LOS ANGELES -- Summer cinema season -- where do you think you're going, baby? We listened to Carly Rae Jepsen, all summer long. We watched "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" -- and watched it online.
But we talked movies -- a cultural conversation driven by a hilarious hulk, an ironic Iran Man, a Dark Knight feared by Limbaugh, a talking, pot-smoking teddy bear, and magic boys who strip.
Summer's over. And this is crazy. But here are some winners -- Sum-Oscars, baby.
Best pictures -- "Killer Joe." Southern Gothic, searing, sexual and scandalous. The Matthew McConaughey Decade continues. And "Beasts of the Southern Wild" seems even more timely during hurricane season.
Worst pictures -- I'd say "Apparition," but they weren't even trying. "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter?" Seriously, how was this not going to suck? And "That's My Boy." Yup, Andy Samberg. There's your future -- Adam Sandler.
Movie of the summer -- "Marvel's The Avengers" was everything a comic book movie should be --big, broad, and loads of fun. Fangirls and fanboys worship writer-director Joss Whedon. And well they should. It sold $1.5 billion in tickets worldwide, too.
Best comic book movie -- "The Dark Knight Rises" didn't become the phenomenon that "The Avengers" did. It had no Heath Ledger and was saddled with a tragic piece of real history. But it was moving, funny, politically charged and smart.
Best kids movie -- A lot of daughterless movie critics didn't get "Brave." But a lot of little girls, and a few of their movie-critic dads, did.
Best romance -- "Ruby Sparks" didn't have a lot of competition, and not everybody got onto its wavelength, but this fantasy romance was sunny, silly and downright deep.
Biggest surprise -- "Magic Mike," a down-and-dirty hit from Steven Soderbergh, a career exoneration for Channing Tatum. And finally, Matthew McConaughey can take his shirt off for a good reason.
Best indie film -- "Beasts of the Southern Wild." Everything a no-budget film should be -- poetic, compelling, with a vivid sense of place.
Biggest indie hit -- "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" reached the under-served over-60 audience to the tune of $45 million.
Best actress -- Quvenzhané Wallis, the face of childhood innocence in "Beasts of the Southern Wild."
Best actor -- Well, shoot, partners, why not honor yer ol' buddy McConaughey as "Killer Joe"?
Best supporting actors -- Mark Ruffalo, giving pathos to The Hulk in "Marvel's The Avengers"; Chris Messina, bringing giddiness to the guy whose brother writes "Ruby Sparks" to life, and also classing up "Celeste & Jesse Forever."
Best supporting actresses -- Anne Hathaway might be a real Oscar contender for "Les Miserables," but her Oscar campaign started with Catwoman's purr. Mee-oow. And Juno Temple dazzled in her "Baby Doll" tribute, "Killer Joe."
Biggest busts -- "Battleship." "The Watch," "Searching for a Friend at the End of the World." And "Katy Perry: Part of Me." All of her.
Biggest letdowns -- "Rock of Ages" wasted a great, boozy Tom Cruise turn. And "Dark Shadows" found its audience -- it was just older and smaller than Johnny Depp/Tim Burton are used to.
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