So now the regional film critics are going to start coming in, and this is how I can see that La La Land is very likely going to be the clear Best Picture winner this year, and it will probably sweep or come close to it. It was already loved by the major critics, but sometimes those guys go out of their way to be different- the smaller critics groups around the country tend to rally around the frontrunner, and it looks like that's starting already. Although it is interesting that Emma Stone hasn't won in Best Actress yet.
ATLANTA FILM CRITICS SOCIETY
- BEST FILM – LA LA LAND
- BEST DIRECTOR – Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND
- BEST ACTOR – Casey Affleck, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
- BEST ACTRESS – Annette Bening, 20TH CENTURY WOMEN
- BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – Mahershala Ali, MOONLIGHT
- BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – Lily Gladstone, CERTAIN WOMEN
- BEST ENSEMBLE – AMERICAN HONEY
- BEST ANIMATED FILM – KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
- BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM – 13TH
- BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM – TONI ERDMANN
- BEST SCREENPLAY – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
- BEST SCORE – THE NEON DEMON
- BEST SONG – “Drive It Like You Stole It” from SING STREET
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – LA LA LAND
- BEST EDITING – LA LA LAND
Annette Bening came in with a surprise win here for Actress for the upcoming indie 20th Century Women. She's gunning for another nom in her long career and could very well steal that fifth slot at the Oscars.
WASHINGTON FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION
- Best Film: La La Land
- Best Director: Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
- 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 Acting Ensemble: Hell or High Water
- Best Youth Performance: Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea)
- Best Voice Performance: Liam Neeson (A Monster Calls)
- Best Motion Capture Performance: Mark Rylance (The BFG)
- Best Original Screenplay: La La Land
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Arrival
- Best Animated Feature: Kubo and the Two Strings
- Best Documentary: 13th
- Best Foreign Language Film: Elle
- Best Production Design: La La Land
- Best Cinematography: La La Land
- Best Editing: La La Land
- Best Original Score: La La Land
With the DC critics, Natalie Portman comes along with a win for Jackie, showing there's not a total consensus for Best Actress the way there is with Casey Affleck in Best Actor. We'll have to wait and see what award Emma Stone can grab first, or if her chance comes later on with the televised shows only.
