"The Favourite" Leads the Critics Choice Nominations

by Nathaniel R

me giving my fellow BFCA members the side-eye for some of their choices

Yorgos Lanthimos' pitch black comedy The Favourite led the Critic's Choice Nominations with a staggering 14 nods. Black Panther wasn't far behind with 12. The morning's biggest (and best) surprise is surely the resurgence of First Man, which had been struggling with precursors but has a very healthy 10 nominations with the BFCA. One wonders if it can rocket to a Best Picture nomination despite its box office troubles? In other very good news Toni Collette is nominated (though we aren't surprised in this case) and the foreign film list is aces. Well done.

Not that it's all good news but we're starting with the positives.

In the television categories (which are worth a read because they're quite different than the Globe nominations) Escape at Dannemora, The Americans, and The Assassination of Gianna Versace led all shows with 5 nominations a piece.  The complete list of nominees is after the jump along with a few comments...

THE FILM NOMINEES

BEST PICTURE

 

• Black Panther
• BlacKkKlansman
• The Favourite
• First Man
• Green Book
• If Beale Street Could Talk
• Mary Poppins Returns
• Roma 
• A Star Is Born
• Vice

The currently expected Oscar lineup plus First Man. It's a tough break for critical darlings like First Reformed and Eighth Grade but the BFCA gonna BFCA and they often ignore critical darlings in the top category despite being called "Critics Choice" 

BEST ACTOR

• Christian Bale – Vice
• Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born
• Willem Dafoe – At Eternity’s Gate
• Ryan Gosling – First Man
• Ethan Hawke – First Reformed
• Rami Malek – Bohemian Rhapsody
• Viggo Mortensen – Green Book

Some combo of five of these men will be Oscar's five. Nice to see Gosling here though. 

BEST ACTRESS

• Yalitza Aparicio – Roma  
• Emily Blunt – Mary Poppins Returns
• Glenn Close – The Wife
• Toni Collette – Hereditary
• Olivia Colman – The Favourite
• Lady Gaga – A Star Is Born
• Melissa McCarthy – Can You Ever Forgive Me?

I wasn't aware that we were expanding the category to 7 nominees. But even with 7 there was no room for Elsie Fisher OR Carey Mulligan OR Nicole Kidman? Ouch. YAY FOR TONI COLLETTE AND GLENN CLOSE. 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

 

• Mahershala Ali – Green Book
• Timothée Chalamet – Beautiful Boy
• Adam Driver – BlacKkKlansman
• Sam Elliott – A Star Is Born
• Richard E. Grant – Can You Ever Forgive Me?
• Michael B. Jordan – Black Panther

 With two leads in the category there was no room for fine character actos like Alessandro Nivola in Disobedience or Russell Hornsby in The Hate U Give or Steven Yeun in Burning. (sigh). It is interesting, though, that the BFCA voters really loved Vice (9 nominations) but didn't feel it necessary to include Sam Rockwell or Steve Carell from that film.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 

• Amy Adams – Vice
• Claire Foy – First Man
• Nicole Kidman – Boy Erased
• Regina King – If Beale Street Could Talk
• Emma Stone – The Favourite
• Rachel Weisz – The Favourite

 The expected future Oscar nominees plus Nicole Kidman. I'm horrified that Elizabeth Debicki isn't nominated. I fought the good fight for her but whenever you include leads in your supporting categories, by necessity you negate the chances of hard-working non-headliners to be recognized for their own brilliance. 

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS

• Elsie Fisher – Eighth Grade
• Thomasin McKenzie – Leave No Trace
• Ed Oxenbould – Wildlife
• Millicent Simmonds – A Quiet Place
• Amandla Stenberg – The Hate U Give
• Sunny Suljic – Mid90s 

All English-language performances (sigh). I tried to help my fellow voters with that handy eligibility list. I'm sorry but Zain Al Rafee from Capernaum and Evan Rosado from We the Animals runs circles around many of  these performances. Not that these aren't talented young actors. It's a good set.

