The Los Angeles Film Critics Association announced their 2012 film awards today where The Master took home the most awards but couldn't beat out Michael Haneke's Amour for Best Picture and yet, couldn't win Best Foreign Language film.
Amour's Emmanuelle Riva also tied for Best Actress with Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook), but otherwise The Master took home Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson), Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Best Supporting Actress (Amy Adams) and Production Design. I updated the awards live and have left the rundown as the day went on directly below exactly as it played out.
Beasts of the Southern Wild was the day's first winner with Dwight Henry starting things off with a Best Supporting Actor win (Christoph Waltz was runner-up for Django Unchained) followed by a win for Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin for Best Music/Score.
Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables, The Dark Knight Rises) may be the front-runner for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars, but with the LA critics she could only manage runner-up, with the win going to Amy Adams (The Master).
Best Cinematography will be an interesting category at the Oscars this year as there are so many to choose from and a wide variety of candidates and styles. The Los Angeles critical core decided Roger Deakins (Skyfall) was the best, but will it help the long-time nominated, but never won cinematographer at the Oscars?
The Gatekeepers was named Best Documentary over current Oscar favorite Searching for Sugar Man in race that is going to be tight as How to Survive a Plague also looks to be a potential contender.
The Master was named runner-up for Best Music/Score while it did win for Best Production Design and Tim Burton's Frankenweenie was named Best Animated Feature.
After a lunch break the group returned to award Best Editing, which went to Dylan Tichenor and William Goldenberg for Zero Dark Thirty. Goldenberg was also named runner-up for his work on Ben Affleck's Argo. This marked the first time the group handed out an award for editing.
Best Screenplay doesn't take into account Original or Adapted as they are all lumped together, but both the winner and runner-up ended up being adaptations. Chris Terrio winning for his Argo screenplay with David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook taking runner-up status. I have been collecting as many of the Oscar contending screenplays as I can for you to download and if you haven't yet checked them out click here for all 27 collected so far.
It seems a foregone conclusion that Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) will be winning the Oscar for Best Actor, but there is no love for Day-Lewis from the LA critics as Joaquin Phoenix (The Master) takes the honors with the critical darling Denis Lavant (Holy Motors) taking runner-up.
Best Actress is going to be a fun race to watch at the Oscars as Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) and Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) will battle it out with their polar opposite performances. Well, if you put any stock in the LA critics having an effect on the race, what do you make of a tie for Best Actress between Lawrence and Emmanuelle Riva for her moving performance in Michael Haneke's Amour?
Will it be Steven Spielberg (Lincoln) or Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty) to win Best Director at the Oscars? If the Los Angeles Film Critics have anything to say about it Bigelow is in play, but Paul Thomas Anderson (The Master) is the king.
Speaking of king, The Master couldn't win everything as it only managed runner-up for Best Picture, losing to Haneke's Amour. How that makes sense I have no idea, but that's how it goes.
Amour has now been added to my Oscar Overture, compiling the list of major precursor winners leading up to the Oscars.
This is the last of what I consider to be the current year's "major" precursor awards until the new year begins with the Critics' Choice Awards on January 10, 2013.
Updated winners are listed below. Feel free to predict the winners as this group tends to take a long time to announce their winners.
Best Picture
- Amour
Runner-up: The Master
Best Actor
- Joaquin Phoenix (The Master)
Runner-up: Denis Lavant (Holy Motors)
Best Actress (TIE)
- Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook)
Emmanuelle Riva (Amour)
Best Supporting Actor
- Dwight Henry (Beasts of the Southern Wild)
Runner-up: Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)
Best Supporting Actress
- Amy Adams (The Master)
Runner-up: Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables, The Dark Knight Rises)
Best Director
- Paul Thomas Anderson (The Master)
Runner-up: Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty)
Best Screenplay
- Argo (Chris Terrio)
Runner-up: Silver Linings Playbook (David O. Russell)
Best Editing
- Zero Dark Thirty (Dylan Tichenor and William Goldenberg)
Runner-up: Argo (William Goldenberg)
Best Cinematography
- Skyfall (Roger Deakins)
Runner-up: The Master (Mihai Malaimare Jr.)
