The Critics Choice Awards are, I believe, somewhere between the People’s Choice Awards and the Golden Globes. While everything is basically a popularity contest, it’s a matter of degrees and the Critics Choice – formerly the Broadcast Film Critics Awards – are basically “consensus popularity” choices. They’ve even broadened their categories so that they nominate even more movie stars. So… yeah, it is what it is. The Critics Choice Awards nominations came out this morning, and I’m not feeling particularly excited. They managed to nominate just about everybody though, so that’s something. Here are the big categories, and you can see the full list here.
BEST PICTURE
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
La La Land
Lion
Loving
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
SullyBEST ACTOR
Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea
Joel Edgerton – Loving
Andrew Garfield – Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling – La La Land
Tom Hanks – Sully
Denzel Washington – FencesBEST ACTRESS
Amy Adams – Arrival
Annette Bening – 20th Century Women
Isabelle Huppert – Elle
Ruth Negga – Loving
Natalie Portman – Jackie
Emma Stone – La La LandBEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali – Moonlight
Jeff Bridges – Hell or High Water
Ben Foster – Hell or High Water
Lucas Hedges – Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel – Lion
Michael Shannon – Nocturnal AnimalsBEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis – Fences
Greta Gerwig – 20th Century Women
Naomie Harris – Moonlight
Nicole Kidman – Lion
Janelle Monáe – Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams – Manchester by the Sea
I believe that the lead actor and actress categories are going to look pretty much the same this entire awards season. The actress race seems centered now on Natalie Portman, Emma Stone and Amy Adams. I’m hoping Ruth Negga gets nominated across the board, and Isabelle Huppert is the “older actress/lifetime achievement” nomination that we get most years. The supporting categories are interesting though, and I do think we’ll be seeing some movement here and there. Like, Michelle Williams will definitely get lots of nominations (she’s already campaigning heavily), and I think Nicole Kidman really wants to get recognized for Lion. Everyone says Viola Davis is a shoo-in, so we’ll see. I think it would be great if Naomie Harris had a quiet and effective Oscar campaign too.
And hey, at least there are some diverse nominees this year. Dev Patel, Naomie, Viola, Denzel, Janelle, Ruth Negga and Mahershala Ali!!! YAY.
Photos courtesy of WENN, promotional images.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Loving. I watched the trailer and was bawling . When his lawyer asked Mr. Loving, “do you have anything you want me to say to the supreme Court ? ” He said,” yes. Tell them that I love my wife . ” Okay , that killed me. It was so beautiful .
I actually enjoyed loving. The pace of the movie was good and it was a calm film. What I mean by that is that it wasn’t your typical over the moon acting with the over the top screaming, crying, yelling heavy dialog that most actors and actresses are nominated for. They also didn’t focus on the civil rights plight that was happening around that time. It wasn’t a violent film and there was no use of the N-Word except in one scene I think it was written. They kept the focus on these two characters and their long journey. Negga and Edgerton tried to play the characters close to how the real life Loving couple were. They were quiet reserved people. It was a beautiful film.
I took a few kids from my job (Black & White) to see it and they had no idea that Black and Whites were not allowed to marry in the south and this was the couple that ended that law.
I’m glad to see Negga branching out after Marvel: Agents of SHIELD. Edgerton is another one of those underrated actors.
Your review sums it up very well. We saw it on Thanksgiving and it was a nice film for the day. It was nice that the film focused on the couple instead of all the courtroom drama too but also nice to see that it was Mildred, a quiet woman who just wanted to raise her kids where they could play safely, who was the one who gently pushed for her rights.
My husband and I are an interracial couple and we saw Loving on our 14th wedding anniversary. Richard and Mildred Loving are our patron saints. They made it possible for us to be wed legally in this country. We will always be grateful for them. I cried many times while watching the film, but especially when Mildred agrees with the reporter, “Yes, if we win, we’ll help a lot of people.” They struggled for ten years and my husband and I are among the millions of people they helped. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Loving.
There’s a great documentary on the case as well. I cried like a baby. They loved each other so much.
I finally saw Arrival and it the only Oscar movie I have seen yet but holy shit have I missed being immersed in good cinema this year. All of this years blockbuster fare was so substandard.
So happy for Dev. So glad that those guys from Skins I grew up watching are doing so amazingly for themselves.
I know I it will never happen in a million years but I shall pray to a god I dont even believe in that Moonlight sweeps awards season.
I saw arrival last night and was blown away both by the film, it’s beautiful message and Amy Adam was really, really good. I’d love to see her win something this season.
I enjoyed Ruth Negga’s performance in Loving as well, but wasn’t as blown away by the film as I had expected to be. It was good, but not Oscar-worthy, in my opinion.
