Sure, you saw Catching Fire and Iron Man 3 , and Oscar contenders are important. But there were many great flicks that didn’t get attention this year.
Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed
Short Term 12
Writer-director Destin Cretton's drama, which swept the awards at South by Southwest, features Brie Larson — the "Geekiest It Girl Ever" — as Grace, a counselor at a group home for wayward kids. The stress of her job is only compounded by her secret pregnancy, and the troubled past that still haunts her. The film features solid supporting work from John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, and Keith Stanfield, but this is truly Larson's showcase; in fact, she just won a Gotham Award for Best Actress for the gutsy performance.
20 Feet from Stardom
You rarely notice the backup singers in songs or pay attention to them onstage, but not only are they absolutely vital, they also have experiences and life stories that are far more interesting than those of the stars they support. This documentary, which goes behind the scenes with several backup singers, includes interviews with legends like Bruce Springsteen and Mick Jagger.
The Sapphires
This Australian comedy, which is very loosely based on a true story, centers on four Aboriginal singers who form a vocal group and are nudged toward soul music by a messy talent scout (Chris O'Dowd) who spots them at a singing competition. They go on tour in Vietnam, sing for troops as the war escalates, and things get very real, but the film never looses its spirit or comedic edge.
