The last important critics awards have been announced and in the week of Oscar nomination voting too. Though they went with many of the names that have previously mentioned at other stops, they made one particularly welcome new call in Michael B Jordan as Best Actor? But are Oscar voters still looking for suggestions? When you've got a field as potentially anemic as this year's Best Actor race where no one seems all that enthused about the very famous probabilities, dig a little deeper. It can only help! The NSFC, formed in 1966 and the third most important US critics group outside of NYFCC and LAFCA (yes some members overlap since "National" includes multiple cities) spread the wealth. Only Spotlight and Carol took more than one prize.
The winners and runners up are after the jump...
PICTURE Spotlight
ru: Carol and Mad Max Fury Road
All three films are looking lockish for Best Picture nominations at this point. What a relief right since no matter what the rest of the field looks like there's three goodies at least.
DIRECTOR Todd Haynes, Carol
ru: McCarthy (Spotlight) & Miller (Mad Max)
Saying prayers daily that Haynes isn't mysteriously shut out by DGA (quite possible) and Oscar (hopefully not) but God isn't an Oscar buff so... Hey, what, if he were *MY* favorites wouldn't lose so often ;)
ACTRESS Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
ru: Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn) and Nina Hoss (Phoenix)
The real question is can Rampling win the Oscar if she's nominated? The media has been convinced it's going to be Brie Larson for months. I've long disagreed thinking it'll be Saoirse...
ACTOR Michael B Jordan, Creed
ru: Geza Rohrig (Son of Saul), and Tom Courtenay (45 Years)
First year since 1988 that New York, Los Angeles, National Society, Boston Society, and National Board all picked different Best Actor wins.
— Nick Davis (@NicksFlickPicks) January 3, 2016
To recap Best Actor has gone like so: New York (Keaton); Los Angeles (Fassbender); Boston (a tie between Dano & DiCaprio); NBR: (Damon)
The NSFC went "pfffft" at every other groups prizes and/or Oscar predictions going with three men who have curiously not been in the conversation despite starring in well liked films and doing strong work at that.
"Another prize???" - KStew who was probably hoping she had a red carpet break this year
SUPPORTING ACTRESS Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria
ru: Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina) & Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)
Can Kristen Stewart make it to Oscar? Seems too good to be true with so much fluff by way of lead roles and mediocre performances clouding that category
SUPPORTING ACTOR Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
ru: Michael Shannon (99 Homes) & Sylvester Stallone (Creed)
Supporting Actor is "The Category Most Likely To Surprise" on Nomination morning since it's the one category where anything like consensus has been hard to come by. Outside of theatrical icon Mark Rylance of course.
Timbuktu still collecting fans a year after its Oscar nomination
SCREENPLAY Spotlight
CINEMATOGRAPHY Carol
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM Timbuktu, Mauritania (last year's Oscar nominated holdover)
NON FICTION FILM Amy
No runner up info was handy on these last categories. I continue to be flabbergasted that Amy has swept up nearly all the doc prizes. Usually documentary races feel more competitive.