“OBAA” stays on top but “Sinners” is on the rise

by Cláudio Alves

SINNERS is gaining steam and catching up. | © Warner Bros.

It’s been two weeks since our last update on regional critics prizes and other such organizations. Much has happened in the meantime, though One Battle After Another remains the frontrunner with the most wins. And yet, Sinners is starting to show some strength. So far, Coogler’s southern gothic vampire proto-musical mélange is the only film to take Best Picture honors away from PTA’s latest. That’s not to say these are the only choices on voters’ minds. In a season already full of repetition, when notions of “spreading the wealth” are thoroughly repudiated, the runner-up mentions often tell a more interesting story than the winners' list. Just look at the LAFCA…

LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

Best Picture: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: THE SECRET AGENT

Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS

Best Leading Performances: Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU and Ethan Hawke, BLUE MOON
Runners-up: Timothée Chalamet, MARTY SUPREME and Wagner Moura, THE SECRET AGENT

Best Supporting Performances: Stellan Skarsgård, SENTIMENTAL VALUE and Teyana Taylor, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runners-up: Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, SENTIMENTAL VALUE and Andrew Scott, BLUE MOON

Best Screenplay: Jafar Panahi, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Runner-up: Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY

Best Editing: Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie, MARTY SUPREME
Runner-up: Andy Jurgensen, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Cinematography: Adolpho Veloso, TRAIN DREAMS
Runner-up: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS

Best Production Design: Hannah Beachler, SINNERS
Runner-up: Tamara Deverell, FRANKENSTEIN

Best Music Score: Kangding Ray, SIRĀT 
Runner-up: Ludwig Göransson, SINNERS

Best Animation: LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN
Runner-up: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS

Best Documentary Film: MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART 1 – LAST AIR IN MOSCOW
Runner-up: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR

Best Film Not in the English Language: THE SECRET AGENT
Runner-up: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT

New Generation Award: Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY

Douglas Edwards Experimental Film Prize: Albert Serra, AFTERNOONS OF SOLITUDE; Thom Anderson for his body of work

Career Achievement Award: Philip Kaufman

Special Citation: Judy Kim, Gardena Cinema

I’ve got to be honest with you, dear reader. This is not the most exciting lineup from the same group that gave us the Small Axe quintet as a collective Best Film winner, or such exciting acting winners as Mary Kay Place in Diane and Yoon Jeong-hee for Poetry. Still, it’s a respectable roster, with special love for The Secret Agent, which came close to its first top prize of the season. Better luck next time, I guess. The same goes for Wagner Moura, listed among the runners-up for Best Leading Performance. Still in the spirit of complaining, let me harp on the insanity of taking away gender limitations on the acting categories while preserving two winners per prize and still committing to studio-mandated category fraud. If Stellan Skarsgård is a supporting actor in Sentimental Value, so is Renate Reinsve, and we have a film with no leads.

But not everything is disappointing or unexciting. It’s nice to see Little Amélie pick a Best Animated Film trophy in a season when Netflix seems bound to steamroll its way to an easy Oscar win. I’m also in love with that Albert Serra citation for the Douglas Edwards Prize, a notable quirk of a critics' association actually committed to recognizing experimental cinema.

AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

Top Ten Films of the Year: 

1. SINNERS
2. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
3. HEDDA
4. FRANKENSTEIN
5. HAMNET
6. WICKED: FOR GOOD
7. F1
8. ONE OF THEM DAYS
9. THE KNIFE
10. THE SMASHING MACHINE 

Best Director: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Best Actress: Tessa Thompson, HEDDA
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan, SINNERS
Best Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku, SINNERS
Best Supporting Actor: Damson Idris, F1
Emerging Face (Actress): Chase Infiniti, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Emerging Face (Actor): Miles Caton, SINNERS
Best Ensemble: SINNERS
Best Writing: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Best Music: Ludwig Göransson, SINNERS
Best Animated Feature: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Best Documentary: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
Best Independent Feature: HEDDA
Best Animated Short: BLACK MAN, BLACK MAN
Best Documentary Short: HOOPS, HOPES & DREAMS
Best Live-Action Short: THE REBEL GIRLS

Congratulations to Tessa Thompson on a well-deserved victory, and for giving us a break from the Buckley vs Byrne showdown that’s been dominating the season so far. I can’t lie, Idris in Supporting Actor over the likes of Delroy Lindo is a bit eyebrow-raising. If he can’t catch a break here, can we really consider the thespian a viable contender in the Oscar race? Right now, it seems that, if Sinners has any hopes of crashing the Best Supporting Actor conversation, it’ll do it through Miles Caton, another category fraud case among so many others.

