MTV Movie Awards: Katniss vs. ...uh...Solomon Northup?
Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 12:02PM 
The MTV Movie Award Nominations arrive hot on the heels of the Oscar ceremony. This awards show happens on April 13th. MTV, even moreso than the Globes is all about nominating big stars they think we'll give them ratings even if they stick out like sore thumbs in their category. That's why I have to admit shock that 12 Years a Slave shows up repeatedly in their nominations.
I thought it far too sober, artistic, and adult for the awards show that kept holding the Twilight franchise up as some kind of pinnacle of filmmaking. It's hard to consider them being nominated for the same prize, much less existing in the same universe. Gravity, which weirdly isn't up for "Movie of the Year" would have been a far more MTV like choice. Honestly I can't figure it.
In some way this is a bit more like the MTV Movie Awards of yore which would give prizes to Wes Anderson before he even had a fanbase to speak of. But maybe it's all merely a happy accident that two of the most Oscar nominated movies of the year (American Hustle, Wolf of Wall Street) are also "fun" and so MTV responds in kind.
MOVIE OF THE YEAR
• “12 Years a Slave” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
• “American Hustle” (Columbia Pictures)
• “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Lionsgate)
• “The Wolf of Wall Street” (Paramount Pictures)
BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
• Amy Adams – “American Hustle” (Columbia Pictures)
• Jennifer Aniston – “We're the Millers” (New Line Cinema)
• Sandra Bullock – “Gravity” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Jennifer Lawrence – “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Lionsgate)
• Lupita Nyong'o – “12 Years a Slave” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Jennifer Aniston?
BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
• Bradley Cooper – “American Hustle” (Columbia Pictures)
• Leonardo DiCaprio – “The Wolf of Wall Street” (Paramount Pictures)
• Chiwetel Ejiofor – “12 Years a Slave” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
• Josh Hutcherson – “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Lionsgate)
• Matthew McConaughey – “Dallas Buyers Club” (Focus Features)
I think Josh Hutcherson is an adorable pocket star, but is that really a "performance" worth getting excited about?
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
• Liam James – “The Way Way Back” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
• Michael B. Jordan – “Fruitvale Station” (The Weinstein Company)
• Will Poulter – “We're the Millers” (New Line Cinema)
• Margot Robbie – “The Wolf of Wall Street” (Paramount Pictures)
• Miles Teller – “The Spectacular Now” (A24 Films)
They do better at "light" categories like this, which fit their purposes comfortably. Nice to see Margot Robbie and Michael B Jordan get attention for devouring those opportunities.
BEST KISS
• Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams – “American Hustle” (Columbia Pictures)
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson – “Don Jon” (Relativity Media)
• James Franco, Ashley Benson and Vanessa Hudgens – “Spring Breakers” (A24 Films)
• Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller – “The Spectacular Now” (A24 Films)
• Emma Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Will Poulter – “We're the Millers” (New Line Cinema)
Okay these are excellent nominations... apart from We're the Millers which I haven't seen. Has there ever been a girl on girl kiss in a movie that WASN'T nominated by MTV?
BEST FIGHT
• “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” (Paramount Pictures) – Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Steve Carell vs. James Marsden vs. Sacha Baron Cohen vs. Kanye West vs. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler vs. Jim Carrey and Marion Cotillard vs. Will Smith vs. Liam Neeson and John C. Reilly vs. Greg Kinnear
• “Identity Thief” (Universal Pictures) – Jason Bateman vs. Melissa McCarthy
• “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (Warner Bros. Pictures) – Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly vs. Orcs
• “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Lionsgate) – Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Sam Claflin vs. Mutant Monkeys
• “This is the End” (Columbia Pictures) – Jonah Hill vs. James Franco and Seth Rogen
Honestly I barely remember the Mutant Monkeys scene. The Hunger Games franchise really needs better action sequences. They're so non-commital feeling.
BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE
• Kevin Hart – “Ride Along” (Universal Pictures)
• Jonah Hill – “The Wolf of Wall Street” (Paramount Pictures)
• Johnny Knoxville – “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” (Paramount Pictures)
• Melissa McCarthy – “The Heat” (20th Century Fox)
• Jason Sudeikis – “We're the Millers” (New Line Cinema)
Melissa for the win!
BEST SCARED-AS-S**T PERFORMANCE
• Rose Byrne – “Insidious: Chapter 2″ (FilmDistrict)
• Jessica Chastain – “Mama” (Universal Pictures)
• Vera Farmiga – “The Conjuring” (New Line Cinema)
• Ethan Hawke – “The Purge” (Universal Pictures)
• Brad Pitt – “World War Z” (Paramount Pictures)
Fun category, though I've long missed their "Most Desirable" categories. I'd have to vote for Vera Farmiga here simply because she adds actorly business that is both organic and possibly camp.
