Adrien Brody is on his way to his second Oscar nomination. Maybe his second victory.
When those critics honors start coming, a trickle quickly turns into a tsunami. There's so much to go over, but here's the general state of the race. Best Picture is a mess, with at least four contenders nabbing multiple top prizes this past week. Still, Anora and The Brutalist lead the pack. Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison are the critical frontrunners of their respective races, but Colman Domingo and Marianne Jean-Baptiste are trailing closely behind. Kieran Culkin is sweeping the Supporting Actor awards (even though he's a co-lead), but it's not a Da'Vine Joy Randolph-style sweep. After all, Maclin, Borisov, Pearce, and Washington have all won something. In Supporting Actress, chaos reigns…
AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION
Top Ten Films of the Year:
01) NICKEL BOYS
02) SING SING
03) THE PIANO LESSON
04) GLADIATOR II
05) WICKED
06) EMILIA PÉREZ
07) ALBANY ROAD
08) THE FIRE INSIDE
09) EXHIBITING FORGIVENESS
10) DAHOMEY
Best Director: RaMell Ross, NICKEL BOYS
Best Actress: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, HARD TRUTHS
Best Actor: Colman Domingo, SING SING
Best Supporting Actress: Danielle Deadwyler, THE PIANO LESSON
Best Supporting Actor: Clarence Maclin, SING SING
Best Ensemble: THE PIANO LESSON
Best Screenplay: Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, SING SING
Best Original Score: Kris Bowers, THE WILD ROBOT
Best Original Song: "Bricks" from EXHIBITING FORGIVENESS
Best Animated Feature: THE WILD ROBOT
Best Documentary: DAUGHTERS and DAHOMEY (tie)
Best International Film: EMILIA PÉREZ
Best Independent Feature: SHE TAUGHT LOVE
Beacon Award: Nicole Avant, THE SIX TRIPLE EIGHT
Emerging Director: Malcolm Washington, THE PIANO LESSON
Breakout Performance: Ray Fisher, THE PIANO LESSON
Spotlight Award: RaMell Ross, NICKEL BOYS
Innovator Award: Paul Tazewell, WICKED
It's so lovely to see Daughters and Dahomey winning something. Also, more love for The Piano Lesson cast, especially the film's breakout Ray Fisher, whose brilliant performance feels somewhat lost in the conversation. The same goes for Exhibiting Forgiveness, a little gem that's been overshadowed by bigger titles this season.
ATLANTA FILM CRITICS CIRCLE
Top 10 Films:
01) ANORA
02) CHALLENGERS
03) NICKEL BOYS
04) THE BRUTALIST
05) CONCLAVE
06) DUNE: PART TWO
07) SING SING
08) WICKED
09) THE WILD ROBOT
10) I SAW THE TV GLOW
Best Director: Brady Corbet, THE BRUTALIST
Best Actress: Mikey Madison, ANORA
Best Actor: Adrien Brody, THE BRUTALIST
Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande, WICKED
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A REAL PAIN
Best Breakthrough Performer: Mikey Madison, ANORA
Best Voice Performance: Lupita Nyong'o, THE WILD ROBOT
Best Ensemble Cast: SING SING
Best Original Screenplay: Sean Baker, ANORA
Best Adapted Screenplay: RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes, NICKEL BOYS
Best Cinematography: Jomo Fray, NICKEL BOYS
Best Original Score: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, CHALLENGERS
Best Stunt Work: FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA
Best Animated Film: THE WILD ROBOT
Best Documentary: SUGARCANE
Best Foreign Language Film: KNEECAP
Best First Feature: THELMA, Josh Margolin
Best Dog: Peggy as Dogpool, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Why don't they have an equivalent cat category? Especially this year, when feline movie stars were all the rage, from animation to live-action, from family-friendly narratives to the heights of horror cinema. Honestly, that might be an idea for a future end-of-the-year article. Are there any cat people among the readership?
