It’s yet another critics prize for The Hurt Locker, as the New York Film Critics Circle also anointed Kathryn Bigelow’s war drama Best Picture. Oscar front-runners George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Christoph Waltz, and Mo’Nique also won their respective categories. Here’s the full list:
Best Film The Hurt Locker
Best Director Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Best Screenplay In the Loop
Best Actress Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Best Actor George Clooney, Up In The Air and Fantastic Mr. Fox
Best Supporting Actress Mo’Nique, Precious
Best Supporting Actor Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Best Cinematography Christian Berger, The White Ribbon
Best Animated Film Fantastic Mr. Fox
Best Non-fiction Film Of Time and the City
Best Foreign Language Film Summer Hours
Best First Feature Hunger, director Steve McQueen
The Hurt Locker is looking like a serious contender.
I hope so!
The NYFCC’s choices for cinema’s best of the year no longer surprise me. It has become standard and almost predictable — there are no ‘upset’ winners anymore. However I still respect the NYFCC members and being the ‘principled’ alternative or equivalent of the Oscars but I respect the choices of LAFCA more and more. Having said that, I am happy that ‘The Hurt Locker’ is getting its due and also excited that it might be Kathryn Bigelow who will win the Best Director prize this year — the first woman to win if ever! Happy for the wins of ‘The White Ribbon’, ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’, Christoph Waltz and ‘Summer Hours’.
Some of what you said is true. That being said, Up in Air (beyond my understanding) has been the front runner for best picture in most award circles, and Up was easily the most likely choice for best animated film although I’m happy The Fantastic Mr. Fox won instead.
Interesting that they gave it to Clooney for Mr. Fox. But historically, I find the NY Film Critics awards the most interesting. (I still think their choice of Steve Martin for “All Of Me” was brilliant.)
“gave it to Clooney for Mr. Fox, ALSO.” I do get that he didn’t just get it for the animated film.
I think it’s more interesting that they didn’t do the same for Meryl Streep.
Excellent point.
yay for meryl!! it seems like UP is going to get some serious competition from fantastic mr. fox at the oscars, and other awards
Don’t ginx Up!
I liked both Up and Fantastic Mr. Fox, but I think I liked Fantastic Mr. Fox more.
The beginning of Up was the best part. It sort of lost its magic once they arrived in the jungle. And Ed Asner’s powerful voice never quite fit the character.
Fantastic Mr. Fox was great the whole way through.
Hasn’t Pixar won enough Academy Awards? They’re great and all, but if we don’t recognize new talent, then we’ll kill innovation.
REALLY hoping some of these follow suit at the Oscars. kathryn BETTER win best director. also very happy with mo’nique winning supp. actress. the role was gritty and had a hidden vulnerability all at the same time. what a wonderful performance.
I’m really liking how the critics’ awards have gone so far and hoping Oscar follows suit. Kathryn Bigelow deserves to be the first female director to win an Oscar, especially since she shows that female directors don’t need only to do “women’s pictures.” (Males have been directing “women’s pictures” for years.) Plus, wouldn’t it be kind of cool to see her win over her ex-husband?
I was wondering if there had been any female best director Oscar winners. And yes, it would be brilliant to see her win over Cameron!
Cameron and Bigelow have worked together since the divorce (Point Break, Strange Days), so I don’t think there is any bad blood. Anyway, Cameron will not nominated. No woman has ever won the Academy Award for Best Director. Jane Campion and Sofia Coppola have been nominated. It’s worth noting that the Director Oscar has a history of being like a de facto lifetime achievement award. Regardless of the film, young directors with only a few films rarely win over Directors with a long career behind them.
the first nomination for a female director was lina wertmuller for seven beauties…
I am starting to think that while The Hurt Locker probably wont win Best Picture at the oscars- I think Kathryn Bigelow will be winning for Best Director
Start going through all the categories and figuring out what realistically has a shot of winning that award. I think you’ll see that The Hurt Locker has a good shot at more awards than the other frontrunners (Precious and Up in the Air). It’s one of the main reasons why I think it will move to the forefront after Oscar nominations have been announced.
FINALLY, the overrated Up gets overlooked! Go Fantastic Mr. Fox!
My sentiments exactly.
theres absolutely nothing overrated about Up. Fantastic mr. fox is great, but nothing beats Up. Nothing. Don’t pretend you’re cool cuz you’re goin against Pixar.
All of the multiple award-winners have been worthy of the honors to one degree or another, but this mini-sweep for Christoph Waltz is one of the more welcome developments this Oscar season could bring.
he’s the Joker of this year, only less popular (cuz hes not dead)
I’m getting a little bit discouraged that Colin Firth hasn’t picked up any of the critics awards yet. I like George Clooney, but Firth is my favorite of the Best Actor possibilities and I feel that now his Oscar chances are lessening. This is frustrating.
But I am delighted to see Christoph Waltz and Mo’Nique picking up so many awards. I’d love to see them both take home an Oscar.
Although my local cineplex only had “The Hurt Locker” on for one week months ago…and I wasn’t even aware it was on…glad to see Ms.BIGELOW win a Best Director award from NY Film Critics Circle…and here’s hoping the Oscars give her a Best Director Oscar so that finally a woman director wins!!!! Go, KATHRYN, go!! But I’m not feeling that Ms. STREEP deserved NYFCC’s Best Actress for “Julie And Julia.” Plenty of other actresses that deserved this…like HELEN MIRREN for “The Last Station.” Should Ms. STREEP be nominated once again for an Oscar, she’ll probably win because she hasn’t won one since “Sophie’s Choice” eons ago. Just don’t think it should be a win for her for “Julie And Julia.” MR. CLOONEY deserved his NYFCC award and crossing my fingers he wins an Oscar although I’d like to see COLIN FIRTH take home the Oscar if he’s nominated.
Maybe there will be a tie in this category…that would be cool!
I’m feeling more and more encouraged that The Hurt Locker might actually pull off a Best Picture nomination! Yay! Up in the Air was good, but The Hurt Locker was terrific.
In response to ia: Meryl Streep DEFINITELY deserves the nomination she received for Julie and Julia. She had the mannerisms of Julia Child down to a tee…From the posture to the physical appearance to the rising intonation and inflection in her voice, she mirrored Julia Child. Meryl is a very respected actress who deserves EVERY nomination she has ever had and EVERY award she has ever won! If she wins, it won’t be “because she hasn’t won one since “Sophie’s Choice” eons ago.” It will be because she deserved it and gave one heck of a performance!
Agree with Rob. Streep is utterly captivating in every single scene in Julie and Julia. She made me quite giddy with delight, and she also had great chemistry with Stanley Tucci.
Meryl Streep should have won for both Bridges of Madison County and The Devil Wears Prada. I think it’s true that the academy sometimes goes on autopilot with handing out nominations to her, but they have been stingy with the actual awards. Would love to see her get a long overdue third trophy.