2013 CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Since the CCAs have historically been the most accurate predictor of the Oscar nominations, it’s safe to say that awards season has truly kicked off. Broadcasted live from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA, perhaps the most shocking moment of the night belonged to Affleck. The Argo star took home the award for Best Director despite the Oscar’s snub for a nomination. Affleck accepted with a grinning face, joking to the audience, “I would like to thank the Academy.” The rest of the film’s stars and producers (Including George Clooney) joined Affleck on stage as Argo took home the last trophy of the night for Best Picture. We shall see if this truly proves to be an Oscar indicator.
If Argo was the bell of the ball, it shared that honor with the critically acclaimed comedy-drama Silver Linings Playbook. The film captured the first award of the night for Best Acting Ensemble and went on to sweep the newly implemented “comedy” categories for Best Actress in a Comedy (Jennifer Lawrence), Best Actor in a Comedy (Bradley Cooper) and Best Comedy Movie.
While big-budget “pop-corn” flicks may not have received much love from the Oscars this year, BFCA president Joey Berlin also added more “action” categories in order to recognize achievements in the genre. Skyfall took the top spot for Best Action Movie, while Daniel Craig scored the Best Actor in an Action Movie prize (although he was not in attendance to accept).
Not surprisingly, Daniel Day-Lewis snagged the Best Actor award for his extraordinary portrayal of our 16th President in Spielberg’s Lincoln (an honor 8 of the last 9 Oscar winners have also achieved). Taking home the Best Actress Award was Jessica Chastain for her role in the thriller Zero Dark Thirty.
After Hugh Jackman, a veteran host of award shows (The Tonys, The Academy Awards) gave Sam Rubin hosting advice to “make it quick,” Judd Appatow was honored for his contribution to the film community. Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids, Pitch Perfect) gave a hilarious introduction before audiences were treated to a montage of movies under the Appatow umbrella. The funnyman hit the stage to accept the Critics Choice Louis XIII Genius Award, cracking up the crowd as he called out Tommy Lee Jones and Steven Spielberg for losing in their categories. Appatow didn’t let up, as he combed the audience and asked, “Is Daniel Day-Lewis here…I beat you too! Although we don’t really know what Lincoln sounds like, so you may have gotten it wrong.” Day-Lewis played the good sport as he laughed along.
Despite her age, the BFCA did not fail to honor the exceptional talent of 9-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis. The young starlet adorably waved her cellphone in the air as she won Best Young Actor or Actress for this year’s dark horse, Beast of the Southern Wild. Wallis’ ride is far from over, as she will walk the red carpet as the youngest actress to be nominated for the Best Actress Oscar.
Halfway through the show, the Critics decided to take a breather and turned things over to the public. For the first time, movie fans were able to vote online for their Favorite Film Franchise. The award went to the Twilight Saga, beating out the likes of Harry Potter, Batman, Indian Jones and Star Wars, to name a few.
Overall, Lincoln topped the list of nominations with a record-setting 13, beating out 2011’s Black Swan (12). Les Miserables earned 11 nominations, followed closely by Silver Linings Playbook (10) and Life of Pi (9).
The BFCA stands as the largest film critics organization in the U.S. and Canada, representing over 270 television, radio and online critics. Most people turn to the BFCA before anywhere else for the quality and legitimacy of a given film. To read more about the organization and a full list of all nominations, please visit CriticsChoice.com