BOSTON ONLINE FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION
Best Film/Top Ten:
01) THE BRUTALIST
02) THE SUBSTANCE
03) ANORA
04) I SAW THE TV GLOW
05) DUNE: PART TWO
06) NICKEL BOYS
07) HARD TRUTHS
08) FLOW
09) WICKED
10) NOSFERATU
Best Director: Brady Corbet, THE BRUTALIST
Best Actress: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, HARD TRUTHS
Best Actor: Adrien Brody, THE BRUTALIST
Best Supporting Actress: Margaret Qualley, THE SUBSTANCE
Best Supporting Actor: Guy Pearce, THE BRUTALIST
Best Ensemble: CONCLAVE
Best Screenplay: Sean Baker, ANORA
Best Editing: Joe Walker, DUNE: PART TWO
Best Cinematography: Lol Crawley, THE BRUTALIST
Best Score: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, CHALLENGERS
Best Animated Film: FLOW
Best Documentary: NO OTHER LAND
Best International Feature: THE BEAST
I wonder if Jean-Baptiste's Golden Globe snub has incentivized critics groups to rally behind her. It would be a lovely outcome, though it might not help her get the Oscar. Remember how Ethan Hawke dominated the Best Actor critics prizes for First Reformed?
CHICAGO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION
Best Picture: THE BRUTALIST
Best Director: RaMell Ross, NICKEL BOYS
Best Actress: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, HARD TRUTHS
Best Actor: Adrien Brody, THE BRUTALIST
Best Supporting Actress: Natasha Lyonne, HIS THREE DAUGHTERS
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A REAL PAIN
Most Promising Performer: Clarence Maclin, SING SING
Best Original Screenplay: Jesse Eisenberg, A REAL PAIN
Best Adapted Screenplay: RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes, NICKEL BOYS
Best Editing: Marco Costa, CHALLENGERS
Best Cinematography: Jomo Fray, NICKEL BOYS
Best Production Design: Craig Lathrop, NOSFERATU
Best Costume Design: Jenny Beavan, FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA
Best Original Score: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, CHALLENGERS
Best Use of Visual Effects: THE SUBSTANCE
Best Animated Feature: FLOW
Best Documentary: NO OTHER LAND
Best Foreign Language Film: ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT
Milos Stehlik Award for Breakthrough Filmmaker: RaMell Ross, NICKEL BOYS
It's legitimately impressive that not even when picking a dark horse contender can critics find in themselves to honor an actual supporting performance in their respective acting categories. No, Natasha Lyonne is not supporting in His Three Daughters, no matter what Netflix says.
LAS VEGAS FILM CRITICS SOCIETY
Best Picture: DUNE: PART TWO
Best Director: Denis Villeneuve, DUNE: PART TWO
Best Actress: Mikey Madison, ANORA
Best Actor: Adrien Brody, THE BRUTALIST
Best Supporting Actress: Zoë Saldaña, EMILIA PÉREZ
Best Supporting Actor: Denzel Washington, GLADIATOR II
Best Youth Performance – Female: Maisy Stella, MY OLD ASS
Best Youth Performance – Male: Izaac Wang, DÌDI
Best Ensemble: CONCLAVE
Best Original Screenplay: Brady Corbet & Mona Fastvold, THE BRUTALIST
Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Straughan, CONCLAVE
Best Editing: Joe Walker, DUNE: PART TWO
Best Cinematography: Greig Fraser, DUNE: PART TWO
Best Art Direction: Craig Lathrop, NOSFERATU
Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell, WICKED
Best Visual Effects: DUNE: PART TWO
Best Action Stunts: THE FALL GUY
Best Score: Hans Zimmer, DUNE: PART TWO
Best Song: "Beautiful That Way" from THE LAST SHOWGIRL
Best Animated Film: THE WILD ROBOT
Best Documentary: WILL & HARPER
Best International Film: EMILIA PÉREZ
Best Action Movie: FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA
Best Comedy: MY OLD ASS
Best Horror/Sci-Fi: THE SUBSTANCE
Best Family Film: WICKED
Best Animal Performance: Frodo, A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE
Breakout Director: J.T. Mollner, STRANGE DARLING
William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award: Hans Zimmer
Will Conclave win any acting awards apart from ensemble honors this season? I still feel like Ralph Fiennes can get the Oscar, at long last, but these regional groups' reluctance to give him the prize is making me less sure. Another major Conclave question is what in heavens will become our Adapted Screenplay frontrunner. That category is all over the place. Still not as all over the place as Supporting Actress.
Also, yay, an award for a cat!
