The L.A. Film Critics Association handed Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winner Amour their top prize, but the big winner of the day is Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, which picked up four awards after having been shut out by the NYFCC and NBR.
Another big winner with three wins of its own is Benh Zeitlin's Beasts of the Southern Wild, and I'm tickled pink about it! Awards for the score and Dwight Henry's performance are both Oscar-worthy, and I'm hoping this might give 'em a boost in their respective races.
On average, a swell bunch of winners (from the ones I've seen, anyway).
Best Picture: "Amour" Funny that the first critics award not to go to Zero Dark Thirty still went to a film that the public hasn't been able to see yet!
Best Director: Paul Thomas
Anderson, "The Master" A defendable choice indeed. The man's directorial voice is becoming ever more distinctive.
Best Actress: (TIE) Jennifer
Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook" and Emmanuelle
Riva, "Amour" This is Riva's third win of the day, coming after the Boston and New York Online critics.
Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix,
"The Master" A necessary win for him to keep his Oscar prospects alive.
Best Supporting Actress: Amy
Adams, "The Master" Nice to see some attention for this difficult, easy-to-overlook performance.
Best Supporting Actor: Dwight
Henry, "Beasts of the Southern Wild" Yes. Yes. Yes.
Best Screenplay: "Argo" Terrific pick. As great as Lincoln's screenplay is, I'd hate to see it hog all the writing awards.
Best Foreign Film: "Holy
Motors" Did not care for it. Obviously trying to spread things around.
Best Documentary: "The
Gatekeepers" Definitely in the hunt for Oscar.
Best Animation: "Frankenweenie" Might this one become the critics darling?
Best Film Editing: "Zero
Dark Thirty" Can't wait to see it.
Best Cinematography: "Skyfall" Outstanding. Sadly, it feels like yet another Oscar that Deakins will lose.
Best Music/Score: "Beasts
of the Southern Wild" Love this pick. The music branch is so resistant to newcomers, though.
Best Production Design: "The
Master" Production design was top notch, but I wish they had gone with something more creative.
New Generation Award: Benh
Zeitlin, "Beasts of the Southern Wild" Well deserved.
Douglas Edwards
Experimental/Independent Film/Video Award: "Leviathan"