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

• Black Panther
• Crazy Rich Asians
• The Favourite
• Vice
• Widows

A solid list. We don't expect SAG to match it on Wednesday though. 

BEST DIRECTOR 

• Damien Chazelle – First Man
• Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born
• Alfonso Cuarón – Roma
• Peter Farrelly – Green Book
• Yorgos Lanthimos – The Favourite
• Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman
• Adam McKay – Vice

 Another 7 nominee category that mirrors the Globe nominations plus Damien Chazelle (First Man) and Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite). I hate 7 wide categories. It's only interesting by comparison from group to group if there is consistency. I wish we knew who the top 5 really were. 

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• Bo Burnham – Eighth Grade
• Alfonso Cuarón – Roma
• Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara – The Favourite
• Adam McKay – Vice 
• Paul Schrader – First Reformed
• Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly – Green Book
• Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, John Krasinski – A Quiet Place

The surprise here is A Quiet Place but it's a real pity there's no room for Tully despite seven nominations.  (Yes, I voted for Tully)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole – Black Panther
• Nicole Holofcener, Jeff Whitty – Can You Ever Forgive Me?
• Barry Jenkins – If Beale Street Could Talk
• Eric Roth and Bradley Cooper & Will Fetters – A Star Is Born
• Josh Singer – First Man
• Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott & Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman

Only six nominations for this one -- try consistency BFCA. Consistency helps people to take you seriously! Look it up.  Pity that Wildlife isn't included. 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

• Alfonso Cuarón – Roma
• James Laxton – If Beale Street Could Talk
• Matthew Libatique – A Star Is Born
• Rachel Morrison – Black Panther
• Robbie Ryan – The Favourite
• Linus Sandgren – First Man 

No Cold War means I can't take this category seriously, sorry "critics". Also I like Black Panther and I love Rachel Morrison who deserved her Oscar nom for Mudbound but her work on Black Panther is not one of the five best DP jobs of the year. Sorry about it. If you wanted a female DP in there, why not Charlotte Bruus Christensen for A Quiet Place?   

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

• Hannah Beachler, Jay Hart – Black Panther
• Eugenio Caballero, Barbara Enriquez – Roma
• Nelson Coates, Andrew Baseman – Crazy Rich Asians
• Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton – The Favourite
• Nathan Crowley, Kathy Lucas – First Man
• John Myhre, Gordon Sim – Mary Poppins Returns 

I am really starting to wonder what kind of movie production designer Mark Friedberg would have to make to get arrested for prizes. He's so talented and he's just always shut out, even when he designs movies with Best Picture heat. This year he designed If Beale Street Could Talk  which is super gorgeous throughout.   

BEST EDITING 

• Jay Cassidy – A Star Is Born
• Hank Corwin – Vice
• Tom Cross – First Man
• Alfonso Cuarón, Adam Gough – Roma
• Yorgos Mavropsaridis – The Favourite
• Joe Walker – Widows 

Hmmm. Where is BlacKkKlansman? Editing is quite obviously one of its most provocative and strongest elements.  

BEST COSTUME DESIGN 

• Alexandra Byrne – Mary Queen of Scots
• Ruth Carter – Black Panther
• Julian Day – Bohemian Rhapsody
• Sandy Powell – The Favourite
• Sandy Powell – Mary Poppins Returns

 Sigh. Just go ahead and ignore contemporary designs again, fellow critics. A Simple Favor was right there being instantly future culture classic iconic. 

BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP

• Black Panther
• Bohemian Rhapsody
• The Favourite
• Mary Queen of Scots
• Suspiria
• Vice

I can dig some of these but Border shoulda been here.  

