Best of the Critics Choice Awards: Will Smith, Melanie Lynskey and more...

by Nathaniel R 

Lady Gaga literally watching the CCAs from London. Did you watch and if so where from?

Just hours after BAFTA had wrapped last night, the Critics Choice Awards were held. That means we've reached the end of the televised precursor awards; there are still a couple of non-televised precursors next weekend (the Producers and Writers Guild) but we're now in the home stretch. So let's discuss the highs of the CCA ceremony as well as what it all means (and doesn't) for Oscar, category by category...

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Critics Choice Awards will now be held on... the same day as BAFTA

After attempting to steal what little Golden Globes thunder remained by scheduling themselves on the exact same date, the Critics Choice Awards were delayed (understandably) by Omicron variant fears. A new date has been announced: March 13th, 2022. That's well timed in terms of Oscar (two weeks prior) but poorly timed in terms of celebrity strategy as it's the exact same day as the BAFTA ceremony!

Now it's possible things will work out for both shows as some celebrities will not want to cross the ocean (in either direction) due to COVID but it's still a worrisome choice; Celebrity presence is crucial to the success of live awards ceremonies. On the other hand, the calendar was filling up so the show had to go somewhere. If Sunday was the only day of the week to do it (why is that the only day of the week? the Oscar were on Mondays for decades!)  there were very few options remaining. February 20th was the Olympics closing ceremony. February 27th was already claimed for SAG Awards. March 6th belongs to the Film Independent Spirit Awards. But what was wrong with, say, March 20th, the week before the Oscars? What do you make of the move? 

"Belfast" and "West Side Story" lead the 27th annual Critics Choice nominations

by Nathaniel R

It's not a spread the wealth year (sigh). Belfast and West Side Story led the 27th annual Critics Choice nominations with a potent 11 nominations each. Dune and The Power of the Dog were close behind with 10 nods each. With four films in the double-digits, chances are we're not heading into a spread-the-wealth kind of year as all roads lead in to the Oscar nominations (still a month and a half way on February 8th). That's sad for us given the wealth of options out there but it is what it is.

Full list of nominees with commentary after the jump...

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27th annual Critics Choice TV nominations

The Critics Choice Association used to be two separate associations, one honoring film and one honoring TV and they merged once they decided to have their show together.  Nevertheless the voting is separate and the TV wing of the association announces their nominations first. (Those of us on the film side, don't start voting until tomorrow.) The new third season of Succession led the nominations with 8 while Mare of Easttown and Evil are in second place with five each. 

The nominations are after the jump...

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FYC Critics Choice Young Performers Awards

by Nathaniel R

Saniyya Sidney as "Venus Williams" in King Richard

Each year the Critics Choice votes on a category that doesn't get a lot of press or campaigning: Best Young Actor/Actress. Without constant discussion (as with other acting categories) I've noticed critics default to whatever movie is popular that happens to have a major role for a child. Which is why, say, Belfast's Jude Hill could easily be in contention. But, generally speaking, there are better performances out there than whichever one happens to be most visible in this particular category in any given year. (Same goes for famous adult movie stars in the regular categories, come to think of it). So each year we try to help by listing eligible performers in this "Young Performer" category which requires a bit of research since the actors often aren't famous (yet) and the attention is usually directed at their adult co-stars...

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