Yay, the London Film Critics Association just released their nominations. So we won’t have to go a day without Benedict Cumberbatch’s otter face on the front page!!! HUZZAH. Obviously, the London Critics Association put a greater emphasis on British films and British actors, but they don’t exclude foreigners at all. This year’s nominations are an interesting mix of British and American films, with lots of love for some weirder indie films and performances. You can see the full list of nominees here. Some of the bigger categories:

Film of the Year
“Birdman”
“Boyhood”
“The Grand Budapest Hotel”
“Ida”
“Leviathan”
“Mr. Turner”
“Nightcrawler”
“The Theory of Everything”
“Under the Skin”
“Whiplash”

Director of the Year
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Jonathan Glazer, “Under the Skin”
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, “Birdman”
Mike Leigh, “Mr. Turner”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”

Actor of the Year
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Imitation Game”
Jake Gyllenhaal, “Nightcrawler”
Michael Keaton, “Birdman”
Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”
Timothy Spall, “Mr. Turner”

Actress of the Year
Marion Cotillard, “Two Days, One Night”
Essie Davis, “The Babadook”
Scarlett Johansson, “Under the Skin”
Julianne Moore, “Maps to the Stars”
Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”

Supporting Actor of the Year
Riz Ahmed, “Nightcrawler”
Ethan Hawke, “Boyhood”
Edward Norton, “Birdman”
Mark Ruffalo, “Foxcatcher”
J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”

Supporting Actress of the Year
Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”
Marion Bailey, “Mr. Turner”
Jessica Chastain, “A Most Violent Year”
Agata Kulesza, “Ida”
Emma Stone, “Birdman”

British Actor of the Year
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Imitation Game”
Tom Hardy, “Locke” and “The Drop”
Jack O’Connell, “Starred Up,” “’71” and “Unbroken”
Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”
Timothy Spall, “Mr. Turner”

British Actress of the Year
Emily Blunt, “Into the Woods” and “Edge of Tomorrow”
Felicity Jones, “The Theory of Everything”
Keira Knightley, “The Imitation Game,” “Begin Again” and “Laggies”
Gugu Mbatha-Raw, “Belle”
Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl” and “What We Did on Our Holiday”

[From the Boston Herald]

You’ve got to think that Benedict will win something, right? Either Actor of the Year or British Actor of the Year. I’m thinking that Timothy Spall, Eddie Redmayne and Bendy will split these awards. Hm…it’s also good to see there’s so much love for Julianne Moore with the London critics. And they love Whiplash and JK Simmons too, yay. JK Simmons is an American treasure! And Jack O’Connell got something, but no nomination for Angelina Jolie. Too bad. Oh, and no Keira Knightley in the supporting actress category? That’s weird.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.