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

 

• Avengers: Infinity War
• Black Panther
• First Man
• Mary Poppins Returns
• Mission: Impossible – Fallout
• Ready Player One

 No Annihilation? BOO. Also Ant-Man and the Wasp has better effects than Black Panther. It's not as good of a movie, no, but you really should concentrate on the category at hand when you vote. We know that's a lot to ask of voters from any organization (sigh)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

• The Grinch
• Incredibles 2
• Isle of Dogs
• Mirai
• Ralph Breaks the Internet
• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 

The Grinch huh? Way to mainstream it! But nice to see Mirai pop up. I voted for Isle of Dogs (because I love it) and Ruben Brandt Collector (because I knew the latter needed my help, and it's totally worth seeing)  

BEST ACTION MOVIE

 

• Avengers: Infinity War
• Black Panther
• Deadpool 2
• Mission: Impossible – Fallout
• Ready Player One
• Widows

 A conundrum. I am secretly a fan of the action movie genre but I hate two of these movies and am indifferent to a third so only half of this category works for me. 

BEST COMEDY 

• Crazy Rich Asians
• Deadpool 2
• The Death of Stalin
• The Favourite
• Game Night
• Sorry to Bother You

No A Simple Favor? BOOOOO 

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

• Christian Bale – Vice
• Jason Bateman – Game Night
• Viggo Mortensen – Green Book
• John C. Reilly – Stan & Ollie
• Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool 2
• Lakeith Stanfield – Sorry to Bother You

Okay. 

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

• Emily Blunt – Mary Poppins Returns
• Olivia Colman – The Favourite
• Elsie Fisher – Eighth Grade
• Rachel McAdams – Game Night
• Charlize Theron – Tully
• Constance Wu – Crazy Rich Asians

Unexpected that this is an exact match for Globes (plus McAdams since Critics Choice can't help themselves with tons of nominees per category)

BEST SCI-FI OR HORROR MOVIE

• Annihilation
• Halloween
• Hereditary
• A Quiet Place
• Suspiria

So Annihilation gets its due here but can't get into "visual effects"? Whatever! 

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM 

• Burning (South Korea)
• Capernaum (Lebanon)
• Cold War (Poland)
• Roma (Mexico)
• Shoplifters (Japan) 

I mean... this is a beautiful beautiful list (and better than the Globe list which it matches 3/5... but we'll take Cold War and Burning -- both snubbed at the Globes -- over most movies any day of the week so cheers to the BFCA for this list) 

BEST SONG

• All the Stars – Black Panther
• Girl in the Movies – Dumplin’
• I’ll Fight – RBG
• The Place Where Lost Things Go – Mary Poppins Returns
• Shallow – A Star Is Born
• Trip a Little Light Fantastic – Mary Poppins Returns

The Globes list with a Mary Poppins double replacing Troye Sivan and Annie Lennox. And since BFCA has larger nomination shortlists (to make Oscar predictions easier) a little Diane Warren thrown in because ya gotta love Diane Warren. I don't remember what I voted for beyond "Shallow"

BEST SCORE

 

• Kris Bowers – Green Book
• Nicholas Britell – If Beale Street Could Talk
• Alexandre Desplat – Isle of Dogs
• Ludwig Göransson – Black Panther
• Justin Hurwitz – First Man
• Marc Shaiman – Mary Poppins Returns

I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see Green Book pop up here but in truth I don't remember that score (AT ALL). For what it's worth they have been pushing the score hard. Bowers was honored at Middleburg and the movie has a robust awards campaign. This is very similar to the Globes list but Oscar and the Globes rarely see eye to eye on Best Original Score so we have to wonder what surprises lie in store on Oscar nomination morning for this category. Maybe Incredibles 2, Welcome to Marwen, BlacKkKlansman, or Mary Queen of Scots?

THE TELEVISION NOMINEES

BEST DRAMA SERIES

• The Americans (FX)
• Better Call Saul (AMC)
• The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
• Homecoming (Amazon)
• Killing Eve (BBC America)
• My Brilliant Friend (HBO)
• Pose (FX)
• Succession (HBO)  

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

• Freddie Highmore – The Good Doctor (ABC)
• Diego Luna – Narcos: Mexico (Netflix)
• Richard Madden – Bodyguard (Netflix)
• Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul (AMC)
• Billy Porter – Pose (FX)
• Matthew Rhys – The Americans (FX)
• Milo Ventimiglia – This Is Us (NBC)

 BILLY!