Can’t wait to see Manchester By The Sea, La-La-Land, Lion and Fences. I don’t usually go for Portman, but will watch Jackie as well and give her a chance to impress me.
I watched Neruda sometime ago whoch is from the same director as Jackie and it legit hit the warm spot. So I will be seeing Jackie as well. Maybe not in theatres. Wont see Manchester by the Sea. Most excited about Moonlight. I feel that fil will mess me up and honestly I am so so ready.
Arrival and yes The Witch, not on the list were my favorites this year. Glad to see a lot of films with strong female leads listed and some of the best pictures this year.
I had read that Annette Benning was in the running for Best Actress — she’s been nominated but never won. Natalie Portman has her oscar and playing Jackie just seems irrelevant right now, for some reason. Have no desire to see the movie or her play Jackie, although she probably does a fine imitation game. I’m for Annette Benning all the way, with Amy Adams second — she was fantastic in Arrival.
I am way too young to care about Jackie O, but wht’s the deal with her? Apart from dressing nicely and being the wife of the guy who was important, did she do anything remarkable?
I saw Jackie and it was a bad disjointed film and honestly Natalie Portman’s performance was not award worthy. I would love to see this go to Annette Bening. How the heck did Janelle get nominated?? I mean she was good but not again award worthy. I would love to see Naomie Harris get best supporting. She was amazing in Moonlight…
I think Viola Davs has supporting locked.
@ Scotchy
Have you seen Hidden Figures? That’s the film Janelle is nominated for, not Moonlight.
@Nik
I did see Hidden Figures. I thought she was good, but all in all I don’t think it’s an award nominating performance. That’s just me and obviously I am wrong 🙂
I really hope Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris keep picking up momentum.
So glad to see them both on these lists, especially Naomi. Her performance was so strong. And she’ll bring a good fashion game.
I have the most gigantic crush on Mahershala Ali.
Same!
I remember him way back on Crossing Jordan. He’s great in House of Cards too.
I think Ali has a huge chance of winning. There is no one else in tat category with any momentum. Maybe Dev has a a bit of it.
I’ve clicked for Ruth Negga and have been staring at her ever since. How is she so beautiful? (Also yay Mahershala Ali!)
If Viola doesn’t win I’m going to riot in the streets.
I just saw Moonlight, and it was honestly one of the best films I’ve ever seen. Berry Jenkins did an outstanding job.
Yay for the Moonlight love!
Hacksaw Ridge keeps popping up on all these lists, I guess I might have to see it. Glad to see Lucas Hedges get some recognition. He beautifully brought sparks of life, warmth, and humor to the grimness of Manchester by the Sea.
I hated that I didn’t love Loving when I saw it recently. Ruth was incredible and deserves to be nominated, but I found it a bit…inert perhaps? Moonlight however is a goddamn masterpiece.
I can’t believe Emma Stone is on her way to getting her second oscar nom. Even when I stanned her I found her to be a mediocre to horrible actress.
I love Viola and Naomie so much. 2017 needs to make up for the sh*tshow that is 2016 by finding a way for both of them to walk away with golden statues.
*starts prayer circle*
I’m hoping Taraji sneaks in for Hidden Figures as well. I’m liking the field this year. I don’t think Natalie’s performance was Oscar worthy at all. I’m waiting to see the other movies but her performance was meh. Moonlight was amazing as was Loving but the former was stronger for me. Excited to see Arrival, La La Land and Hidden Figures. I think the race for Best is between Emma and Amy and Amy might have the edge due to her many noms. However Emma has gotten the heavier “lock” buzz. So we shall see.
Very pleased to see Dev in the mix. He deserves it. Haven’t seen Lion but its also on my list.
I find it interesting that people are not boycotting Manchester By the Sea the same way people decided to boycott Birth of a
Nation.
@Tila, I totally agree!!!
It’s interesting how quiet it is about his horrible and disturbing harassment.
It’s clear that race does play a part and that makes me sad.. Casey Affleck is disgusting. I will not be watching or supporting that film.
For a number of reasons but in addition I think the fact Parker had a trial and the transcripts were there plus the suicide of the victim also pushed Parker’s case over the line.
Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel are both in the supporting categories so who is the star of Lion? Seems fishy to me.
I have not seen Lion but am wondering the same. Dev Patel is the lead. Can’t they kick out another actor for him?
I have not seen Lion but isn’t Dev Patel the lead? Why put him in supporting? I would love to see a POC who isn’t black get Best Actor.
I saw Jackie, and I thought Portman was good. It looks like she might get another Oscar.