LAFCA Winners (Plus: NYFCO Madness)
Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 3:00PM With today's announcement of the Los Angeles Film Critics Associations winner the die is set for critics awards. People can argue until pigs fly about whether and how and to what extend critics awards affect Oscar voters but here is a fairly universal consensus among people in the know: these things only matter to the extent they convince voters to attend that particular screening or put that specific screener on top of their to-watch stack. And the two critics groups that voters hear most about and are thus most likely to be influenced by are the two most prestigious coastal giants, LAFCA and NYFCC (who already announced with Carol winning big).
Will Oscar voters take MAD MAX: FURY ROAD seriously or just think "action film"
LAFCA 2015 Winners
Film Spotlight (ru: Mad Max: Fury Road)
Director George Miller, Mad Max Fury Road (ru: Todd Haynes, Carol)
Actress Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years (ru: Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn)
Actor Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs (ru: Geza Rohrig, Son of Saul)
Supporting Actress - Alicia Vikander - Ex Machina (ru: Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria)
Supporting Actor - Michael Shannon, 99 Homes (ru: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies)
More and a very cool bit of trivia after the jump via Joe Reid...
Screenplay Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy for Spotlight (ru: Charlie Kaufman, Anomalisa)
Production Design -Colin Gibson for Mad Max: Fury Road (ru: Judy Becker, Carol)
Cinematography -John Seale for Mad Max: Fury Road, John Seale (ru: Ed Lachman for Carol)
Editing Hank Corwin for The Big Short (ru: Margaret Sixel for Mad Max: Fury Road)
Score - Carter Burwell for Anomalisa & Carol (ru: Ennio Morricone for Hateful Eight)
Documentary - Amy (ru: Look of Silence)
Animated Film - Anomalisa (ru: Inside Out)
Foreign Film -Son of Saul (ru: The Tribe)
New Generation - Ryan Coogler (the director of Creed)
The most fascinating thing about LAFCA's final results is that given the way they fell we have a pre-season like maybe none other. People have been saying that this season feels far more in flux than it usually does at this point and that's totally true. Joe Reid gets a lot more specific and makes this awesome realization about how special this open race really is...
Such great variety from NBR/NYFCC/LAFCA this year. Picture: Mad Max / Carol / Spotlight Director: Scott / Haynes / Miller ...
— Joe Reid (@joereid) December 6, 2015
... Actor: Damon / Keaton / Fassbender Actress: Larson / Ronan / Rampling ...
— Joe Reid (@joereid) December 6, 2015
S Actor: Stallone / Rylance / Shannon S Actress: Leigh / Stewart / Vikander
— Joe Reid (@joereid) December 6, 2015
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The last time the three organizations split on everything was was way back in 1988 over 25 years ago.
NYFCO
New York Film Critics online, not to be confused with the venerable NYFCC, first launched in 2000... just before the avalanche of new groups began to fall (at last count there were well over 30 and the US doesn't need that many critics groups doing the same thing). By 2015 it's gotten so insane that we decided last year to stop following any group that arrived post 2001. New York City is our home base and we love a few members but...
Today's release of their finalist list was so horrifying that it's now difficult to take them seriously at all. In short, whoever voted for Cate Blanchett AND Rooney Mara as supporting actresses in Carol should be banned from internet connectivity until the end of time. Listen people are confused these days about what "supporting" means (even though it's not super difficult) but it sure as shit does not mean "protagonists".
If we don't laugh about it we'll cry so let's play along...
This just in. Category Fraud Reveal: Kyle Chandler is actually the lead of CAROL. it's all just Harge's girl-on-girl fever dream.
— Nathaniel Rogers (@nathanielr) December 6, 2015
NYFCO Winners
Picture Spotlight
Director Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
Animated Feature Inside Out (ru: Anomalisa)
Foreign Film Son of Saul (ru: Mustang)
Documentary Amy (ru: Look of Silence)
Actor Paul Dano for Love and Mercy (ru: Johnny Depp for Black Mass)
Actress Brie Larson for Room (ru: Saoirse Ronan for Brooklyn)
Supporting Lead Actress Rooney Mara for Carol (ru: Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs)
Supporting Actor Mark Rylance for Bridge of Spies (ru: Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight)
Ensemble Spotlight
Breakthrough Performance Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl and Ex Machina
Screenplay Spotlight
Cinematography Mad Max Fury Road
Debut Director Alex Garland, Ex Machina
Use of Music Love and Mercy
4 prizes for SPOTLIGHT today from NYFCO... and every Best Picture prize today from NYFCO, BSFC, and LAFCA
Top Ten
45 Years
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
Sicario
Spotlight
Steve Jobs
Trumbo
HOW ARE YOU FEELING AFTER THIS CRITICS PRIZE FILLED DAY?
Reader Comments (39)
Hey, at least Steve Jobs deservedly made NYFCO's top 10 list. It's remarkable how so many end-of-the-year groups are choosing to ignore it, all because of disappointing box office. (You can't tell me that it wouldn't have made the NBR top 10 if it had grossed, say, $50 million....)
