New York Film Critics winners

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The Original BJ
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by The Original BJ »

I think Boyhood might very well dominate the critics' groups -- there just aren't too many candidates that feel hip enough and mainstream enough to fit the usual profile of these winners. (Birdman would be another one; I saw Selma yesterday, and though I thought it was quite good, it's way more traditional, and I wouldn't expect it to triumph anywhere but maybe NBR among pre-televised ceremonies.)

Mike Leigh's acting candidates have had trouble getting much farther than critics' groups (both Sally Hawkins and Lesley Manville got tripped up despite critical cheering), but there seems to be at least one wide-open Best Actor spot (perhaps more, if one of the presumed frontrunners is more vulnerable than we think). The bloggers have basically been ignoring Spall as a legitimate nomination threat, but I've thought since Cannes he'd be in the conversation, and this at least ensures that.

In response to Mister Tee's big post, I meant to write a mini-analysis of the contenders on the fringe of the Best Actress race, and my hunch was that critics' groups might rally around Marion Cotillard's two performances given the thin field. (I actually would have pegged her a very likely candidate for LA, and I still think she'd be a safe way to bet there, given the foreign trend in Best Actress.) I haven't yet seen Two Days, One Night, though it seems like a stretch that a Dardenne film would produce a mainstream awards candidate...but are we underestimating her as a potential for The Immigrant? It was a period drama with some critical cache, but there's nothing inaccessible about it -- it's not going to offend older voters -- and Cotillard has a solid enough central role. Might the thinness of the field cause voters to look back to one of the few remotely viable candidates from the spring?

Speaking of the Immigrant, I wouldn't write it off in the Cinematography category either. It's a very handsome-looking movie, literally from that first foggy shot of the Statue of Liberty.

I think J.K. Simmons is just going to be a steamroll to the inevitable.

I do hope the critics groups go all over the place with Supporting Actress -- there are a ton of strong candidates in that field, though Arquette is, of course, plenty worthy.

I agree with what Mister Tee wrote vis a vis The LEGO Movie. The NY critics have nearly always gone with a foreign/arty option when available in this category, so this is a boost.
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by Sabin »

I'm sure it is. The biggest surprise for me today was Timothy Spall for Mr. Turner over Michael Keaton for Birdman. That seemed right up their alley. We all have been saying for a bit that this season is going to look a lot like Birdman or Boyhood. I think there are more Boyhood people in New York. It makes more sense for Boyhood to win in New York. They've tended to be a little more middlebrow these days. LA seems more like a Birdman crowd.
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by Mister Tee »

And, while I was typing, Magilla had the same thought.
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by Mister Tee »

Also, without runners-up we don't truly know what its performance was. For all we know, it ran second in multiple categories. (Though the rapid reporting of film/director suggests Boyhood was an easy winner in those categories)

Kind of a big boost for The LEGO Movie -- NY has favored foreign/indie entries in animated feature (Triplets of Belleville over Finding Nemo, Persepolis over Ratatouille, The Illusionist over Toy Story 3). The only Pixar efforts they chose were The Incredibles and Wall E.

It'll be interesting to see if Simmons/Arquette become a Waltz/Mo'Nique win-everywhere machine, or if other groups decide to share the wealth. (Something I'd guess is already underway for both actor and actress)

Boyhood probably needs a Hurt Locker-like sweep of the oldtime critics groups, to offset its decent but mot great box office, if it really wants a run at the best picture Oscar. I'm still inclined to think Selma could top it in the end, but this is a good start.
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by Big Magilla »

Sabin wrote:I also think it has something to do with membership. This group has Rex Reed, who called Birdman " A miserable load of deranged, deluded crap masquerading as a black comedy."
Yes, but Rex Reed is in the minority. For all we know, Birdman may have been runner-up in numerous categories.
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by Big Magilla »

OscarGuy wrote:Birdman is surprisingly ignored. Is there a more quintessentially New York film than that this year? I know LA can't avoid anything set in Los Angeles...

As for speed, I think it has more to do with the fact that they are doing a morning event instead of a lunch-straddling one.
Both L.A. and Chicago critics' groups are hometown centric. New York critics are not.
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

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I also think it has something to do with membership. This group has Rex Reed, who called Birdman " A miserable load of deranged, deluded crap masquerading as a black comedy."
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by OscarGuy »

Birdman is surprisingly ignored. Is there a more quintessentially New York film than that this year? I know LA can't avoid anything set in Los Angeles...

As for speed, I think it has more to do with the fact that they are doing a morning event instead of a lunch-straddling one.
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Mister Tee
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by Mister Tee »

And Boyhood for best film.
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by Sabin »

Linklater for Boyhood.
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Mister Tee
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by Mister Tee »

And best first film goes to The Babadook.

Which leaves, I believe, only director and film.
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by Sabin »

Currently the win leader is...The Immigrant.
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by flipp525 »

I don't think this is going to be the runaway for Julianne Moore that everyone was predicting for the season. Especially after seeing her film.
Last edited by flipp525 on Mon Dec 01, 2014 1:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by Mister Tee »

Julianne remains winless in NY.
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Re: New York Film Critics winners

Post by Sabin »

Best Actress: Marion Cotillard (for The Immigrant and Two Days, One Night)
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