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES 

• Jodie Comer – Killing Eve (BBC America)
• Maggie Gyllenhaal – The Deuce (HBO)
• Elisabeth Moss – The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
• Sandra Oh – Killing Eve (BBC America)
• Elizabeth Olsen – Sorry For Your Loss (Facebook Watch)
• Julia Roberts – Homecoming (Amazon)
• Keri Russell – The Americans (FX)

MAGGIE! 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES 

• Richard Cabral – Mayans M.C. (FX)
• Asia Kate Dillon – Billions (Showtime)
• Noah Emmerich – The Americans (FX)
• Justin Hartley – This Is Us (NBC)
• Matthew Macfadyen – Succession (HBO)
• Richard Schiff – The Good Doctor (ABC)
• Shea Whigham – Homecoming (Amazon) 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

• Dina Shihabi – Jack Ryan (Amazon) 
• Julia Garner – Ozark (Netflix)
• Thandie Newton – Westworld (HBO)
• Rhea Seehorn – Better Call Saul (AMC)
• Yvonne Strahovski – The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
• Holly Taylor – The Americans (FX)

THANDIE! 

BEST COMEDY SERIES

 

• Atlanta (FX)
• Barry (HBO)
• The Good Place (NBC)
• The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
• The Middle (ABC)
• One Day at a Time (Netflix)
• Schitt’s Creek (Pop) 

THE GOOD PLACE! 

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

• Hank Azaria – Brockmire (IFC)
• Ted Danson – The Good Place (NBC)
• Michael Douglas – The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
• Donald Glover – Atlanta (FX)
• Bill Hader – Barry (HBO)
• Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
• Andy Samberg – Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

• Rachel Bloom – Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW)
• Rachel Brosnahan – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
• Allison Janney – Mom (CBS)
• Justina Machado – One Day at a Time (Netflix)
• Debra Messing – Will & Grace (NBC)
• Issa Rae – Insecure (HBO) 

RACHEL & JUSTINA!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

• William Jackson Harper – The Good Place (NBC)
• Sean Hayes – Will & Grace (NBC)
• Brian Tyree Henry – Atlanta (FX)
• Nico Santos – Superstore (NBC)
• Tony Shalhoub – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
• Henry Winkler – Barry (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

• Alex Borstein – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
• Betty Gilpin – GLOW (Netflix)
• Laurie Metcalf – The Conners (ABC)
• Rita Moreno – One Day at a Time (Netflix)
• Zoe Perry – Young Sheldon (CBS)
• Annie Potts – Young Sheldon (CBS)
• Miriam Shor – Younger (TV Land)

 RITA MORENO AND MIRIAM SHOR. *BLOWS INFINITE KISSES*

BEST LIMITED SERIES

• A Very English Scandal (Amazon)
• American Vandal (Netflix)
• The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)
• Escape at Dannemora (Showtime)
• Genius: Picasso (National Geographic)
• Sharp Objects (HBO)

BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

• Icebox (HBO)
• Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC)
• King Lear (Amazon)
• My Dinner with Hervé (HBO)
• Notes from the Field (HBO)
• The Tale (HBO) 

BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

• Antonio Banderas – Genius: Picasso (National Geographic)
• Darren Criss – The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)
• Paul Dano – Escape at Dannemora (Showtime)
• Benicio Del Toro – Escape at Dannemora (Showtime)
• Hugh Grant – A Very English Scandal (Amazon)
• John Legend – Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC)

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

• Amy Adams – Sharp Objects (HBO)
• Patricia Arquette – Escape at Dannemora (Showtime)
• Connie Britton – Dirty John (Bravo)
• Carrie Coon – The Sinner (USA Network)
• Laura Dern – The Tale (HBO)
• Anna Deavere Smith – Notes From the Field (HBO) 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION 

• Brandon Victor Dixon – Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC)
• Eric Lange – Escape at Dannemora (Showtime)
• Alex Rich – Genius: Picasso (National Geographic)
• Peter Sarsgaard – The Looming Tower (Hulu)
• Finn Wittrock – The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)
• Ben Whishaw – A Very English Scandal (Amazon) 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

• Ellen Burstyn – The Tale (HBO)
• Patricia Clarkson – Sharp Objects (HBO)
• Penelope Cruz – The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)
• Julia Garner – Dirty John (Bravo)
• Judith Light – The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)
• Elizabeth Perkins – Sharp Objects (HBO)

Hmmm. how you throw Sharp Objects TWO supporting nominations and don't include Eliza Scanlen? That's as perverse as poisoning your own daughter! 