BEST ON-SCREEN DUO
• Amy Adams and Christian Bale – “American Hustle” (Columbia Pictures)
• Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto – “Dallas Buyers Club” (Focus Features)
• Vin Diesel and Paul Walker – “Fast & Furious 6″ (Universal Pictures)
• Ice Cube and Kevin Hart – “Ride Along” (Universal Pictures)
• Jonah Hill and Leonardo DiCaprio – “The Wolf of Wall Street” (Paramount Pictures)
If Leo & Jonah lose this will we get another round of "Poor Leo"?
BEST SHIRTLESS PERFORMANCE
• Jennifer Aniston – “We're the Millers” (New Line Cinema)
• Sam Claflin – “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Lionsgate)
• Leonardo DiCaprio – “The Wolf of Wall Street” (Paramount Pictures)
• Zac Efron – “That Awkward Moment” (Focus Features)
• Chris Hemsworth – “Thor: The Dark World” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Did Jennifer Aniston really need three nominations?
And given that Michael B Jordan and Miles Teller also are shirtless in That Awkward Movie... should they be upset over their pectoral "snubbings"
#WTF MOMENT
• Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and David Koechner – “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” (Paramount Pictures) a speeding van filled with bowling balls, scorpions and hot oil
• Johnny Knoxville and Jackson Nicoll – “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” (Paramount Pictures) beauty pageant-loving parents subjected to a bump n’ grind dance routine
• Cameron Diaz – “The Counselor” (20th Century Fox) Cameron Diaz gets down and dirty with a bright yellow Ferrari
• Leonardo DiCaprio – “The Wolf of Wall Street” (Paramount Pictures) that druggy Lamborghini ride
• Danny McBride and Channing Tatum – “This is the End” (Columbia Pictures) Danny McBride scantily-clad pet Channing Tatum.
I loathed The Counselor but I'd probably vote for Cameron Diaz's spread eagle here. Note: I have not scene This is the End but hearing that Channing Tatum is someone's pet and "scantily-clad". Perhaps I should.
BEST VILLAIN
• Barkhad Abdi – “Captain Phillips” (Columbia Pictures)
• Benedict Cumberbatch – “Star Trek into Darkness” (Paramount Pictures)
• Michael Fassbender – “12 Years a Slave” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
• Mila Kunis – “Oz The Great and Powerful” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
• Donald Sutherland – “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Lionsgate)
Oh, no, MTV, no. Mila Kunis isn't even doing good camp there. She's just utterly lost at how to act that part, work with that style, or navigate those prosthetics. NO!
BEST ON-SCREEN TRANSFORMATION
• Christian Bale – “American Hustle” (Columbia Pictures)
• Elizabeth Banks – “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Lionsgate)
• Orlando Bloom – “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Jared Leto – “Dallas Buyers Club” (Focus Features)
• Matthew McConaughey – “Dallas Buyers Club” (Focus Features)
Hmmm. Odd category. I suppose Jared & Matthew cancel each other so maybe Christian Bale takes this?
BEST MUSICAL MOMENT
• Backstreet Boys, Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen and Craig Robinson – “This is the End” (Columbia Pictures) Spoiler alert! Backstreet Boys heavenly reunion
• Jennifer Lawrence – “American Hustle” (Columbia Pictures) Lawrence cleaning to “Live and Let Die.”
• Leonardo DiCaprio – “The Wolf of Wall Street” (Paramount Pictures) DiCaprio's pop & lock
• Melissa McCarthy – “Identity Thief” (Universal Pictures) sing along with the car radio — now would ya, “Barracuda.”
• Will Poulter – “We're the Millers” (New Line Cinema) Poulter's Kenny Rossmore does TLC's “Waterfalls.”
NO, MTV, NO! If you want another nomination for Melissa McCarthy you give it to her for her Deee-Lite drunken bar crawl scene with Sandy Bullock in The Heat. This is the only choice.
BEST CAMEO PERFORMANCE
• Robert De Niro – “American Hustle” (Columbia Pictures)
• Amy Poehler and Tina Fey – “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” (Paramount Pictures)
• Kanye West – “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” (Paramount Pictures)
• Joan Rivers – “Iron Man 3″ (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
• Rihanna – “This is the End” (Columbia Pictures)
I don't even remember Joan Rivers being in Iron Man 3. I don't think they mean "performance" here but a shorter category title "Best Cameo" like OH, I SPOTTED A FAMOUS PERSON DOING A FAVOR FOR FRIENDS.
