Film Critics Popping Out Awards All Over the Place
Another day, another ten film critics awards. This eventually slows down or we eventually tune it out whichever comes first. The tuning out happens mostly when we reach the "no new names" part which looks to have happened this very weekend. I'm guessing, for example, that San Diego's Shailene Woodley pick and Kansas' Michael Fassbender selection are the last "new" names in the acting categories we'll hear. People just can't tear themselves away from Leto & Blanchett even though there are many rich performances worth honoring. Chiwetel Ejiofor is getting there, too. Just about the only category in which there's little consensus is Supporting Actress but that has only three names for film critics: Lupita, Jennifer and June.
But let's march on to the prizes from San Fran, San Diego, Kansas and Houston...
San Francisco Film Critics Circle
No new names but an ever so slightly different configuration of them for the Golden Gate critics. Still that Picture to 12 Years / Director to Gravity thing is really trending. Oscar might well follow suit.
Picture 12 Years a Slave
Director Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Actress Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Supporting Actress Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Supporting Actor James Franco, Spring Breakers
Adapted Screenplay 12 Years a Slave
Original Screenplay American Hustle
Cinematography Gravity
Film Editing Gravity
Production Design Gravity
Animated Film Frozen
Documentary The Act of Killing
Foreign Film Blue is the Warmest Color
Marlon Riggs Award Chris Slatton (Roxie Theater) and Ryan Coogler for Fruitvale Station
Special Citation Computer Chess
Kansas Film Critics Circle
Kansas nearly goes out on a full limb with their animated film prize, but hangs on to the sturdy trunk with a tie, and gives Michael Fassbender his first critics prize for 12 Years...
Picture 12 Years a Slave
Director [tie] Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity and Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Actress Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Supporting Actress Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Supporting Actor Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Adapted Screenplay 12 Years a Slave
Original Screenplay Her
Animated Film [tie] Despicable Me 2 & Frozen
Documentary The Act of Killing
Foreign Film Blue is the Warmest Color
Vince Koehler Award for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Her
San Diego Film Critics Society
San Diego gets lots on Spike Jonze's Her gifting it 3 prizes. They mix up the winners pool with new choices in Actor, Supporting Actress and a couple of tech honors.
Picture Her
Director Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Actress Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Actor Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis
Supporting Actress Shailene Woodley, The Spectacular Now
Supporting Actor Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Ensemble Performance American Hustle
Adapted Screenplay Before Midnight
Original Screenplay Her
Animated Film The Wind Rises
Cinematography To the Wonder
Editing Captain Phillips
Production Design The Great Gatsby
Documentary The Act of Killing
Foreign Film Drug War
Score Arcade Fire, Her
Kyle Counts Awards Destin Cretton (Short Term 12)
Houston Film Critics Society
Houston's affections are split between Gravity (3 prizes) and 12 Years a Slave (4 prizes). They make a somewhat novel choice in Foreign Film and choose novelty for music.
Picture 12 Years a Slave
Director Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Actress Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Supporting Actress Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Supporting Actor Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Screenplay 12 Years a Slave
Animated Film Frozen
Cinematography Gravity
Documentary 20 Feet From Stardom
Foreign Film The Hunt
Score Gravity
Song "Please Mr Kennedy", Inside Llewyn Davis
Reader Comments (6)
Joan Fontaine died. So sad.
Huzzah for Shailene, 20 Feet from Stardom, Dustin Cretton, and the (astonishing) editing of Captain Phillips!
What insane world do we live in that James Franco won more critics awards than Michael Fassbender? And I say that as somebody who champions #considerthisshit happening.
I'm figuring momentum will carry him to a nomination, but I'm actually surprised to see Fassbender actually pick up a prize. I thought he was damn near awful in 12 Years. Thank goodness that Brad Pitt was there to pick up actual "Worst in Show" honors (though Paul Dano was also in the running). I can understand their desire to contribute to this film, but those recognizable faces (save a terrifying Paulson) were jarring at best and just down right awful at worst.
Looking across all the awards, was anyone prepared for Her to have this kind of showing? I'm sure Jonze and crew are a definite thorn in the side of a Fox Searchlight crew that (likely) expected 12 Years to cruise through the critics' awards. It'll be really interesting to see what the more mainstream outlets and guilds settle on, especially with Cuaron winning so many director awards and Gravity having what appears to be a perfect storm or critical respect, artistic vision, and boffo box office.
Well at least it's not a total sweep for Blanchett, Sandra Bullock got some love too. She isn't having a Helen Mirren 'The Queen' type sweep. Just.
Indiana just announced. Nothing too surprising, but Adele won Best Actress, and the runner up was Brie Larson!