MICHIGAN MOVIE CRITICS GUILD
Best Picture: ANORA
Best Director: Brady Corbet, THE BRUTALIST
Best Actress: Mikey Madison, ANORA
Best Actor: Adrien Brody, THE BRUTALIST
Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande, WICKED
Best Supporting Actor: Guy Pearce, THE BRUTALIST
Breakthrough Award: Mikey Madison, ANORA
Best Ensemble: CONCLAVE
Best Stunts: MONKEY MAN
Best Screenplay: Sean Baker, ANORA
Best Animated Film: THE WILD ROBOT
Best Documentary: SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY
MMCG Award for Film Excellence: THE FIRE INSIDE
The Fire Inside finally gets some love this season, even if it is in a category specific to Michigan stories and artists. It's a good movie, much better than what I anticipated from a real-life inspirational sports story. Barry Jenkins' script adds unexpected complexity, the cast is excellent, and it's better shot than most mainstream American cinema of recent vintage. Having a cinematographer in the director's chair gets you that far, at the very least. Indeed, I'd go as far as saying I prefer Rachel Morrison in the director's chair than as a DP.
PHOENIX CRITICS CIRCLE
Best Picture: THE BRUTALIST
Best Director: Brady Corbet, THE BRUTALIST
Best Actress: Mikey Madison, ANORA
Best Actor: Adrien Brody, THE BRUTALIST
Best Supporting Actress: Margaret Qualley, THE SUBSTANCE
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A REAL PAIN
Best Screenplay: Jesse Eisenberg, A REAL PAIN
Best Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke, NOSFERATU
Best Score: Daniel Blumberg, THE BRUTALIST
Best Animated Film: THE WILD ROBOT
Best Documentary: SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY
Best Foreign Language Film: ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT
Best Comedy Film: ANORA
Best Science-Fiction Film: DUNE: PART TWO
Best Horror Film: NOSFERATU
Qualley may ride her leading lady's success and the public's love for The Substance to her first Oscar nomination. It seems plausible at this point in the season. Also, have you noticed how Nosferatu keeps popping up? It's difficult to discern the general consensus on Eggers' latest since it has yet to open in theaters, but I love it plenty and would be very happy to see it nab a handful of so-called below-the-line nominations. That being said, Blaschke's work in the vampire flick doesn't compare to the miracles he accomplished with The Lighthouse or even the bizarre runic-like movements of The Northman's camera. Keep your expectations tempered on that front. Still, it's a gorgeous Gothic nightmare.
SAN DIEGO FILM CRITICS SOCIETY
Best Picture: SING SING
Runners-Up: ANORA and CONCLAVE
Best Director: Denis Villeneuve, DUNE: PART TWO
Runner-Up: Greg Kwedar, SING SING
Best Actress: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, HARD TRUTHS
Runner-Up: Amy Adams, NIGHTBITCH
Best Actor: Colman Domingo, SING SING
Runners-Up: Adrien Brody, THE BRUTALIST and Daniel Craig, QUEER
Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande, WICKED
Runner-Up: Joan Chen, DÌDI
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A REAL PAIN
Runner-Up: Denzel Washington, GLADIATOR II
Best Comedic Performance: June Squibb, THELMA
Runner-Up: Michael Keaton, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Best Youth Performance: Izaac Wang, DÌDI
Runner-Up: Alix West Lefler, SPEAK NO EVIL
Best Ensemble: SEPTEMBER 5
Runner-Up: CONCLAVE
Breakthrough Performance: Mikey Madison, ANORA
Runner-Up: Nell Tiger Free, THE FIRST OMEN
Best Original Screenplay: Sean Baker, ANORA
Runner-Up: Justin Kuritzkes, CHALLENGERS
Best Adapted Screenplay: Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, SING SING
Runner-Up: Denis Villeneuve & Jon Spaihts, DUNE: PART TWO
Best Editing: Hansjörg Weißbrich, SEPTEMBER 5
Runner-Up: Marco Costa, CHALLENGERS
Best Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke, NOSFERATU
Runner-Up: Stéphane Fontaine, CONCLAVE
Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley, WICKED
Runners-Up: Craig Lathrop, NOSFERATU and Patrice Vermette, DUNE: PART TWO
Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell, WICKED
Runner-Up: Jacqueline Getty & Rainy Jacobs, THE LAST SHOWGIRL
Best Sound Design: DUNE: PART TWO
Runner-Up: CIVIL WAR
Best Use of Music: A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
Runner-Up: CHALLENGERS
Best Visual Effects: THE SUBSTANCE
Runners-Up: DUNE: PART TWO and KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Best Stunt Choreography: THE FALL GUY
Runner-Up: MONKEY MAN
Best Animated Film: FLOW
Runner-Up: THE WILD ROBOT
Best Documentary: SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY
Runner-Up: DAUGHTERS
Best Foreign Language Film: ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT
Best First Feature: BLINK TWICE, Zoë Kravitz
Runner-Up: DÌDI, Sean Wang
Special Award for Body of Work: Nicholas Hoult, JUROR #2, NOSFERATU, THE ORDER and THE GARFIELD MOVIE
India's Oscar selection might become one of the big fumbles in recent awards history. All We Imagine As Light might be a tad too lowkey for mainstream organizations' usual tastes, but all these prizes are bound to draw attention. Much more attention than Lost Ladies is getting. Do people even know that the Indian Best International Film submission has been available on Netflix?