BOSTON SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS

Best Film: SINNERS
Best Director: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Best Actress: Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU
Best Actor: Ethan Hawke, BLUE MOON
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan, WEAPONS
Best Supporting Actor: Stellan Skarsgård, SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Best Ensemble: MARTY SUPREME
Best Original Screenplay: Robert Kaplow, BLUE MOON
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Editing: Stephen Mirrione, F1
Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Best Score: Ludwig Göransson, SINNERS
Best Animated Film: ENDLESS COOKIE
Best Documentary: AFTERNOONS OF SOLITUDE
Best Non-English Language Film: SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Best New Filmmaker: Eva Victor, SORRY, VICTOR
Best in Show (Animal Performance): Indy, GOOD BOY

See what I mean about Sinners picking up some momentum in the Best Film race. Best Director, too, for that matter, after the first week of critics' prizes posited Panahi as PTA’s greatest competition. Anyway, there’s nothing especially interesting here, besides Endless Cookie and Afternoons of Solitude. No outrageous winners either, but that’s the nature of the race when consensus starts to settle in. If only all groups were like the Florida Critics, whose nominations actually got me excited to see their winner picks. Idiosyncrasy and personality aren’t bad things for critics to showcase, and it’d be nice if these prizes could reflect that. Alas, it’s more of the same, more often than not.

CHICAGO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

Best Picture: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Actress: Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU
Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet, MARTY SUPREME
Best Supporting Actress: Teyana Taylor, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Supporting Actor: Benicio del Toro, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Most Promising Performer: Chase Infiniti, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Original Screenplay: Jafar Panahi, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Editing: Andy Jurgensen, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Cinematography: Michael Bauman, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Production Design: Tamara Deverell & Shane Vieau, FRANKENSTEIN
Best Costume Design: Kate Hawley, FRANKENSTEIN
Best Use of Visual Effects: SINNERS
Best Original Score: Jonny Greenwood, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Animated Feature: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Best Documentary: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
Best Foreign Language Film: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Milos Stehlik Breakthrough Filmmaker Award: Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY

The other day, I was chatting with a fellow cinephile friend who also follows the awards season. They spoke about their dislike of Breakthrough and Debut awards because they might prevent the artists recognized there from being taken seriously in the main categories. Looking at lists like these, I can’t help but wonder if Chase Infiniti and Eva Victor are being given a boost or hindered by their many wins in those specialized races. I’m starting to think of Sorry, Baby as a surprise Best Original Screenplay nominee come Oscar morning, but it’s hard to tell when the filmmaker’s achievement is so often relegated to these first film prizes. Anyway, it’s nice to see good art celebrated and, when all is said and done, that’s the point of these things.

DALLAS-FORT WORTH FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

Best Picture: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: SINNERS

Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS

Best Actress: Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU
Runner-up: Jessie Buckley, HAMNET

Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Timothée Chalamet, MARTY SUPREME

Best Supporting Actress: Teyana Taylor, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Amy Madigan, WEAPONS

Best Supporting Actor: Stellan Skarsgård, SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Runner-up: Benicio del Toro, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS

Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Runner-up: Adolpho Veloso, TRAIN DREAMS

Best Musical Score: Ludwig Göransson, SINNERS
Runner-up: Alexandre Desplat, FRANKENSTEIN

Best Foreign Language Film: SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Runner-up: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT

Best Documentary: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
Runner-up: 2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA

Best Animated Film: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Runner-up: ARCO

Russel Smith Award (for best low-budget or cutting-edge independent film): IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT

Some categories are starting to form a firm consensus pick, at least as far as critics' prizes are concerned. Sinners in Cinematography and Score, The Perfect Neighbor in Documentary, KPop Demon Hunters in Animated Film. Interestingly, there is no consensus for International Film beyond Neon. Whatever happens, it’s likely that the distributor that went on a spending spree at Cannes will get the Oscar and all precursors in that race – whether through Sentimental Value, It Was Just An Accident, The Secret Agent, No Other Choice or Sirāt.

INDIANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION

Best Picture: SINNERS
Runner-up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS

Best Lead Performance: Timothée Chalamet, MARTY SUPREME
Runner-up: Jessie Buckley, HAMNET

Best Supporting Performance: Benicio del Toro, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Amy Madigan, WEAPONS

Best Vocal/Motion-Capture Performance: Will Patton, TRAIN DREAMS
Runner-up: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS

Best Ensemble Acting: SINNERS
Runner-up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Breakthrough of the Year: Chase Infiniti, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Miles Caton, SINNERS

Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Runner-up: Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie, MARTY SUPREME

Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Mike Flanagan, THE LIFE OF CHUCK

Best Editing: Michael P. Shaywer, SINNERS
Runner-up: Andy Jurgensen, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Runner-up: Michael Bauman, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Musical Score: Ludwig Göransson, SINNERS
Runner-up: Jonny Greenwood, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Special Effects: FRANKENSTEIN
Runner-up: SINNERS

Best Stunt/Movement Choreography: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
Runner-up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Animated Film: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Runner-up: THE LEGEND OF HEI 2

Best Documentary Film: THE TENDERNESS TOUR
Runner-up: ORWELL: 2+2=5

Best Foreign Language Film: NO OTHER CHOICE
Runner-up: SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Original Vision Award: GOOD BOY
Runner-up: THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE

The Edward Johnson-Ott Hoosier Award: Chase Infiniti, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

One of these days, I have to check out Good Boy. You can look up to that review, I guess. Though let me give you fair warning – I’m a cat person. There’s not much to report otherwise, apart from maybe The Tenderness Tour in Best Documentary. Well, and that runner-up mention for The Life of Chuck’s script, but I’m trying to pretend that didn’t happen for my peace of mind.

MICHIGAN MOVIE CRITICS GUILD

Best Picture: SINNERS
Best Director: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, HAMNET
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan, SINNERS
Best Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku, SINNERS
Best Supporting Actor: Miles Caton, SINNERS
Best Breakthrough: Miles Caton, SINNERS
Best Ensemble: SINNERS
Best Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Stunts: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Best Animated Film: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Best Documentary: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
The MMCG Award for Film Excellence: Judy Greer, THE LONG WALK

Damn, the Michigan Critics really loved Miles Caton. Good on them for not pigeonholing the young actor in the Breakthrough category. However, could we spread the wealth a little more? Just a little bit… pretty please.

NEW YORK FILM CRITICS ONLINE

Best Picture: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: SINNERS

Best Director: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Runner-up: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, HAMNET
Runner-up: Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU

Best Actor: Ethan Hawke, BLUE MOON
Runner-up: Timothée Chalamet, MARTY SUPREME

Best Supporting Actress: Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, SENTIMENAL VALUE
Runner-up: Amy Madigam, WEAPONS

Best Supporting Actor: Jacob Elordi, FRANKENSTEIN
Runner-up: Stellan Skarsgård, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Breakthrough Performer: Chase Infiniti, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Miles Caton, SINNERS

Best Ensemble Cast: SINNERS
Runner-up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Screenplay: Jafar Panahi, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Runner-up: Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Runner-up: Adolpho Veloso, TRAIN DREAMS

Best Use of Music: SINNERS
Runner-up: SIRĀT 

Best Animation: ARCO
Runners-up: LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN and ZOOTOPIA 2

Best Documentary: BLKNWS: TERMS & CONDITIONS
Runner-up: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR

Best International Film: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Runner-up: SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Best Debut Director: Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY
Runner-up: Charlie Polinger, THE PLAGUE

Are we headed toward a Picture-Director split? For the past three months, most pundits have remained firm in the belief that OBAA will take it all, but could they be wrong? Anderson is almost certainly going to win Adapted Screenplay, so it’s not like he’s going to leave the Oscars empty-handed. So, this could be a good opportunity for the Academy to correct a historical oversight and finally honor a Black filmmaker with their Best Director trophy. Oh well, maybe I’m just speculating because there’s so little to hold on to, otherwise. I guess that’s a fun and unexpectedly Netflix-free Animated Film top three.

PHOENIX CRITICS CIRCLE

Best Picture: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, HAMNET
Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet, MARTY SUPREME
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan, WEAPONS
Best Supporting Actor: Benicio del Toro, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Cinematography: Michael Bauman, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Score: Jonny Greenwood, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Stunt Coordination: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
Best Animated Film: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Best Documentary: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
Best Foreign Language Film: SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Best Comedy Film: THE NAKED GUN
Best Science Fiction Film: FRANKENSTEIN
Best Horror Film: SINNERS
Lifetime Achievement in Filmmaking Award: David Lynch
Special Recognition Award: Graham Greene

It’s interesting to note that a group as besotted with OBAA as this one only awarded del Toro out of the film’s cast. No DiCaprio, no Infiniti, no Taylor. I’m not complaining, mind you. Honestly, it’d be nice to see more variety. Also, is it me or giving two posthumous lifetime achievement prizes a tad bizarre? 

