New York Film Critics Circle Voting Underway: Full Winners List (Updating Live)
The New York Film Critics Circle will begin announcing its winners on Friday morning, as one of the early critics’ groups to weigh in on awards season.
The organization is made up of about 50 critics and journalists based on the East Coast, from publications that include Time, Vanity Fair and Variety.
Lady Gaga asserted her status in the best actress category by picking up her first mention of the awards season for Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci.” Despite mixed reviews, the box office returns were favorable for the film and an expected Oscar nom for arguably the world’s biggest artist will not just help the movie’s chances in other Oscar categories, but likely help overall Oscar ratings as well. Gaga faces some stiff competition from Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball (“Being the Ricardos”) and Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana (“Spencer”).
The group started the morning by naming Kodi Smit-McPhee as supporting actor for Netflix’s “The Power of the Dog.” Jane Campion’s drama follows a rancher. Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch), fighting his demons in 1920s Montana. Smit-McPhee plays Peter, a young man who stays at his ranch and enters into a complicated relationship with Phil.
As the Witch, contortionist performer Kathryn Hunter surprisingly picked up best supporting actress for her turn in Apple Original Films/A24’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” An adaptation of the famous William Shakespeare play “Macbeth,” the movie stars Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand in the lead roles. Hunter’s chances have increased significantly in what is easily the most competitive field of supporting actress contenders in the last 30 years that also includes Rita Moreno (“West Side Story”), Caitriona Balfe (“Belfast”) and Kirsten Dunst (“The Power of the Dog”). The group has been known to throw passion behind particular performers that haven’t translated to Oscar recognition like Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip”) and Patricia Clarkson (“Far from Heaven”).
Two Neon contenders, “The Worst Person in the World” from Joachim Trier and “Flee” from Jonas Poher Rasmussen won prizes for foreign language and non-fiction film, respectively. It couldn’t happen at a better time, just ahead of Oscar shortlist voting, which begins exactly one week from today on Dec. 10.
Last year, NYFCC selected “First Cow,” a beloved indie drama directed by Kelly Reichardt, as best film, although it failed to net any Oscar noms. Chloé Zhao was named best director for “Nomadland,” one of the many awards she swept on her way to the Academy Awards.
Even during these COVID-19 times, awards season is fully underway in December 2021. This week, the National Board of Review named “Licorice Pizza,” a coming-of-age drama set in the 1970s directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, as the best film of the year. And Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” premiered to rave reviews, leading some pundits to predict that it’s the new, late-breaking frontrunner in the race for the Oscars next March.
Here are the winners from the NYFCC year, as they are being announced. The group names each winner live over Twitter as the votes are tabulated.
See the full winners list below (updated as they’re announced):
Best Film:
Best Director:
Best Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)
Best Actress: Lady Gaga, “House of Gucci” (MGM/United Artists Releasing)
Best Supporting Actor: Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)
Best Supporting Actress: Kathryn Hunter, “The Tragedy of Macbeth” (Apple Original Films/A24)
Best Screenplay:
Best Animated Film: “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” (Netflix)
Best Cinematography:
Best First Film:
Best Foreign Language Film: “The Worst Person in the World” (Norway)
Best Non-Fiction Film: “Flee” (Neon)
Special Award:
Special Award:
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