More critics groups, coming steadily from now through January (or at least the end of the month). They split up two for Moonlight, one for La La Land this time, but you'll notice there does now appear to be a consensus emerging among the regional critics groups for Natalie Portman in Best Actress. Hmm. I may be flat out wrong about Emma Stone's chances after all.
CHICAGO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION
'The Handmaiden' is racking up critics wins all over the place
- Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, MOONLIGHT
- Best Original Score: JACKIE
- Best Cinematography: LA LA LAND
- Best Editing: LA LA LAND
- Best Art Direction/Production Design: THE HANDMAIDEN
- Most Promising Performer: Lucas Hedges, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
- Most Promising Filmmaker: Robert Eggers, THE WITCH
- Best Supporting Actress: Michelle Williams, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
- Best Foreign Language Film: THE HANDMAIDEN
- Best Documentary: OJ: MADE IN AMERICA
- Best Animated Feature: KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
- Best Original Screenplay: MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
- Best Adapted Screenplay: THE HANDMAIDEN
- Best Actor: Casey Affleck, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
- Best Actress: Natalie Portman, JACKIE
- Best Director: Barry Jenkins, MOONLIGHT
- Best Picture: MOONLIGHT
Not a lot to note in this picks, except the ongoing love for The Handmaiden, which clearly should have been South Korea's Oscar entry. These guys loved it so much they gave it the screenplay award.
LAS VEGAS FILM CRITICS SOCIETY
Natalie Portman appears to be gaining momentum in Best Actress
- Best Picture: La La Land
- Best Actor: Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea
- Best Actress: Natalie Portman – Jackie
- Best Supporting Actor: Michael Shannon – Nocturnal Animals
- Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis – Fences
- Best Director: Damian Chapelle - La La Land
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Nocturnal Animals
- Best Original Screenplay: La La Land
- Best Cinematography: La La Land
- Best Film Editing: Moonlight
- Best Score: La La Land
- Best Song: “City of Stars” – La La Land
- Best Action Film: Captain America: Civil War
- Best Documentary: O.J.: Made in America
- Best Animated Film: Kubo and the Two Strings
- Best Foreign Language Film: The Handmaiden
- Best Costumes: The Witch
- Best Art Direction: La La Land
- Best Visual Effects: The Jungle Book
- Best Comedy: The Nice Guys
- Best Horror/Sci-Fi: The Witch
- Best Family Film: The Hunt for the Wilderpeople
- Best Ensemble: Hidden Figures
- Breakout Filmmaker: Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
- Youth in Film: Lucas Hedges – Manchester by the Sea
- William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award: Kirk Douglas
Vegas goes all in for La La Land, but still chooses Portman in Actress, which is now giving me pause, as I said earlier. I have a feeling Emma Stone is being perceived as playing herself in the movie- will the Academy agree and make Natalie Portman a two-time winner over the lead in the Best Picture frontrunner?
PHOENIX CRITICS CIRCLE
'The Lobster' has won several critics' prizes and could be a dark horse contender for an Original Screenplay Oscar nomination
- Best Picture: Moonlight
- Best Comedy Film: Hunt for the Wilderpeople
- Best Science Fiction Film: Arrival
- Best Horror Film: The Witch
- Best Mystery or Thriller Film: Hell or High Water
- Best Animated Film: Kubo and the Two Strings
- Best Foreign Language Film: The Handmaiden
- Best Documentary: O.J.: Made in America
- Best Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
- Best Actress: Natalie Portman, Jackie
- Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
- Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences
- Best Director: (Tie) Damian Chazelle, La La Land and Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
- Best Screenplay: The Lobster
- Best Score: La La Land
Oddly, there are two critics groups in Phoenix, so we haven't heard the last out of that city, but this one chose Moonlight and the consensus four acting winners, with a tie for the two directors in the running. I like the screenplay win for The Lobster, one of the most wildly original movies I've seen in years.
