colman Domingo for Zola -- 14 pts.
4. Benicio Del Toro for The French Dispatch --11 pts.
5. Mike Faist for West Side Story (tie) -- 8 pts. 

    Benjamin Voisin for Summer of 85 (tie) -- 8 pts.

NOTE: One tie! Ok, Red Rocket wins again. This movie has ardent supporters and certainly director Sean Baker is an IRA favorite thanks to previous Best Picture winner Tangerine and a strong showing by The Florida Project. Could Baker come from behind to snag another top prize? Fans of the very commercial film Zola started to peak at the right time with notice for actor Colman Domingo. This tale of two strippers is very funny and should have been a commercial breakthrough for co-writer and director Janicza Bravo (what a name!). But Covid, so this one will have to be discovered in the home. It will be and her next film is one to watch for. Also, the IRAs look smart to highlight the work of Benjamin Voisin. He's gone on from Francois Ozon's Summer of 85 to a triumph in the Cesar favorite Lost Illusions. He's the real deal. 

                                            
BEST ACTRESS

1. Jasna Djuricic for Quo Vadis, Aida? (tie) -- 21 pts.  

    Kristen Stewart for Spencer (tie) -- 21 pts.

3. Alana Haim for Licorice Pizza -- 14 pts.
4. Taylour Paige for Zola -- 11 pts.
5. Riley Keough for Zola -- 9 pts.
    Tilda Swinton for The Human Voice -- 9 pts.

NOTE: Two ties, including the top slot! And here was a happy accident. Ira thought Aaron's ballot had no one pointer for Best Actress. The tallying was done and we were moving on to the next category when Ira spoke up with a thundering, James Earl Jones-like voice and shouted "Wait!" Aaron had one point for Djuricic in a ballot topped by his five points for Kristen Stewart as Diana, Princess Of Wales. In a dramatic turn worthy of Shakespeare, Stewart's win with 21 points that just edged out Djuricic became a tie. Now the IRAs paired a look at the personal misery of Princess Di with the genuine, real world misery of a woman watching helplessly on as a war crime is committed against the Bosnian people in general and her own husband and sons in particular. Spencer is a triumph for Stewart and Quo Vadis, Aida? is an all-too timely film about war that many flt deserved a major prize. Their pairing at the top spot brought a wave of pleasure throughout the group. Surely this was meant to be. 

It overshadowed a tad the modest triumph of Zola. That film boasted two women at its heart.  Both were fantastic and both received recognition here.



BEST ACTOR

1. Hidetoshi Nishijima for Drive My Car -- 21 pts. 
2. Aditya Modak for The Disciple  -- 17 pts.
3. Andrew Garfield for The Eyes Of Tammy Faye and tick, tick...BOOM! -- 16 pts.
4. Udo Kier for Swan Song (tie) -- 14 pts.
    Simon Rex for Red Rocket (tie) -- 14 pts.


NOTE: One tie! So close! Just as the Disciple in the film of the same name strives to scale the heights of technical and artistic mastery of classical Indian music and yet fails, so did the marvelous performance by its lead actor come thisclose to winning Best Actor and fall just a little short. And seeing Hidetoshi Nishijima win Best Actor while Amir Jadidi's terrific work in A Hero didn't even get on the shortlist was a splash of cold water to the fans of that Iranian film. 

BEST DIRECTOR

1. Ryûsuke Hamaguchi for Drive My Car -- 24 pts. 
2. Asghar Farhadi for A Hero (tie) -- 18 pts.
    Pablo Larraín for Spencer (tie) -- 18 pts.
4. Wes Anderson for The French Dispatch (tie) -- 14 pts.
    Sean Baker for Red Rocket (tie) -- 14 pts.