BEST ANIMATED SERIES

 

• Adventure Time (Cartoon Network)
• Archer (FXX)
• Bob’s Burgers (Fox)
• BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
• The Simpsons (Fox)
• South Park (Comedy Central)

Comments

[/3rtful]

The rejection of Widows is absolutely cruel.

[Tim]

"AND Glenn Close"?

Is her nomination a surprise?

[Ryan T.]

I wish the Emmys and the Globes would take notes on the TV nominations. Seeing some of these actors get well-deserved nomination, some for the first time ever, is so *so* great.

Yay on FIRST MAN! Also all the love for THE FAVOURITE and they couldn't find room for the delicious diva hat twas Nicholas Hoult?

[Rod]

I love that you mentioned Zain Al Rafee from Capernaum - brilliant performance.

[Patagonia]

I don't think Claire Foy is the lock everyone think she is.
I could easily see Nicole Kidman in Boy Erased taking her spot.

[Suzanne]

With seven nominations for Best Actor and Actress, these don't seem like a transparent attempt to pretend to predict the Oscars at all.

[Mya]

7 nominees for lead actors? Jeez that's ridiculous. All the slander, well deserved plenty of times, that the HFPA gets should be directed more at this group.

[Peggy Sue]

25 nominees per category and they still couldn't find place for Barry Jenkins or Nicole Kidman. When are you quitting them?

[Mareko]

We know that Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz are leads — The Favourite's central trio are so clearly all leads — but is Amy Adams a (co-)lead in Vice? Haven't seen that yet but am curious how big her part is.

It's also interesting that Russell Crowe has gotten zero traction in supporting actor while Nicole Kidman seems to be popping up far more often (and likely will be the dreaded sixth spot with the Oscars).

Oh, and speaking of Stone, it's strange that Maniac, with its high-profile cast (Stone, Jonah Hill, Sally Field, Justin Theroux, etc.) and director (Cary Fukunaga), has been completely shut out by the Globes and now the Critics Choice. Is it just too weird/dark? I personally loved it, and think the twice-nominated (for other shows) Julia Garner should've gotten a nomination for this. She has such lived-in, familial chemistry with Stone, playing sisters.

That Jim Parsons, Andy Samberg, and, sad to say, Allison Janney keep getting easy nominations for their lame network shows (vs. innovative ones like Maniac) is wild. That said, Laurie Metcalf and her daughter, Zoe Perry, are nominated in the same category, so love that.

[Owl]

Happy for Homecoming and Julia Roberts and Shea Whigham! But no nods for Stephan James and Marianne jean-Baptiste? And still no love for The Romanoffs -- I'm beginning to think I am one of the 9 people in this world who didn't hate it. Superb acting performances in that series are plentiful.

I would have thought this critics group would include Rachel McAdams and Alessandro Nivola for Disobedience, or even a surprise nomination for Joanna Kulig in Cold War. With the expanded list of nominees, still no nominations for Jonathan Pryce and Jocelyn Pook's haunting score for The Wife, Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Erivo, and Tilda Swinton?

[Mareko]

Miriam Shor was the best thing about Good Christian Bitches.

Mary, Queen of Scots is a major non-starter.

[ken s.]

They can't come up with 7 nominees for Best Adapted Screenplay ignoring Death of Stalin and Leave No Trace (both excellent)? Especially galling when they do include just adequate Black Panther and A Star Is Born.

Also as far as an Oscar nomination for Green Book's score - it ain't gonna happen. It was declared ineligible.