Best Documentary/Non-fiction Film
- The Gatekeepers
Runner-up: Searching for Sugar Man
Best Animated Film
- Frankenweenie
Runner-up: It's Such a Beautiful Day
Best Foreign Language Film
- Holy Motors
Runner-up: Footnote
Best Music/Score
- Beasts of the Southern Wild (Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin)
Runner-up: The Master (Jonny Greenwood)
Best Production Design
- The Master (David Crank and Jack Fisk)
Runner-up: Moonrise Kingdom (Adam Stockhausen)
Douglas E. Edwards Award
For Independent/Experimental Film/Video
- Leviathan (dir. Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel)
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Why do they list a runner up? Seems a bit impolite to said runner up.
id take a second place trophy anyday..
I actually like it. Gives a little extra recognition where they could have just left it at the winner.
It was really more curiosity than caring too much. It just seems a little like saying 'Well we almost thought you were best, but we didn't. And we're telling you that while we tell who came first.'
Ya I mean, I agree with Brad and Bill. I will take a second place trophy over nothing. It is a nice touch, and I wish more awards had that.
Damnit! I was hoping Leonardo to get the best supporting actor.
Brad, having seen Django what do you think Waltz's chances are for an Oscar nom?
They are pushing him in lead so I think he may miss out.
I heard they switched Waltz back to supporting
You are exactly right! That actually makes a nom even less likely since DiCaprio will get a nom and I think Samuel L. Jackson would get a nom before Waltz in that category.
DiCaprio? Jackson? Waltz? How many supporting actors are in that movie?
7 billion
In the end, it will be Michael Parks who scores the nomination. DiCap, Jackson and Waltz will all miss out...
When is the Best Supporting Actress?
Best Supporting Actor:
Dwight Henry (Beasts of the Southern Wild)
Runner-up: Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)
What???
Where is Tommy Lee Jones, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Leonardo Dicarpo???
Damn! Good for Dwight!
My prediction:
Best Picture: Zero Dark Thirty
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Best Actress: Jessica Chastain
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway
Best Production Design: Anna Karenina
Best Cinemageography: Life of Pi
Best Animated Feature: Brave
hahahahaha, ENTIRELY WRONG!
And "Beasts" scores its second LAFCA Award...
For me, "Beasts of the Southern Wild" is the best movie I've seen this year.
Hope it also takes the Best Leading Actress prize home too
Ed, I am so with you. Quvenzhane Wallis is stunning and only as good as Dwight Henry who gives her the impetus to bring out her bravery and moxie in her scenes. The fact that she's young should have no detriment on her chances of winning a lead role. No other actress in Hollywood could have played that part. Unless the Academy decides to give her a juvenile Oscar as they did with Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz but I am for Wallis all the way. For those who say Wallis is not acting, they need to see the making of DVD footage and see her focus in on her scenes. It is unparalleled and magical.
bambooguy, you can't imagine how I would love to see Wallis taking the Oscar instead of the Lawrence or Chastain... I liked Lawrence a lot and I haven't seen "Zero Dark Thirty" yet, but I don't see another actress delivering such an unique tour-de-force performance like Wallis did in "Beasts".
Hope she'll be this year's Anna Paquin
Ed, I was beginning to feel like the only one who thought that. Chastain and Lawrence can easily get Oscar calibre roles again. Wallis and many actors of color, have that one shot...comparable to Paquin, I'm also thinking of Haing S. Ngor who won an Oscar for The Killing Fields who brought an authenticity and something indelible to the screen in what he was portraying. Keisha Castle- Hughes' lead actress Oscar nomination in Whale Rider was a coup, but I did not feel strong about her as I do with Wallis' internal storytelling and the obstacles she undergoes from natural disaster, loss, survival, coming of age, acceptance and compassion.
