Critics Choice Award Nominations: "The Irishman and Little Women ... in Hollywood"
Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 2:05PM
NATHANIEL R in BFCA, Critics Choice Awards, film critics, precursor awards

by Nathaniel R

The Critics Choice Association (previously known as the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association) has about 420 members. It's the largest critics organization in the US of which your host here is but 1 voice so dont blame him when the votes go all wrong and veer closer to Oscar prognostication than a reflection of the critical hive mind over the course of 2019. As with the industry voters who vote on Oscars, SAG, and Guild prizes, film critics tend to forget what they loved the first 9 months of the year and focus primarily on releases from October, November, and December. 

This year The Irishman leads the nominations with 14. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is close behind with 12 nods. Little Women takes position number three with 9 nominations. Herewith the nominees for 2019 in both film and television...

FILM AWARDS


BEST PICTURE 

The one surprise here is surely Uncut Gems since it doesn't feel like an Oscar prediction.  It's a tough break for The Two Popes though which we were sure would show. 

 

BEST ACTOR

 Basically they nominated most of the people with a hope of landing an Oscar nomination, EXCEPT Taron Egerton (Rocketman) and Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes) so that's a tough break for both of them. Even with seven nominations they didn't make it.  

BEST ACTRESS

Same thing in Best Actress though that's really a harsh blow to Elisabeth Moss (Her Smell) and Alfre Woodard (Clemency) who have both won regular raves for their work... but sometimes reviews aren't enough.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Hopkins but no Pryce in lead which is a bit of a surprise! We'd argue that two of the six are unarguable leads (Dafoe, Pitt) given that they're starring in duet films and maybe four (depending on how you feel about Hopkins and Hanks, though we're lead for the former and supporting for the latter but it's a close call either way). So outside of The Irishman there's not much room for supporting actors. Grrr.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Not the least bit surprising that this is the traditional predictions for supporting actress plus one for good measure but who gets left out on Oscar nom morning? Oh but wait. They left out Kathy Bates for Richard Jewell. We think that's a good call, merit wise (the film doesn't give Bates much to do beyond worry and cry) but it's still surprising from a group that loves to prognosticate. 

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS 

You know what? This wouldn't be my six choices exactly but it's SO much better than the CCA usually does in this category so we have to say a resounding "WELL DONE!" 

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

Seven nominees for Ensemble, too? Remember when the CCMAs use to always have six nominees and we thought it was too much. Who knew that that would soon be the good old times.  Bombshell is a bit of a surprise in this mix. 

 

BEST DIRECTOR

Another category with seven nominees. The Safdies are the surprise.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

All of these films have a good shot at an Oscar nomination in this category but it's a tough category and we think the writing branch might also like Pain & Glory and The Two Popes (campaigning original) so they have a shot at spoiling that quintet's party.  

 

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

 Oh look they put Two Popes in Adapted (which it supposedly is) even though it's campaigning original. Confusing. What will Oscar do? Tough break for Hustlers that even with six nominations it couldn't factor in.

 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Strong category.  

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Another SEVEN wide field. Aren't there rules to keep the categories a certain size? Love to see Parasite here.

 

BEST EDITING

Bit of a surprise to see 1917 here since the whole point of its editing is too look entirely non-existent.  

 

BEST COSTUME DESIGN 

No Hustlers? BOO.

BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

But.... the de-aging effects of The Irishman are bad.  And what is The Aeronauts doing here? 

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

BEST ACTION MOVIE

BEST COMEDY

Yes, we did receive a note that The Farewell was considered "comedy" 

BEST SCI-FI OR HORROR MOVIE 

Only four?

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

 Another reminder that France probably could have had two nominees at the Oscars this year if the rules were different on submissions. 

 

BEST SONG

 Seven nominees in such a weak year for Best Song. Unnecessary! But thrilled to see "Glasgow" there where it belongs..

BEST SCORE

I do not remember the music in Marriage Story but plan to see it again so will listen in. 

TELEVISION AWARDS

Television mainstay and big hit "This is Us" and the Netflix miniseries "When They See Us" led the television portion of the awards in terms of nomination tallies. 

BEST DRAMA SERIES

 

 

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

8 nominees is excessive. 

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Look at all these incredibly talented women.  Is Snook really a lead in Succession though?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

No Succession men?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

 

BEST COMEDY SERIES

Yes, One Day at a Time! 

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES 

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

The only thing important here is that D'ARCY CARDEN and RITA MORENO are nominated for things that Emmy has unforgivably ignored.   

BEST LIMITED SERIES

BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Anne Hathaway was super in her episode of Modern Love but that's a hard thing to hold up against women who had hours and hours to flesh out their characterizations.  

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

BEST ANIMATED SERIES

BEST TALK SHOW

BEST COMEDY SPECIAL 

 

The 25th annual Critics Choice Movie Awards will be broadcast live on the CW on January 12th, 2020, which is the night before Oscar nominations are announcd. 

Article originally appeared on The Film Experience (http://thefilmexperience.net/).
See website for complete article licensing information.