Critics Pick Gravity, 12 Years a Slave, & American Hustle

The Broadcast Film Critics Association gave out their awards on the same day as the Oscar nominations and since it took me a whole day to process the Oscar nominations, it took me a little bit longer to process the winners of the Critics Choice Awards, which are...

Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze, Her
Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave
Best Ensemble: American Hustle
Best Young Actor: Adele Exarchopoulos, Blue is the Warmest Color
Best Foreign Language Film: Blue is the Warmest Color
Best Documentary: 20 Feet From Stardom
Best Animated Feature: Frozen
Best Comedy: American Hustle
Best Actress, Comedy: Amy Adams, American Hustle
Best Actor, Comedy: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Best Action Movie: Lone Survivor
Best Actress, Action Movie: Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Best Actor, Action Movie: Mark Wahlberg, Lone Survivor
Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie: Gravity
Best Cinematography: Gravity
Best Editing: Gravity
Best Art Direction: The Great Gatsby
Best Visual Effects: Gravity
Best Hair and Makeup: American Hustle
Best Costume Design: The Great Gatsby
Best Score: Gravity
Best Song: "Let It Go," Frozen

Gravity was the most awarded film picking up 7 wins including Best Director, Best Actress in an Action Movie, and a handful of technical categories. American Hustle was next with 4 wins including Best Ensemble, Best Comedy, and Best Actress in a Comedy. Finally, 12 Years a Slave walked home with the top prize of the night, Best Picture, as well as one for its screenplay and the first major award for Lupita Nyong'o who delivered a pitch perfect acceptance speech. All season long these three films have risen to the top and the BFCA saw no reason to rock the boat. Among the other winners were critical favorites Cate Blanchett, Jared Leto, Her for Original Screenplay, Frozen for Animated Feature, and Blue is the Warmest Color for Foreign Film. The latter also picked up the Best Young Actor for its star Adele Exarchopoulos.

Matthew McConaughey once again beat out Chiwetel Ejiofor which could be a sign for the Oscars while Leonardo DiCaprio picked up another Best Actor in a Comedy and his other film from last year The Great Gatsby picked up two technical awards. So the winners for the most part were more or less expected, but I wished this group had chosen to award those who needed a boost either because they are smaller films, were "snubbed" by Oscars, or because they just deserved it more. Just off the top of my head... Inside Llewyn Davis, Brie Larson, James Gandolfini, The Heat, The World's End, Greta Gerwig, etc. But it's all about predicting the Oscars now so oh well.

At least, there was at least one bright spot of the ceremony which was the the presentation of the Genius Award to Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, and Ethan Hawke for their brilliant multi-decade collaboration for the Before trilogy. The charming banter and cross-talking they engaged in with each other on stage showed why the trilogy worked so well and why this award was so well deserved.