Critics Groups Rundown

Since last week, about 11 critics groups have chimed in with four groups doing so this morning. The groups represented below are the following:

Toronto Film Critics Association, San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS), African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), Houston Film Critics Society (HFCS), Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS), Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association (DFWFCA), Detroit Film Critics Society (DFCS), Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA), Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC), St. Louis Film Critics Association (SLFC), Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA)

The number in parenthesis represent the total number of critics awards the film or actor has received to date including the wins from last week's update.

BEST PICTURE

• The Artist (9) - SDFCS, LVFCS, DFCS, SLFC
• The Descendants (5) - SEFCA, HFCS, DFWFCA, FFCC
• The Tree of Life (4) - TFCA, AAFCA, CFCA

BEST DIRECTOR

• Michel Hazanavicius (5) - DFCS, SLFC
• Martin Scorsese (4) - SEFCA, FFCC
• Terrence Malick (4) - TFCA, CFCA
• Nicholas W Refn (3) - SDFCS, HFCS, LVFCS
• Alexander Payne (1) - DFWFCA
• Steve McQueen (1) - AAFCA

BEST ACTOR

• George Clooney (4) - SEFCA, DFWFCA, SLFC
• Michael Fassbender (4) - HFCS, DFCS, FFCC
• Michael Shannon (4) - TFCA, SDFCS, CFCA
• Brad Pitt (2)
• Jean Dujardin (1) - LVFCS
• Gary Oldman (1)
• Woody Harreslson (1) - AAFCA
• Paul Giamatti (1)

BEST ACTRESS

• Michelle Williams (8) - TFCA, LVFCS, DFCS, DFWFCA, CFCA, FFCC
• Meryl Streep (3) - SEFCA
• Tilda Swinton (2) - HFCS
• Viola Davis (1) - AAFCA
• Elizabeth Olsen (1)
• Rooney Mara (1) - SLFC
• Brit Marling (1) - SDFCS
• Yun Jung-Hee (1)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Albert Brooks (11) - AAFCA, HFCS, LVFCS, CFCA, FFCC, SLFC
• Christopher Plummer (6) - SEFCA, TFCA, DFCS, DFWFCA
• Nick Nolte (1) - SDFCS

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Jessica Chastain (4) - TFCA, CFCA
• Shaileen Woodley (4) - SDFCS, HFCS, DFWFCA, FFCC
• Melissa McCarthy (3) - LVFCS
• Vanessa Redgrave (1)
• Octavia Spencer (1)
• Berenice Bejo (1) - SLFC
• Janet McTeer (1) - SEFCA
• Carey Mulligan (1) - DFCS
• Adepero Oduye (1) - AAFCA
• Viola Davis (1)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• The Artist (3) - CCFA, FFCC, SLFC
• Midnight in Paris (2) - SEFCA, SDFCS
• A Separation (1)
• 50/50 (1)
• Margin Call (1)
• Win Win (1)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• The Descendants (8) - SEFCA, HFCS, DFWFCA, FFCC, SLFC
• Moneyball (7) - TFCA, SDFCS, LVFCS, DFCS, CCFA
• Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1)
• I Will Follow (1) - AAFCA

The Artist remains the frontrunner with the critics with its actor, supporting actress, and script also getting some love this week. The biggest mover this week, however, is Michelle Williams who has built a significant lead with the critics over her fellow actresses while Albert Brooks continues to dominate his category albeit with some tough competition from Christopher Plummer. The other categories are virtually free-for-alls which makes for a disjointed, but exciting awards race. The most intense competition seems to be happening in the Original Screenplay category between The Descendants and Moneyball.

Last week I mentioned to watch out for the unseen films such as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, War Horse, and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, but other than Rooney Mara surprise win with St. Louis critics, they haven't made much of a dent with the critics. But then again, there are still about a dozen or so groups left.