Happy Queen Rooney won something at least, even if it was in the completely wrong category.
I'm not being a hater, but am I the only one who doesn't *get* all the hype for Rylance in BOS? He was perfectly plausible, but also... nondescript, I'd say. Maybe it's my general ennui to the film clouding my judgement. But great for Michael Shannon, he was brilliantly reptilian in 99 Homes.
It's nice that NYFCO gave Rooney and Cate Lead and Supporting nomination slots. Both in Supporting just suggests fraudulence but this way we know that they're just kinda clueless, doing whatever.
Totally agree on Rylance. Serviceable, but a cypher. His final scene was ok. Much better work by others this year (and I liked Bridge of Spies). I hope he doesn't become the frontrunner
suzanne -- agreed
nick t -- yeah. it does make them look clueless.
Alicia Vikander won Supporting Actress for Ex Machina and KStew came in 2nd. I am really starting to believe that Stewart could get a nomination now.
No one sweeps this year, so I am getting really excited for this year's awards.
Loving it that Kristen Stewart is getting all these attention for her incredible work.
And people, if you put 45 Years in your top 10, then make Rampling your Best Actress.
It's been really nice to see a pretty diverse winers amongst the critics groups thus far. Nobody steamrolling this year, maybe we'll have an exciting season. But it's still early.
I'm glad people are remembering Vikander's brilliant work in Ex Machina, but yet again I have a hard time accepting that performance as a supporting one.
Wonder what this all means for Paul Dano. He is campaigning in supporting, but has won lead from BOS, BOSOL, NYFCL and won the Gotham which didn't specify lead or support. Hope he isn't lost somewhere in between!
Sad there's been no recognition for Cynthia Nixon or Emily Bunt (or "Sicario" in general).
Happy for "Mad Max," "Carol," and especially Rampling. Can she win?!! Right now it looks like Ronan vs. Larson vs. Rampling.
I think Stewart may hit SAG as JJL will probably miss due to no screeners, and then there's spots open at the globes too with the whole category thing.
Speaking off, anyone else think Vikander and Mara are going to miss out with all this confusion? Should have gone lead from the start!
Wow. It's really competitive this year!
I wonder how close Charlize Theron is getting in Best Actress...she's probably going to start slipping in to the major races, right?
brooooke, I think Rooney Mara is primed to miss.
re. Stewart, Mara, Vikander, Winslet - - have no critics seen "James White"?
Goran, I agree but sadly I think the answer is yes. Ah well. Here's hoping she wins at the Spirits. (Abbott too.)
I'm starting to think Haynes and Miller could get into Director, but it's so hard to know just based on these notices. Innaritu, Scott, McCarthy, Russell, Tarantino, Boyle, Speilberg... who drops out?
This makes me think even more that Rampling will be joining Blanchett, Larson, Lawrence and Ronan in Actress. Great year for the category.
I would love to see Stewart get in. I have to think if people watch her next to the rest of the field, she has a great shot at winning, too.
goran -- well. i assume the problem is two-fold. 1) a lot of people haven't seen it and 2) they're mostly voting for leading roles. I've never understood why really tiny indies (and that's one of them) release so late because really tiny indies need time to build. If you released TANGERINE right now for example. it wouldn't be having this minor awards success. No one would notice it at all even though it's great.
I don't get all the love for SPOTLIGHT. It seems like a perfectly adequate little film on a fascinating subject. That's all. Almost a movie-of-the-week sense to it.
This season is pretty good so far. Lots of support for lots of different films (and good ones, too!), but nothing feeling like a steamroller (although I suspect SPOTLIGHT will feel that way soon enough). Critics orgs using their powers for good (Mad Max, Carol/Haynes, Kristen Stewart, Charlotte Rampling) and not as much evil. The NYFCO list is ridiculous in that they went with Dano for lead, yet Mara for support. Huh?
It's just going to be so baffling and saddening if the Academy give us one of their famous "great year for movies; bad year for Oscar" line-ups without people like Miller and Haynes.
Wow, this is so exciting!! What a eclectic spread!!
I'm glad someone finally recognized Fassbender & somewhat, Winslet.
The tide seems to have turned favorably for Rampling. Lets hope this momentum con't. If Larson, Blanchett, Ronan & Rampling took up the 4 spots, the last is gonna be a super competitive fight, but I hope Mara gets it!
Maybe the studio should change tact for Vikander & start campaigning her as supp for Ex-Machina, rather than The Danish Girl
I'm quite sure that the National Society of Film Critics will also go with Charlotte Rampling in 45 Years so I'm more than happy.
Claran, Ex Machina is A24. The Danish Girl is Focus Features. Though I will say that Focus Features should switch her to lead pronto.
I KNEW LA was gonna pick Rampling for Best Actress. I'm glad she won one.
Also enjoying the variance this awards season compared to others.