PHOENIX FILM CRITICS SOCIETY

Best Picture: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, HAMNET
Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Supporting Actress: Teyana Taylor, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Performance by a Youth: Jacobi Jupe, HAMNET
Breakthrough Performance: Chase Infiniti, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Ensemble Acting: SINNERS
Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Editing: Andy Jurgensen, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Best Production Design: Tamara Deverell & Shane Vieau, FRANKENSTEIN
Best Costume Design: Ruth E. Carter, SINNERS
Best Visual Effects: AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
Best Original Score: Ludwig Göransson, SINNERS
Best Original Song: “I Lied to You” from SINNERS
Best Animated Film: ZOOTOPIA 2
Best Documentary: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
Best Foreign Language Film: NO OTHER CHOICE
The Overlooked Film of the Year: THE LIFE OF CHUCK

One critic’s “overlooked” is another’s “justly forgotten.” Also, if you need proof that category fraud hurts actors, look no further than Hamnet. Mescal campaigning as a supporting actor is effectively blocking Jacobi Jupe from staking a claim on the category despite his on-screen father being a co-lead and him a genuine supporting player.

ST. LOUIS FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

Best Film: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, HAMNET
Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan, WEAPONS
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Vocal Performance: Will Patton, TRAIN DREAMS
Best Ensemble: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Original Screenplay: Zach Cregger, WEAPONS
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Editing: Andy Jurgensen, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Cinematography: Michael Bauman, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Production Design: Tamara Deverell & Shane Vieau, FRANKENSTEIN
Best Costume Design: Kate Hawley, FRANKENSTEIN
Best Visual Effects: AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
Best Musical Score: Jonny Greenwood, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Soundtrack: SINNERS
Best Stunts: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
Best Animated Film: ZOOTOPIA 2
Best Documentary: ORWELL: 2+2=5
Best International Feature: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Best Comedy: THE NAKED GUN
Best Action Film: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
Best First Feature: Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY
Best Scene: “I Lied to You” from SINNERS

Am I the only person who specifically dislikes Patton’s Train Dreams narration? Not the text itself, but the performance of that text. Well, I presume I’m alone on that one. Still, it’s lovely to see the veteran character actor getting some love, even if for a lesser effort.

SAN DIEGO FILM CRITICS SOCIETY

Best Picture: SINNERS
Runner-up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Director: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Runner-up: Yorgos Lanthimos, BUGONIA

Best Actress: Jessie Buckey, HAMLET and Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU (tie)

Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan, SINNERS
Runner-up: Joel Edgerton, TRAIN DREAMS

Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan, WEAPONS
Runners-up: Nina Hoss, HEDDA and Wunmi Mosaku, SINNERS

Best Supporting Actor: Stellan Skarsgård, SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Runner-up: Sean Penn, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Comedic Performance: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, ETERNITY
Runner-up: Molly Gordon, OH, HI!

Best Youth Performance: Cary Christopher, WEAPONS
Runner-up: Jacobi Jupe, HAMNET

Best Ensemble: BLACK BAG
Runner-up: SINNERS

Breakthrough Performance: Chase Infiniti, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Original Screenplay: Jafar Panahi, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Runner-up: David Koepp, BLACK BAG

Best Adapted Screenplay: Will Tracy, BUGONIA
Runner-up: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Editing: Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie, MARTY SUPREME
Runner-up: Andy Jurgensen, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Cinematography: Adolpho Veloso, TRAIN DREAMS
Runner-up: Michael Bauman, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Production Design: Tamara Deverell & Shane Vieau, FRANKENSTEIN
Runners-up: Hannah Beachler & Monique Champagne, SINNERS and Kasra Farahni & Jille Azis, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS

Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell, WICKED: FOR GOOD
Runners-up: Ruth E. Carter, SINNERS and Kate Hawley, FRANKENSTEIN

Best Visual Effects: AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
Runners-up: THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS and FRANKENSTEIN

Best Use of Music: SINNERS
Runner-up: HEDDA

Best Sound Design: WEAPONS
Runner-up: F1

Best Stunt Choreography: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
Runner-up: SINNERS

Best Documentary: ORWELL: 2+2=5
Runner-up: BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES

Best Animated Film: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Runner-up: LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN

Best Foreign Language Film: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Runner-up: SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Best First Feature: Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY
Runner-up: Kristen Stewart, THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER

Special Award for Body of Work: Josh O’Connor, THE HISTORY OF SOUND, THE MASTERMIND, REBUILDING, and WAKE UP DEAD MAN.