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA FILM CRITICS CIRCLE
Best Film: ANORA
Runner-Up: SING SING
Best Director: Brady Corbet, THE BRUTALIST
Runner-Up: Sean Baker, ANORA
Best Actress: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, HARD TRUTHS
Runner-Up: Mikey Madison, ANORA
Best Actor: Colman Domingo, SING SING
Runner-Up: Adrien Body, THE BRUTALIST
Best Supporting Actress: Joan Chen, DÌDI
Runner-Up: Zoë Saldaña, EMILIA PÉREZ
Best Supporting Actor: Yura Borisov, ANORA
Runner-Up: Kieran Culkin, A REAL PAIN
Best Original Screenplay: Sean Baker, ANORA
Best Adapted Screenplay: Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, SING SING
Runner-Up: Peter Straughan, CONCLAVE
Best Editing: Sean Baker, ANORA
Runner-Up: Dávid Jancsó, THE BRUTALIST
Best Cinematography: Lol Crawley, THE BRUTALIST
Runner-Up: Jarin Blaschke, NOSFERATU
Best Production Design: Judy Becker, THE BRUTALIST
Runner-Up: Craig Lathrop, NOSFERATU
Best Original Score: Daniel Blumberg, THE BRUTALIST
Runner-Up: Volker Bertelman, CONCLAVE
Best Animated Feature: FLOW
Runner-Up: THE WILD ROBOT
Best Documentary Feature: SUGARCANE
Runner-Up: WILL & HARPER
Best International Feature Film: THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG
Runner-Up: EMILIA PÉREZ
Special Citation for Independent Cinema: FEMME
Joan Chen is a fantastic choice for Best Supporting Actress, even though she's been forgotten by many of the bigger awards bodies. It should be noted that she's in an actual supporting role, unlike her runner-up here. But speaking of Zoë Saldaña, was I the only one who expected her to collect a little mountain of trinkets throughout the season? So far, the critics groups seem reluctant to shower Emilia Pérez with love. I still think it might be this year's Oscar nomination leader.