[NATHANIEL R]

Ken -- where is that info. I hate that i keep missing these things.

[chasm301]

I'm so here for the Rachel McAdams in Game Night nod and she will make my best supporting top 5.

I'm not here for the abundance of Black Panther. Whatever, gIve it a Best Picture for its hold on the culture. Sure, give it best costumes. They were fantastic. But jeez? Cinematography? It only looked marginally better than any other Marvel film, which are typically glossy, flat and visually uninspired. Visual Effects? Laughably bad in places. PASS

[Evangelina]

Has this group ever made an out of the box choice or is it just mindlessly rubber stamping the predicted nominees plus two alternatives for good measure?

[Peggy Sue]

They're an embarrassment

[ken s.]

Nathaniel:

It was in Variety Dec 9 7:30 AM (You have to scroll through about 3 pages of news to find it)

Apparently, along with Green Book, the scores to Solo: A Star Wars Story, Mandy and The Other Side of the Wind were disqualified.

[Miz Miz]

Weisz deserves all the accolades she can get for The Favourite. She was just as sensational as Colman, and would have made a great addition to the Best Actress lineup if she'd campaigned there. For the record, Stone is excellent too.

[John T]

That Charlie Plummer was eligible for Young Performer and didn't get in for Lean on Pete justifies my collective eyeroll for the BFCA that I give every year. As Peggy Sue states above, do they EVER pick an out-of-box choice?

[John T]

Also, that Michael B. Jordan gif made me pass out.

[markgordonuk]

Is Gosling more likely than Malek in BA.

[Sawyer]

I believe I saw where Annihilation didn't make the Academy's long list for VFX. Absolutely ridiculous.

[W.J.]

It's difficult to take an awards body seriously when the number of honorees fluctuates for no apparent reason (7 for original screenplay, 6 for adapted... huh?) and the nominations read like Oscar predictions. They have luxuriously large categories and they still can't come up with any idiosyncratic picks? Even the Satellites manage a few refreshingly weird ones every year.

NEXT!

[chofer]

Why this exists? Is not enough with the ghost-people in the NBR or the star-trucked HFPA?

I know Jeff Wells has a voice here. Why? What does he know about film? He's just a troll begging for tickets "elswhere"- Pathetic.

This is pandering to the Oscars, chapter 3.000

Green Book has no business being nominated at anything anywhere. Its racial politics taking us back 50 years plus it's a MEH film.

Why don't you "so.called" critics deny thinking outside of the box could be detrimental for your reputation.? (Happy as Lazzaro EXIST, you know?) This group lost all credibility.

Nat, is there anything you can do.? Because if not, it'll be good fory you to step aside. You're BURNING in there. You are better than this.

I'm sure the posters here could do it better., too

Just STOP thinking about the Academy when voting. It isn't hard to do!!

[Sawyer]

The only explanation I can think of for the year in and year out lack of originality from the BFCA is that all the critics submit their ballots, then Peter Travers decides the final nominees.

[Dan H]

"Schitt's Creek" gets in for Comedy Series (Thank You!) but no Catherine O'Hara? Damn. Did these folks also nominate "Sophie's Choice" for Best Picture, but neglect to nominate Meryl Streep for Best Actress? (I know this organization doesn't go back that far, but I'm too annoyed to focus and think of a better analogy.)

Also, the Oscars could take a page from this playbook and nominate seven actors and actresses, actually. I'm thinking more big stars from big movies would get in and make those races more exciting to people. It's better than the crazy "Best Popular Film' idea, don't you think?

[chofer]

Sawyer

LOL! And Sasha Stone! She likes EVERYTHING! that could be Oscar-y. Then again, she protests for the lack of women directors. She comes across as a schizo! It's no wonder there are 6-7-8 nominees per group. People like her want every single annoited Oscar-y film to be there. And, at the same time, screams people get behind ONE women director. So you have to choose either Granik or Heller or Jenkins!! Unbelievable!

She's part of the problem.

