Just minutes after the Boston Society of Film Critics crowned “Zero Dark Thirty” the year’s best film, the New York Film Critics Online went and did the very same thing. They also spotlighted Kathryn Bigelow in the Best Director category (as well as Mark Boal’s screenplay), and, like Boston, went with Daniel Day-Lewis and Emmanuelle Riva in the lead acting categories.
Check out the full list of NYFCO winners below with running commentary.
Best Picture: “Zero Dark Thirty”
Thoughts: Falling in line…
Best Documentary: “The Central Park Five”
Thoughts: All this does is just remind me of how annoying it is that the film wasn’t shortlisted by the Academy. It’s an exemplary piece of work, balanced, fully formed, a vital documentary.
Best Animated Film: “Chico & Rita”
Thoughts: A blast from the past. Last year’s Oscar nominee makes good with the New York online crowd. I saw this film so long ago but I remember how vibrant it was and what a handsome choice it would be for animation awards. I’m glad it got a few notices along the way.
Best Ensemble Cast: “Argo”
Thoughts: A great pick. I just watched it again a few days ago and the organic nature of the cast is top notch. It could be one to watch at SAG, along with “Les Miserables” and “Lincoln,” of course.
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”
Thoughts: What else can be said? His second award of the day after the Boston prize
Best Actress: Emmanuelle Riva, “Amour”
Thoughts: See my thoughts in the Boston post, where NYFCO was beaten to the punch. I won’t complain about another award for this performance, you can bet on that.
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, “Zero Dark Thirty”
Thoughts: That’s three out of three so far. Is the film set to just dominate and run the critics table?
Debut Director: Benh Zeitlin, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
Thoughts: This was apparently a landslide and rightly so. A stellar debut and announcement of a unique, vital voice.
Best Use of Music: “Django Unchained”
Thoughts: See my thoughts on this category at the Boston Society of Film Critics post. Suffice it to say, thumbs up from me.
Best Cinematography: “Life of Pi”
Thoughts: This brings up an interesting question, as it did with “Avatar.” Claudio Miranda is a singular talent, so make no mistake, but are the visuals people are responding to with this film due to effects, cinematography or a combination? Or have we entered territory with the continued hybridization of things that “Best Cinematography” is beginning encompassing it all, particularly with the decline of celluloid. It’s an interesting thing to consider.
Best Screenplay: “Zero Dark Thirty”
Thoughts: Whatever issues I might have with “Zero Dark Thirty,” one of them is NOT the work Mark Boal put into the screenplay, which is a triumph of journalism. He might be considered the prohibitive favorite for the Oscar, might not, but his accomplishment is entirely unique in the history of film.
Best Supporting Actor: Tommy Lee Jones, “Lincoln”
Thoughts: I’ve come around to expecting Jones to win the Oscar for his work in “Lincoln” this year, but it still feels a bit off. Nevertheless, all of the actors from the film continue to do very well on the precursor circuit, which is an intriguing first for a Spielberg film.
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway, “Les Misérables”
Thoughts: It was the first thing I said after seeing the film last month: Hathaway wins. It will likely be a long, forceful march to Oscar, despite Sally Field besting her with the NYFCC. And she’ll win it for one take, one shot, one song.
Breakthrough Performance: Quvenzhané Wallis, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
Thoughts: As her “Beasts” co-star Dwight Henry wins a big award with the LAFCA, young Quvenzhané Wallis rightly takes breakthrough recognition. The girl is a force in the film, maintaining such an even keel and revealing such a well of emotion. It really is a striking turn.
Remember to keep track of all the ups and downs of the 2012-2013 film awards season via The Circuit.