Today was a very busy day for critics with The Boston Society of Film Critics, The New York Films Critics Online, and The Los Angeles Film Critics Association all voting for best achievements in film for 2012.
The love for Zero Dark Thirty continues with two more Best Picture wins, making it the clear favorite for awards season thus far. Kathryn Bigelow also adds two more wins to her list, putting her in prime position for a shot at another Best Director Oscar, an award she won merely three years ago.
In the first twist of awards season, Los Angeles critics have broken away from the pack and awarded Michael Haneke’s Amour with Best Picture, while giving Best Director, Actor, Supporting Actress, and Production Design to The Master, a film that hadn’t been garnering much attention so far this awards season.
Daniel Day-Lewis takes two more Best Actor wins for his excellent performance in Lincoln, one that seems destined to win him his third Oscar come February, while Emmanuelle Riva earns herself two Best Actress wins for her outstanding performance in Amour.
As far as these groups’ accuracy for picking the Oscar winner for Best Picture, Boston has the best record at doing so, with five of their last ten picks eventually going on to win the big prize. The NYFCO’s picks have only matched twice since they started giving awards in 2003. LAFCA’s picks have only matched once.
Having finally screened Zero Dark Thirty today, I have to say that, while it’s a decent film, its greatness is being exaggerated and I can’t really agree with it taking Best Picture. It’s still early though so it’s quite possible that another film could come forward and take over as we continue into awards season. Plus, it’s always possible that the guilds could have a completely different opinion from the critics, a unique situation that occurred in 2010 where the critics overwhelmingly favored The Social Network, while the guilds, and ultimately the Academy, chose The King’s Speech.
Next up, The Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) announces their awards tomorrow. Be sure to check back for the results.
Check out a complete list of results from today’s voting below:
Boston Society of Film Critics
Best Film: Zero Dark Thirty
(tied for 2nd: Moonrise Kingdom and Amour)
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
(2nd: Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master)
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
(2nd: Denis Lavant, Holy Motors)
Best Actress: Emmanuelle Riva , Amour
(2nd: Deanie Yip, A Simple Life)
Best Supporting Actress: Sally Field, Lincoln
(2nd: Emma Watson, Perks of Being a Wallflower)
Best Supporting Actor: Ezra Miller, Perks of Being a Wallflower
(2nd: Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained)
Best Screenplay: Tony Kushner,Lincoln
(2nd: Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom)
Best Cinematography: Mihai Malaimare Jr, The Master
(tied for 2nd: Moonrise Kingdon, Life of Pi)
Best Editing: William Goldenberg, Dylan Tichenor, Zero Dark Thirty
(2nd: Argo)
Best Use of Music: Moonrise Kingdom
(2nd: Django Unchained)
Best New Filmmaker: David France, How to Survive a Plague
(2nd: Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild)
Best Documentary: How to Survive a Plague
(2nd: Queen of Versailles)
Best Animated: Frankenweenie
(2nd: ParaNorman)
Best Foreign Language Film: Amour
(2nd: Holy Motors)New York Film Critics Online
Best Picture: Zero Dark Thirty
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow – Zero Dark Thirty
Best Debut Director: Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Best Actress: Emmanuelle Riva – Amour
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln
Best Ensemble Cast: Argo
Best Supporting Actor: Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables
Best Cinematography: Life of Pi – Claudio Miranda
Best Screenplay: Zero Dark Thirty – Mark Boal
Best Use of Music: Django Unchained – Mary Ramos
Breakthrough Performance: Quvenzhane Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild
Best Animated Feature: Chico and Rita
Best Documentary: The Central Park Five
Best Foreign Language Film: AmourThe Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Best Film: Amour
(runner-up: The Master )
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master
(runner-up: Kathryn Bigelow)
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
(runner-up: Emmanuelle Riva)
Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
(runner-up: Denis Lavant, Holy Motors
Best Supporting Actor: Dwight Henry, Beasts of the Southern Wild
(runner-up: Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained)
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, The Master
(runner-up: Anne Hathaway, The Dark Knight Rises and Les Miserables)
Best Editing: Dylan Tichenor and William Goldenberg, Zero Dark Thirty
(runner-up: William Goldenberg, Argo)
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins, Skyfall
(runner-up: Mihai Malaimare Jr., The Master)
Best Score: Benh Zeitlin & Dan Romer, Beasts of the Southern Wild
(runner-up: Jonny Greenwood, The Master)
Best Screenplay: Chris Terrio, Argo
(runner-up: David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook)
Best Production Design: Jack Fisk, The Master
(runner-up: Adam Stockhausen, Moonrise Kingdom)
Best Animated Film: Frankenweenie
(runner-up: It’s Such a Beautiful Day)
Best Documentary: The Gatekeepers
(runner-up: Searching for Sugar Man)