Special Award for Best Animal Performance: Indy, GOOD BOY

Those screenplay categories provide some interesting variation, mostly stemming from this group’s love for Black Bag and Bugonia. In other news, a round of applause for Josh O’Connor, who finally wins something this season, even if it’s *just* a Body of Work award for his incredible quartet of incredibly distinct performances and films.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA FILM CRITICS CIRCLE

Best Picture: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: SINNERS

Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS

Best Actress: Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU
Runner-up: Jessie Buckley, HAMNET

Best Actor: Ethan Hawke, BLUE MOON
Runner-up: Leonardo DiCaprio, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan, WEAPONS
Runner-up: Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Best Supporting Actor: Benicio Del Toro, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Stellan Skarsgård, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Best Original Screenplay: Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt, SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Runner-up: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS

Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, TRAIN DREAMS

Best Editing: Andy Jurgensen, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Michael P. Shaywer, SINNERS

Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Runner-up: Adolpho Veloso, TRAIN DREAMS

Best Production Design: Hannah Beachler & Monique Champagne, SINNERS
Runner-up: Tamara Deverell & Shane Vieau, FRANKENSTEIN

Best Score: Ludwig Göransson, SINNERS
Runner-up: Jonny Greenwood, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Animated Feature: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Runner-up: ZOOTOPIA 2

Best Documentary Feature: ORWELL: 2+2=5
Runner-up: THE ALABAMA SOLUTION

Best International Feature: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Runner-up: SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Special Citation: TWINLESS
Runner-up: BROTHER VERSUS BROTHER

Marlon Riggs Award: Karen Larsen

You won’t fool me again, critics groups. I remember when Ethan Hawke seemed like he’d ride a wave of critical honors into a Best Actor nomination for First Reformed and we all saw how that turned out. As much as I love his work in Blue Moon, I’m cautious about predicting the thespian this season.

SEATTLE FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

Best Picture: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, HAMNET
Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku, SINNERS
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Youth Performance: Jacobi Jupe, HAMNET
Best Ensemble: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Editing: Andy Jurgensen, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Best Production Design: Tamara Deverell & Shane Vieau, FRANKENSTEIN
Best Costume Design: Kate Hawley, FRANKENSTEIN
Best Visual Effects: AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
Best Original Score: Jonny Greenwood, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Animated Film: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Best Documentary Film: WTO/99
Best International Film: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Best Action Choreography: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
Best Villain of the Year: Aunt Gladys, WEAPONS
Best Pacific Northwest Film: TRAIN DREAMS
Best Pacific Northwest Short: SONGS OF BLACK FOLK
Special Citation: Indy, GOOD BOY

How many awards is that dog going to pick up this season? I can’t believe that good boy is going to finish the year with more prizes to his name than the likes of Glenn Close or Lee Byung-hun. Anyway, WTO/99 is an interesting choice for Best Documentary. At least, it’s different from the current frontrunner picks.

SOUTHERN EASTERN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

Top Ten Films of 2025:

1. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
2. SINNERS
3. MARTY SUPREME
4. IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
5. SENTIMENTAL VALUE
6. HAMNET
7. TRAIN DREAMS
8. WEAPONS
9. FRANKENSTEIN
10. THE SECRET AGENT

Best Director: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Runner-up: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, HAMNET
Runner-up: Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU

Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan, SINNERS
Runner-up: Ethan Hawke, BLUE MOON

Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan, WEAPONS
Runner-up: Teyana Taylor, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Supporting Actor: Benicio del Toro, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Sean Penn, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Ensemble: SINNERS
Runner-up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Runner-up: Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runner-up: Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, TRAIN DREAMS

Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Runner-up: Michael Bauman, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Score: Ludwig Göransson, SINNERS
Runner-up: Jonny Greenwood, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Documentary: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
Runner-up: PREDATORS

Best Animated Film: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Runner-up: ZOOTOPIA 2

Best Foreign Language Film: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Runner-up: SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Boredom is seeping in, settling deep in my soul. When the riskiest move you make is giving Best Actor to a likely Oscar nominee, you’re doing it wrong. Well, maybe not wrong, but certainly tedious with a whiff of redundancy.

