Movie Critics Awards: The Lessons
Oscar prognosticators love to look at end-of-year critics awards and speculate. But the truth is that the critics can boost a profile but not necessarily predict Academy Award winners. The two films that got a boost from yesterday and today’s plethora of honors (critics groups from New York, Boston, Washington, Los Angeles, and New York Online) were “There Will Be Blood” and “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” As for performers: Best Actor is all over the place (George Clooney, Frank Langella, and Daniel Day-Lewis have all now been recognized); Best Actress is Marion Cotillard versus Julie Christie; Best Supporting Actor is Javier Bardem (pictured); and Best Supporting Actress is Amy Ryan, with some support for Cate Blanchett. Bloggers are saying the big loser is “Atonement,” but that period movie is still showing up on most Top Ten lists, and it most definitely should not be counted out yet for a Best Picture nomination. “No Country for Old Men” still has the most critical support as the Best Movie of the Year.