NOTE: Two ties, though Ryûsuke Hamaguchi stands alone. Various contingents loved Red Rocket and Spencer and The French Dispatch. And of course A Hero and the winner for Best Director Drive My Car had been building to this moment all night long. Certainly the usual slings and arrows of the evening sometimes flew. But two factors held this facet of the evening in check: the vagaries of Zoom calls made comic timing a joke. It simply isn't possible to banter effectively with a digital delay. And frankly, none of the films highlighted for Best Director (or Quo Vadis, Aida? which swapped out with Larraín's Spencer for Best Picture) engendered any disdain, with the possible exception of The French Dispatch. With Best Actor and Best Director, Drive My Car appeared to be cruising to victory....

BEST PICTURE

1. A Hero -- 33 pts. 
2. Drive My Car -- 17 pts.
3. The French Dispatch -- 16 pts.
4. Red Rocket -- 12 pts.
5. Quo Vadis, Aida? -- 10 pts.

tick, tick...BOOM! We were holding out for A Hero and it happened in stunning fashion. The Iranian film almost doubled the points of Drive My Car thanks to the film's excellence and a sudden desire to spread the wealth. Indeed, twelve different films were recognized in the thirteen major categories. Solomon could not have done it more neatly. 


FOOD BREAK 

Cake and cattiness was offered up along with a short break before the negative awards began.  

 

SOMINEX (The movie that put you to sleep)

1. Passing -- 14 pts.

2. The Dig (tie) -- 10 pts.

    The Lost Daughter 7 (tie) -- 10 pts.

    The Power Of The Dog (tie) -- 10 pts.

5. House Of Gucci (tie) -- 8 pts.
    The Tragedy Of Macbeth (tie) -- 8 pts. 

             

DRAMAMINE (The film that made you sick)

1    1. The Lost Daughter -- 21 pts.

2. Don't Look Up (tie) -- 9 pts.

    tick, tick...BOOM! (tie) -- 9 pts.

    Together and Together Together (tie) -- 9 pts. 

5. Annette (tie) -- 5 pts. 

    No Time To Die (tie) -- 5 pts. 

    The Novice (tie) -- 5 pts. 

    Passing (tie) -- 5 pts. 

    West Side Story (tie) -- 5 pts.

MECHANICAL ACTRESS

1. Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep  for Don't Look Up -- BY ACCLAMATION

2. Nicole Kidman for Being The Ricardos -- 16 pts.

3. Lady Gaga for House Of Gucci -- 15 pts.
4. Marion Cotillard for Annette -- 11 pts.
5. Judi Dench for Belfast -- 7 pts.

MECHANICAL ACTOR

1. Ansel Elgort for West Side Story -- 19 pts.

2. Bradley Cooper for Licorice Pizza and Nightmare Alley -- 14 pts.

3. Adam Driver for Annette, House Of Gucci and The Last Duel -- 12 pts.
4. Leonardo DiCaprio for Don't Look Up -- 9 pts.
5. Javier Bardem for Being The Ricardos (tie) -- 7 pts. 

    Daniel Craig for No Time To Die (tie) -- 7 pts.  

    Andrew Garfield for The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Spiderman: No Way Home 

                                and tick, tick...BOOM! (tie) -- 7 pts.  

    Alexander Skarsgård for Passing (tie) -- 7 pts. 

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

About Endlessness  

The Beatles: Get Back 

Bo Burnham: Inside 

C'mon C'mon 

The Disciple 

Drive My Car

The Eyes Of Tammy Faye 

Faya Dayi 

Flee 

The French Dispatch

A Hero

The Human Voice 

In The Heights 

Licorice Pizza 

The Most Beautiful Boy in The World 

Nightmare Alley 

No Sudden Move 

The Novice 

Passing  

The Power Of The Dog 

Quo Vadis, Aida? 

Red Rocket 

Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It 

The Tragedy Of Macbeth 

Spencer 

Summer of 85 

Summer Of Soul 

Swan Song 

tick, tick...BOOM! 

The Velvet Underground 

West Side Story 

Zola 

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 

 

  

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) 


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.