ST. LOUIS FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION
Best Film: DUNE: PART TWO
Runner-Up: ANORA
Best Director: Denis Villeneuve, DUNE: PART TWO
Runner-Up: Mohammad Rasoulof, THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG
Best Actress: Mikey Madison, ANORA
Runner-Up: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, HARD TRUTHS
Best Actor: Colman Domingo, SING SING
Runner-Up: Adrien Brody, THE BRUTALIST
Best Supporting Actress: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, NICKEL BOYS
Runner-Up: Ariana Grande, WICKED
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A REAL PAIN
Runner-Up: Denzel Washington, GLADIATOR II
Best Vocal Performance: Lupita Nyong'o, THE WILD ROBOT
Runner-Up: Maya Hawke, INSIDE OUT 2
Best Ensemble: CONCLAVE
Runner-Up: SATURDAY NIGHT
Best Original Screenplay: Gil Kenan & Jason Reitman, SATURDAY NIGHT
Runner-Up: Mike Leigh, HARD TRUTHS
Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Straughan, CONCLAVE
Runner-Up: Jon Spaihts & Denis Villeneuve, DUNE: PART TWO
Best Editing: Nicholas Monsour, NICKEL BOYS
Runner-Up: Hansjörg Weißbrich, SEPTEMBER 5
Best Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke, NOSFERATU
Runner-Up: Greig Fraser, DUNE: PART TWO
Best Production Design: Craig Lathrop, NOSFERATU
Runner-Up: Nathan Crowley, WICKED
Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell, WICKED
Runner-Up: Linda Muir, NOSFERATU
Best Visual Effects: DUNE: PART TWO
Runner-Up: KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Best Stunts: THE FALL GUY
Runner-Up: FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA
Best Original Score: Daniel Blumberg, THE BRUTALIST
Runner-Up: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, CHALLENGERS
Best Soundtrack: A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
Runner-Up: WICKED
Best Animated Film: THE WILD ROBOT
Runner-Up: WALLACE & GROMIT: VENGEANCE MOST FOWL
Best Documentary Feature: NO OTHER LAND
Runner-Up: SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY
Best International Feature Film: THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG
Runner-Up: DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD
Best Action Film: FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA
Runner-Up: DUNE: PART TWO
Best Comedy Film: HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS
Runner-Up: DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Best Horror Film: NOSFERATU
Runner-Up: THE SUBSTANCE
Best First Film: RaMell Ross, NICKEL BOYS
Runner-Up: Malcolm Washington, THE PIANO LESSON
Best Scene: CIVIL WAR, "What kind of American are you?"
Runner-Up: FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA, "War Rig Battle"
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is another fun option. It would be an even happier gesture if she were recognized for her body of work. The actress is fantastic in Nickel Boys but even more impressive in Exhibiting Forgiveness. In other news, it seems some people are choosing to be proactive about keeping Denis Villeneuve in the conversation after a weak start to Dune: Part Two's awards run.
TORONTO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION
Best Film: NICKEL BOYS
Runners-Up: ANORA and THE BRUTALIST
Best Director: RaMell Ross, NICKEL BOYS
Runners-Up: Sean Baker, ANORA and Payal Kapadia, ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT
Outstanding Lead Performance: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, HARD TRUTHS and Mikey Madison, ANORA
Runners-Up: Adrien Brody, THE BRUTALIST; Colman Domingo, SING SING; Ralph Fiennes, CONCLAVE; Karla Sofía Gascón, EMILIA PÉREZ; Demi Moore, THE SUBSTANCE
Outstanding Supporting Performance: Yura Borisov, ANORA and Kieran Culkin, A REAL PAIN
Runners-Up: Clarence Maclin, SING SING; Zoë Saldaña, EMILIA PÉREZ; Jeremy Strong, THE APPRENTICE; Denzel Washington, GLADIATOR II
Outstanding Performance in a Canadian Film: Félix-Antoine Duval, SHEPHERDS
Runners-Up: Deragh Campbell, MATT AND MARA and Roy Dupuis, RUMOURS
Breakthrough Performance: Clarence Maclin, SING SING
Runners-Up: Karla Sofía Gascón, EMILIA PÉREZ and Mikey Madison, ANORA
Best Original Screenplay: Payal Kapadia, ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT
Runners-Up: Sean Baker, ANORA and Justin Kuritzkes, CHALLENGERS
Best Adapted Screenplay: RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes, NICKEL BOYS
Runners-Up: Peter Straughan, CONCLAVE and Jon Spaiths & Denis Villeneuve, DUNE: PART TWO
Allan King Documentary Award: DAHOMEY
Runners-Up: OCCUPIED CITY and SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D'ÉTAT
Best International Feature: ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT
Runners-Up: EVIL DOES NOT EXIST and GREEN BORDER
Best First Feature: Anna Kendrick, WOMAN OF THE HOUR
Runners-Up: R.T. Thorne, 40 ACRES; Annie Baker, JANET PLANET; Vera Drew, THE PEOPLE'S JOKER
Special Citations: NO OTHER LAND
The Canada-specific categories are always the most interesting to see from the Toronto critics. However, they have only announced their nominees for their Canadian feature and Canadian Documentary without a winner being decided. In other news, the discrepancy of release dates between the US and their northern neighbors means things like Occupied City are eligible here. It's nice to see Steve McQueen be recognized even if Blitz has been all but forgotten by critics.
What do you make of these early critics honors? And who do you want to see crash this messy Best Supporting Actress race?