[Suzanne]

Jeffrey Wells is currently complaining that First Reformed missed Best Picture and Viola missed Best Actress... but of course he voted for the Oscar frontrunners instead of them. Hilarious.

[ken s.]

It also astounds me that this so-called "critics" group can make room for special "action", "sci-fi/horror", etc. awards, but no "independent" or "low-budget" categories, or no non-English beyond the foreign film sop they throw to us art dweebs.

[moe]

"All English language performances (sigh)" for Best Young Actor/Actress
correction: Millicent Simmonds' performance is in ASL not English.

[brandz]

Way too many nominees per category. Makes it uninteresting.

[TOM]

In a sinking feeling towards the Academy’s decision to cut certain ‘audience boring’ categories for a shorter ceremony-if this Critic’s Choice list is an indication of what the Oscar final cut might be-I’m finding, as a movie/Oscar lover, that most of these ‘boring’ categories are really neck-n-neck right now. I want to see the actual presentation of whoever wins Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing and Visual Effects! I’m suspecting that the final hit list might be decided once the winners are known. I’m sure if the Academy know that Black Panther or Beale St. are winners for Hair/Make-up, Production Design or Score-I bet the winners of those ‘boring’ categories will somehow not be read during the commercial breaks...

[Jorge]

No Lily James. Again. IT HURTS NATHANIEL!

[Steve G]

The Critics' Choice nominations seem only to exist to forecast the likeliest Oscar nominees at a particular point in time. Hence, 7 nominees in some of the acting categories so next year they can say 'See! We nominated all 5 Oscar nominees last year! Take us seriously!'. Twas thus and ever will be. So it's not a group I look to for out-of-the-box thinking.

The only surprise I really noted here in any of the Oscar-adjacent categories was CRAZY RICH ASIANS for Production Design.

[chofer]

Suzanne

It stops being hilarious when the most lazy-assed members of the Academy pick up seeing what's already on the menu. And these a*holes are doing the "homework" for them. "Hey, we have LOTS of options! Choose one!

I've always thought the actors, the largest members of the Academy, are not very good at discerning good from mediocre. Otherwise Mortensen wouldn't have chosen such ridiculuos stereotype of a character. I don't think he's lacking offers! But here we are. Denying GET OUT ever happened!

This body-group should make "Don't think about pre-ordained Oscar film" a RULE an done with it!!

And as much as I loved Mary Poppins' original, it doesn't look to me like a risky choice either.

A male "Driving Miss Daisy" vs. Mary Poppins. Welcome back to 30 years ago, 2018! I'm sure there are no better movies than them to nominate:((

[Horn]

When

Lynne Ramsay - You were never really here
Marielle Heller - Can you ever forgive me?
Chloe Zhao - The Rider
Debra Granik - Leave no Trace

Are not being part of te conversation of the "awards industry", beside their extraordinary works in each film I mentioned, and people like

Bradley Cooper - A Star is Born
Ryan Coogler - Black Panther
Peter Farelly - Green Book

Are in te conversation and been nominated and awarded besides their "ok / not so good" work in the movies I mentioned, U REALLY understand the things and see that the inclusion talk still is a bullshit to this industry.

It is not inclusion when female professionals has extraordinaries works to be awarded and critics don't give a fuck to that, besides the male mediocre they are awarding. Inclusion is every single filmmaker, woman, white, no-White be celebrated for their work as equal in the talk.

still is the same shit as usual. I am really piss off with that.

the critics say that they are doing the "homework" to the Academy, nominating people who deserves. They are not! They are still doing the same shit as usual because they don't understand that every single part of the industry, if give a extraordinary work, should be in the talks in the limelight as their male (white / non-white) professionals.

[Suzanne]

chofer - Oh, I agree. He is very typical of the type of person (there are many of them) who rides the most popular wave, because they have a psychological need to vote for the winner(s).

[Evan]

I don't get the mentions today and yesterday at LAFCA for Black Panther's Production Design. It looks so clunky to me, like a CGI-enhanced stage lot. Even a bit old school Star Trekky. There's a lot to love in that film -- Costumes and MBJ come to mind -- but I cringe that it's winning/getting nominations in these PD categories.