I don't want Vikander nominated for either category for either film. There are so, so many great contenders this year and I don't think she's top five worthy for DANISH or MACHINA. She'll have plenty of opportunities, but I want them to go for Rampling and Stewart and others that might not.
Is Kristen Stewart the new "fetch"?
Also, Nathaniel, don't you think this puts George Miller in pretty good position for an Oscar nod? Beyond the critics, he seems like a respected veteran who the directing branch would easily rally behind.
Open Road would do well to put Keaton in lead actor, where he belongs. Static competition and he's the frontrunner of a frontrunner film + residual Birdman love would almost guarantee a nomination and maybe even a win?
Category fraud this year is really hitting a peak, both with coverage and multitude of cases. Keaton, Banks, Dano, Vikander, Mara, Tremblay are all leads, end of discussion. I hope Oscar actually does *something* about it. It's reassuring when critics call out fraud, but doubly annoying when they fall right into the trap.
I would argue that Spotlight is an ensemble and that Keaton is supporting.
Keaton, under very legitimate logic, is supporting in the sense that everyone is supporting one another. Nobody would really bat an eye if he was considered lead, also, but I don't think supporting is too far-fetched when you're legitimately making the case that everyone is supporting. It's not like THE READER when the Weinstein tried to convince people that his movie has no lead actor when it was clear the kid had been put in supporting because he's young and it was easier to get nominated that way.
Critics awards say nothing in a season like this. All of it is advocacy. The televised awards bodies Critics Choice, Globes, SAG, BAFTA, and Oscar.
Hopefully Stewart's name is not announced on Oscar morning.
@ Andy - LOL! Then again, I saw Clouds of Sils Maria and Stewart is really good in it (so is Juliette Binoche). Movie is not stellar, but it is interesting enough to check out, and she definitely deserves the Gretchen Wieners of NYFCC and LAFCA trying to make her happen.
Of course the Regina Geroges of the Academy are all gonna crush it come nomination morning, even though it's not ok for one awards body to be the boss of everybody, it's not what Rome is all about and we should totally stab Caesar.
Carmen, i love you.
British Independent Film Awards winners:
Best British Independent Film - Ex Machina
Best Director - Alex Garland, Ex Machina
Best Actor - Tom Hardy, Legend
Best Actress - Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Best Supporting Actor - Brendan Gleeson, Suffragette
Best Supporting Actress - Olivia Colman, The Lobster
Best Screenplay - Alex Garland, Ex Machina
Best Foreign Independent Film - Room
Best Debut Director (Douglas Hickox Award) - Stephen Fingleton, The Survivalist
Best Achievement in Craft - Andrew Whitehurst (visual effects), Ex Machina
Best Documentary - Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance
Most Promising Newcomer - Abigail Hardingham, Nina Forever
Producer of the Year - Paul Katis and Andrew De Lotbiniere, Kajaki: The True Story
Raindance Discovery Award - Orion: The Man Who Would Be King
Best Short Film - Edmond
I have to say I'm surprised Kristen Stewart has this much steam right now. When she won the Cesar there was all this hoopla of "will Oscar follow," but there was absolutely no buzz for her or her film this year that I figured it was a moot cause. So when she won NY I was like "ok, surprising and awesome, but that's the only one she'll get," and here she is getting mentions left and right lol.
I agree with whoever said they could see her getting a SAG nod. I agree. Or GG. Idk about both. But one will go for her. And probably BFCA... she has a shot at an Oscar nod now, at least a shot.
Thank goodness there are no actors sweeping all the awards like previous years. We might actually get some REAL surprises.
Who would have thought Kristen Stewart might get nominated or Mad Max Fury Road to be a real chance at Picture and Director nominations.
And is it possible we might get two foreign language performances nominated - Stewart and Gozhrig?
Interesting that NYFCO list had Mara and Blanchett in both the lead and supporting categories. I think the campaign strategy may backfire and both could miss out due to the confusion / controversy. I think if they were both campaigned as lead from the start we could have had a real shot at both getting in like Sarandon and Davis but it's now this major X factor / controversy and may do a disservice to awards recognition for both performances in the long.
I am over the moon at Rampling's success, but where oh where are Elizabeth Banks and Oscar Isaac in the awards conversation. Sigh.
brookesboy -- i imagine oscar isaac is caught between lead and supporting without a visible campaign and in a somewhat low profile film.
bette -- stewart's is not a foreign language performance. the film is mostly in english though Binoche switches to French sometimes
The NYFCO actually began voting awards for 2000, not 03. Billy Elliott was best Tim, Ang Lee won director for CTHD, actor was Geoffrey Rush for Quills. There was a tie for actress between Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream) and Laura Linney (You Can Count on Me). Supp awards went to Albert Finney (Erin Brockivich) and Marcia Gay Harden (Pollock).
Amy -- you're right. not sure how i messed that up. weirdly NYFCO officially has no information available on their 2000 selections so perhaps you should send this along to them.