BEST HERO
• Henry Cavill as Clark Kent – “Man of Steel” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man – “Iron Man 3″ (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
• Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins – “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Chris Hemsworth as Thor – “Thor: The Dark World” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
• Channing Tatum as John Cale – “White House Down” (Columbia Pictures)
Sausage party. I'm confused how Katniss isn't here at MTV of all places?
Thoughts? How long ago did you watch one of these ceremonies?
Reader Comments (13)
I genuinely don't remember Joan Rivers in Iron Man 3, and that's not a slight on Joan (I do enjoy her), but true shock-what part was she in?
I love this awards show. It so clearly knows what it is with no pretensions of importance. It also astutely recognizes its demographic and caters to them. I'm glad to see 12YaS showing up here because it means it (and Patsey) mean something to people other than historians and film buffs. I agree Katniss should be in the heroes.
That has got to be the weirdest line-up (in all categories) in MTV Movie Award history. And that's saying something.
Really? Henry Cavill's Superman was not a hero. Henry Cavill's Superman is the kind of guy where, if a J Jonah type were screaming about how he was a menace, I don't think anyone would refute them on that point. Also: Joan Rivers in Iron Man 3 over Chris Evans in Thor: The Dark World? Are they HIGH? As for seeing This is the End? Don't. It starts as guys doing a years past it's expiration date over the hill shtick of preening self awareness and the characters wind up hateful. It ends as an overreaching attempt at a "comedic" Hell and demons apocalypse, even though they have neither the visual creativity (even ripping off the Ghostbusters demon dogs, for crying out loud) nor the patience to set up dark comic planting and pay off gags. For example: Their Michael Cera parody ultimately gets gored by a lamppost. If there was supposed to be a darkly ironic twist to that, it wasn't in the movie. He could have unscrewed a lightbulb, smashed the top half open and used it as a drug bowl. Boom, something that, without additional set-up, is just gruesome, gets re-contextualized as dark comedy through the addition of a single earlier gag. Maybe two gags (Channing Tatum cameo and James Franco getting screwed out of heaven through arrogance) work, but you have to sit through a tedious, badly paced movie full of unfunnily hateful characters (ESPECIALLY Danny McBride's self-parody, who wipes his boots in urine, wastes water to rinse, but not wash, himself and makes breakfast, even though NO ONE should want to touch food that had him get his filthy fingers on everything) to get to those jokes, which pretty much come within three minutes of each other. They should have just made asked for a Roast spot and not wasted our time.
Never watched this ........
Funny that they dont have the Britney Spears "Everytime" montage from SPRING BREAKERS in the running for Best Musical Moment...
WTF!
"This is the End" was the funniest movie of the year, but it definitely helps if you've seen the cast's bromantic comedies (Superbad, Pineapple Express, Your Highness, Knocked Up, etc.) LOTS of inside jokes and Hollywood stuff Dude!
I'm surprised "Great Gatsby" didn't get in here, and I don't remember Joan Rivers in IM3, either.
There is a shot of Downey Jr. watching the TV and Fashion Police is on discussing the suit for the new Iron Patriot. It lasts around ten seconds. Still... Joan Rivers nom!
I really recommend We're the Millers. A great ensemble that includes Kathryn Hahn(!) and the Waterfalls moment in the song lineup is a good 'un.
A few thoughts:
1. This is some light-hearted and funny award show we need after the intense Oscar season. They knew you'll never take them seriously when they have wtf category.
2. On screen transformation for Orlando Bloom? Really? What transformation? Supposed others in The Hobbit were not transformed? Evangeline Lily? Ian McKellen? All the dwarves? You mean to say they were all born that way? LOL
3. The winners of Best Kiss usually accepted it by kissing on stage, so Best Shirtless winner (please don't be Jennifer Aniston) shall do it shirtless? Now that's the rating you want.
this might be their best year ever in terms of worthy nominees... both in the 'prestige sense' and 'fun categories'
on that note... ah hum, Nathaniel, we're stilling waiting on those 2013 Film Bitch Extra Category noms... ;)
Nathaniel! Please, please watch We're the Millers. It's a very good comedy.
Honestly, the author of the article ridicules himself, because I find it pretty silly to look down on the MTV-Awards. And many of these nominations are spot on as well. Thank god the insanely overrated "Gravity" isn't up for Best Picture.