The Film Experience

The New York Film Critics Circle was founded way back in 1935 when the Oscars were just 8 years old themselves. In their first year they agreed but disagreed with the NYFCC choosing The Informer and Oscar following suit with a Best Picture nomination for that but the eventual prize to Mutiny on the Bounty. Not much has really changed since. The NYFCC aesthetics aren't anti-Oscar but they're just as likely to go slightly left of field with a more challenging option as their #1 as they are to pre-stamp a future winner.

Here's what they chose this year...

Picture: LA LA LAND

Director Barry Jenkins MOONLIGHT

Screenplay Kenneth Lonergan MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

Actress Isabelle Huppert ELLE & THE THINGS TO COME

Actor Casey Affleck MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

Supporting Actress Michelle Williams MANCHESTER BY THE SEA & CERTAIN WOMEN

Supporting Actor Mahershala Ali MOONLIGHT

Cinematographer James Laxton MOONLIGHT

Animated Film ZOOTOPIA

Non-Fiction Film (Documentary) O.J. MADE IN AMERICA

Foreign Language Film TONI ERDMANN

First Film [TIE] Kelly Fremon Craig THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN and Trey Edward Shults KRISHA

Special Award Thelma Schoonmaker & Julie Dash DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST (25th Anniversary Restoration)

This has been a tremendously good week or so for Moonlight and Manchester by the Sea (both taking 3 prizes from the NYFCC) as they were honored at all five significant awards stops in the past 9 days: the Spirit Nominations, the Gotham Awards, the Critics Choice Nods, and the NBR. The little seen indie Krisha and French goddess Isabelle Huppert also had spectacular weeks being honored at three of the four.

But in the end the top prize went to the musical La La Land. Contrary to what you may have heard from some shocked corners of the internet today this "nothing but the top prize" situation is hardly unprecendented. The same thing happened to United 93 (2006), Return of the King (2003), Mulholland Dr (2001), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Fargo (1996), Quiz Show (1994), The Accident Tourist (1988), Reds (1981), Ordinary People (1980) and presumably several others before that if you look further back.

More on La La Land's awards pull soon.