The Roma nomination seems a little overkill too.

Loved the Crazy Rich Asians nomination though! Mary Poppins and The Favourite were fine choices too.

Paddington 2 shoulda gotten a mention.

[Travis C]

Yes, I agree with much of the dissent here. I don't want to sound like a troll. But scrolling through these film nominations, I just suddenly got the feeling that we are now in the section of the awards season where there are no more surprises. *sigh* Let's just fast forward onto the Oscar nominations now, please.

[chofer]

Suzanne

Agree. But I have a feeling HE wants to be the winner this time around. Call it the "Oscar-whore" syndrome. They're the worst of all.. And they are ALL actors.

And to think he did a wonderful weird film in my country called "Jauja". Speaking in three languages. Of course, no one ever saw it.
I think this group in particular (the actors) don't see enough films so they choose what's pre-ordained during the month available to vote.

Let's see how the SAGs turn out. Buy my suspicion is that those reggressive films I complain about will be well represented.

Those horrific Scott Feinberg's "Brutal Honest" Members are just a sample of who they are.

So, it's on the actual critics to amplify their narrow views. The directors' branch are more interested in the form. Just seeing tweets of some of the most well known recommending films that are no part of the "menu" bring me some sense of justice.

Sean Baker is very active on letterboxd, for instance.

[chofer]

I thin it's time, also, to create a rule that says the TIFF's audiences winner should be banned from any Oscar prognostication. Audiences winners from any jigh profile festival don't need any Oscar push, whatsoever.

Besides, between last year's winner and this year's winner I'm getting mad how "critics" rely so heavyly on Torontonians' tastes.

Otherwise, instruct the usual Torontonians moviegoers to join the Academy, for they apparently have a CRYSTAL BALL that's undeniable. I'm sure other moviegoers from remote festivals will be happy with this decision.

[Kirby]

In Supporting Actor: Alessandro Nivola for Disobedience, not Hereditary :)

[Morgan (the 1st)]

I'm really trying to grasp how The Haunting of Hill House isn't picking up ANYTHING? Globes like shiny, new hits and the critics were elated over it. So what the hell is happening?

[markgordonuk]

Why are we losing it over these nominations,did you really expect a radically different list.

We all know The Film Bitch Awards are the best part of the Oscar Season.

If Charlize is nominated for the Oscar people will freak.

[PoliVamp]

Here here on the Film Bitch Awards, markgoodonuk!

And I will forgive them some of their crimes because they nominated Toni Collette for Hereditary. I appreciate any and all love thrown that way.

[George P.]

Love the Ed Oxenbould ("Wildlife") mention, as well as Nico Santos for "Superstore"!

[Troy H.]

Morgan (the 1st), because someone finally realized that the emperor has no clothes.

[Vaus]

Re varying number of nominees. I would be OK with this if they were transparent about their voting method. Is there a quota of votes that results in nomination? Is there a rule that says if candidate is within x votes of 5th place nominee, then it is a tie? Or is there a secret save committee? (I am not so OK with that one.)
Someone must count the votes (or write code to count) and that someone must have been given instructions so why not make those instructions available to members who request a copy. The old question: conspiracy or incompetence?

[NewMoonSon]

So, even in an expanded field, Russell Hornsby still gets the shaft and Widows receives no individual acting nominations, not even for MVP Debicki. Insanity.

At least Michael B. Jordan finally got some shine.

The Best Director nominations for Farrelly and Cooper are, once again, hilarious and insulting.

On the TV side: One would think that such a critical body would have recognized the anchors of Pose, Dominique Jackson and MJ Rodriguez.

[Claran]

Critics Choice? Spoiled for Choice!!

Its like the poor distant cousin o Golden Globes, twice removed, trying to worm its way to Her Majesty, The Oscars!! 😂

Maybe Nat can enlighten the filling o the nom ballot. Do u fill in 5 or 7 nominees per category?