Finally, the NSFC, the fourth of the big four critics groups (with NY, LA and NBR) has come down with their results and this time around they're pretty underwhelming. The NSFC often times picks crazy, out there choices, partly because they go last and they don't appear to like lining up with what everyone else has already chosen as consensus, but that doesn't seem to be a problem this year. No, it was all Moonlight and the usual contenders in the acting categories (aside from Michelle Williams, but she's clearly the runner-up behind frontrunner Viola Davis in supporting). Still nice to see Isabelle Huppert hanging in there as the critics fave for Actress, a hair ahead of Natalie Portman, although I should mention that may have been the one change in trajectory from the Golden Globes last night. They really liked Elle, awarding it in Foreign Film and for Best Actress, which was something of a surprise, since Portman had been considered the favorite there. But with that upset, it appears to give Emma Stone the leg up in the Best Actress race after all. SAG is the most important precursor for that award now, for sure. If Emma wins there then yeah, that race is over.
Best Picture: “Moonlight”
Best Actor: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”
Best Actress: Isabelle Huppert, “Elle” and “Things to Come”
Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight”
Best Supporting Actress: Michelle Williams, “Manchester by the Sea”
Best Director: Barry Jenkins, “Moonlight”
Best Screenplay: “Manchester by the Sea”
Best Cinematography: “Moonlight”
Best Foreign Film: “Toni Erdmann”
Film Heritage Award: Kino Lorber’s five-disc collection “Pioneers of African-American Cinema”
