LAFCA embraces "Drive My Car" and "Power of the Dog"

by Nathaniel R

The rivalry between the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association is an abstraction. The two groups aren't at war though occassionaly their choices do feel like responses to each other, critical volleys if you will. Plus they're the two groups most likely to grab the attention of Oscar voters due to their high profile, coastal presence, and esteem.

This year they're co-signing each other naming Drive My Car the film of the year with Power of the Dog a close second taking the Director prize. They also agreed on supporting actor (sort of), too.  Their full awards and more comments after the jump...

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"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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Regional Critics Round 2: Power of the Dog x 3

by Nathaniel R

If you're keeping track you'll know that NBR chose Licorice Pizza and NYFCC selected Drive My Car as best of the year while Washington DC, Sunset Circle, and Detroit Film Critics threw in Belfast, Dune, and Cyrano as their top picks. We knew we'd have a repeat winner soon and so it has come to pass: Drive My Car and Licorice Pizza are both cited again. But we also finally get The Power of the Dog in the top spot, thrice over (that took long enough given all the Best Director kudos already!) After the jump 5 more critics groups: Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and New York (Online), and Boston (Online).

The winners and a few comments after the jump... 

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Regional Critics Groups Round 1: Belfast, Cyrano, Dune

by Nathaniel R

First three regional critics groups to announce follow. Washington DC, Detroit, and some California critics have now had their say with Belfast, Cyrano, and Dune picking up Best Film prizes. Since NBR went with Licorice Pizza and NYFCC with Drive My Car we're off to a wild start with no repeats for the top prize. This is the way we always hope it will be since there's no point in multiple orgs and associations if they all agree. The full list of winners from three groups after the jump...

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Q & A: Surprising Stars and How to Stop Category Fraud

Thanks to Pedro for suggesting we revive the "Ask Nathaniel - Q & A s". So many questions came in when I feared getting none. Let's start with Pedro since this was his idea.

Q: Of all people involved in moviemaking that you have interviewed or known, who surprised you the most and why? - Pedro

A: I wouldn't say I "know" very many people in the industry. Usually interviews are short and even if you meet the person multiple times it can be years inbetween conversations. So I'm not sure how to answer this one. As for "surprises" I will say that Jessica Chastain shocked me with a steel trap memory. I've met her three times and the third she went into detail about something we discussed the second time which was two years earlier. Mentally I was like "HOW?!?" as she talks to hundreds of journalists all year long...

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