TORONTO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

Best Picture: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runners-up: HAMNET and SINNERS

Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runners-up: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS and Oliver Laxe, SIRĀT 

Outstanding Lead Performance: Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU and Ethan Hawke, BLUE MOON
Runners-up: Jessie Buckley, HAMNET; Leonardo DiCaprio, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER; Michael B. Jordan, SINNERS; Wagner Moura, THE SECRET AGENT

Outstanding Supporting Performance: Benicio del Toro, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER and Nina Hoss, HEDDA
Runners-up: Jacob Elordi, FRANKENSTEIN; Amy Madigan, WEAPONS; Sean Penn, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER; Stellan Skarsgård, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Canadian Film: Joan Chen, MONTREAL MY BEAUTIFUL
Runners-up: Deragh Campbell, MEASURES FOR A FUNERAL and Vincent Cassel, THE SHROUDS

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Canadian Film: Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, SWEET ANGEL BABY
Runners-up: Charlotte Aubin, MONTREAL MY BEAUTIFUL and Troy Kotsur, IN COLD LIGHT

Breakthrough Performance: Abou Sangaré, SOULEYMANE’S STORY
Runners-up: Miles Caton, SINNERS and Chase Infiniti, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Runners-up: MARTY SUPREME and SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Runners-up: HAMNET and NO OTHER CHOICE

Best Animated Feature: ENDLESS COOKIE
Runners-up: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS and SPACE CADET

Best Documentary: COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT
Runners-up: ORWELL: 2+2=5 and THE TALE OF SILYAN

Best International Feature: SIRĀT 
Runners-up: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT and THE SECRET AGENT

Best First Feature: BLUE HERON
Runners-up: EEPHUS and SORRY, BABY 

Bless those Canadian-specific categories for providing some variety. Personally, I can’t wait to see what Joan Chen is up to in Montreal My Beautiful and I’m thankful that the Toronto critics put that film on the map for me. Honestly, I wish more of these associations were sources of discoveries and recommendations.

WASHINGTON DC AREA FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

Best Film: SINNERS
Best Director: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, HAMNET
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan, SINNERS
Best Supporting Actress: Teyana Taylor, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Supporting Actor: Benicio del Toro, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Youth Performance: Miles Caton, SINNERS
Best Voice Performance: Arden Cho, KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Best Motion Capture Performance: Zoë Saldaña, AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
Best Ensemble: SINNERS
Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Best Editing: Stephen Mirrione, F1 and Michael P. Shaywer, SINNERS (tie)
Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Best Production Design: Hannah Beachler & Monique Champagne, SINNERS
Best Score: Ludwig Göransson, SINNERS
Best Stunts: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
Best Animated Film: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Best Documentary: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
Best Foreign Language Film: SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Joe Barber Award for Best Portrayal of Washington, DC: A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE

In the immortal words of Lindsay Lohen in Liz & Dick: "I'm bored. I'm so bored." 

What do you think of the season so far? Are you as bored as I'm starting to be? Let's all do some Lohan as Taylor drag and complain about it!

Comments

[Wae Mest]

SIRĀT uses a macron not a circumflex!!!

Otherwise... snooze!!

[Cláudio Alves]

Wae Mest -- You're right. Sorry, I'll fix the mistake.

[EricB]

am i the only person who finds all these regional and city-specific "critics group awards" absolutely preposterous? it was more than enough when we had the big four (NY, LA, SFC, and BOR). now it's like Topeka Film Critics Association or whatever the fuck? it's enormously silly.

a reminder that like zero of the people giving these awards are actually Oscar voters. it's all very relative. when we had the big four, it at least felt sort of like a focused cry of "VOTERS: WATCH THIS!" that could have some fun influence perhaps. even then...as often as not. that was the fun. now just having every tiny wedge of the country renaming the same people over and over again...so embarrassing.

and Claudio, there is zero chance that Paul Thomas Anderson is losing the Best Director Oscar to Ryan Coogler. if he does, i will fly you out to California, put you up at the Four Seasons, and get you into Max & Helen's. Nolan had his year, a foregone conclusion for months, and this is PTA's.