Podcast: Special Behind-the-Scenes LAFCA Episode
Sunday, December 7, 2014 at 11:30PM 
For this unedited edition of the podcast, Nathaniel, Joe and Nick speak with Justin Chang from Variety about the Los Angeles Film Critics Association's annual voting, their commitment to voting their hearts free of the golden "O" word, their runaway favorites like Boyhood and the unlucky but well loved films like Grand Budapest and Birdman that were always in the mix but didn't win big. We also talk diversity of choices on the acting ballots and how surprises like Tom Hardy (Locke) and Agata Kulesza (Ida) come to happen in their two tiers of voting. How do they decide things like the Gena Rowlands career achievement prize and how close did Marion Cotillard come to this, the first critics prize of the season that eluded her.
Have you even begun to digest this intense critics awards weekend? Did those long drawn out announcements Sunday stress you out? Unwind with this relaxed conversation about the Los Angeles third of the big day. You can listen at the bottom of the post or download from iTunes starting Monday night. Continue the conversation in the comments!
Reader Comments (8)
It may be true that Wes Anderson doesn't need a boost for his screenplay for Budapest but I'd like him to win an Oscar finally for something. Maybe it's finally his time?
Thanks so much for this. It was insightful without being too intrusive about voting totals, favorites, etc There have so many surprise choices in recent years that I really look forward to the LAFC most of all. Loved the story about Jeong-hie Yun's standing ovation! :)
Hey Nat, I haven't listened to this yet but I just wanted to say congrats on getting it up today when it was still relevant. I don't know if that sounds sarcastic, but I mean it. I know you sometimes give yourself a hard time about falling behind your busy schedule and editing these podcasts must sometimes take a while. Anyway, can't wait to listen. Love the podcasts and the whole site, best Oscar site on the web. Keep up the good work!
Thanks! This was very interesting. Now I would really like to hear another podcast with your thoughts about the whole thing.
Sorry, but I really have to say this: I think they did quite a mess this year with both actresses!
What about that rule that prevents from voting two performances? I guess it's kind of new because Fassy won for four different movies not long ago. Four movies may be a bit excessive, but when it comes to someone like Marion this year I don't get why they had to choose just one.
This was great. I wonder if Cotillard can really win Oscar? I have a soft spot for the LA critics for their honoring Christine Lahti in 1988. Awesome choice.
This was a VERY interesting podcast...a fascinating look inside the process of making a "best of" list. Thanks so much for doing it.
Fascinating podcast. And perhaps why it might be worthwhile to post the entire voting results, like the New York Drama Critics Circle do (for theatre, I mean).
fascinating! loved hearing who else was in the conversation (Cotillard!!! Pike! Coon! Swinton!) and the overall process. such a treat :)