I felt Scarlett Johansson deserved more a Best Leading Actress Oscar nomination for Lost In Translation or Girl With Pearl Earring than Keisha Castle-Hughes for Whale Rider. Keisha's acting wasn't that amazing for me and everybody knew she wasn't going to take the prize home... But I feel Wallis really deserves a win for her performance alone (an actress without a career who can only be judged for this performance)
You're right ScarJo was so robbed that year it's disgusting...I mean to overlook one performance is understandable, but two great performances in one year? and not even a nomination? I think Academy is really filled with prejudice when it comes to certain actors... Just think that for "vicky cristina barcelona" Penelope Cruz won best supporting actress, but Scarlett didn't even score a nomination in a much deeper role for "Match Point"...
Brad, when is the Best Supporting Actress?
Yes! I love that score for Beasts! So happy it is getting some love. And awesome to see Dwight Henry win. Hopefully these awards help the push for the film, my favorite of the year.
Timbo, I am so glad that Beasts did not get lost in the fall shuffle. Lots of people have been critical of the film but no one has said anything bad about its lead actress, Wallis.
Agreed. Brad has had her on the watch for a Best Actress nomination for the Oscars, and that would be a very great achievement for the young actress. She acted well beyond her years in that film. Very moving.
I haven't seen Beasts of the Southern Wild yet, so I can't comment on the score, but I would've really have liked to have seen The Master win in that category.
Take a listen to it on YouTube or Spotify. It is tremendous.
Yes it is, and I stupidly forgot it on my Critics Choice ballot.
Really? That one tune was a little catchy but I didn't think it was anything special.
It most certainly is tremendous. My favorite score of the year so far, actually.
I love the score in 'Safety Not Guaranteed'. They're so catchy!
Yeah, that and Cloud Atlas are the top scores of the year for me.
Master and Cloud Atlas, haven't heard Southern Wild yet, sure it's great.
Cloud Atlas was a good score indeed. Will definitely need to keep that one in mind when I do my personal choices for my "best of the year" categories.
I know Brad hates it and I think the movie is pretty average, but Anna Karenina's score is EASILY the best I've heard all year.
The Beasts score is by far my favorite score of the year. I would say it's one of the more original scores I've heard in many years. One of my most listened to albums right now.
I'm happy "Beasts" is getting some love :)
Looks like Southern Wild will be getting all of the LA Critics love today.
I am looking forward to my break from school-I'll get my chance to see Lincoln, Django, Les Mis, Life of Pi, and Beasts
Prediction
Picture: The Master, runner-up Amour
Director: PT Anderson, runner-up Kathryn Bigelow
Actor: Daniel Day Lewis, runner-up Omar Sy
Actress: Emmanuelle Riva, runner-up Jessica Chastain
I'll take your bet on Actress, but I think overall you'll be pretty spot on
Congrats Burton!!! Looks like Frankenweenie will be revived during awards season! Should of performed better than it did.
"The Master" for Production Design...seriously?
Predictions:
BEST PICTURE: Beasts of the Southern Wild, runner-up Argo
BEST DIRECTOR: Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty, runner-up Ben Affleck for Argo
BEST ACTOR: Joaquin Phoenix for The Master, runner-up Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln
BEST ACTRESS: Quvenzhané Wallis for Beasts of the Southern Wild, runner-up Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables, runner-up Scarlett Johansson for Hitchcock
* (Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty, since it seems she's getting a lot of love from critics until now, because my personal favorite is Ben Affleck for Argo and my personal runner-up would be Benh Zeitlin for Beasts)
DC Critics shut out TDKR for any nominations. :( New york & Boston ones going on right now
Ezra Miller got best supporting actor in Boston.
That's so annoying. Not that he isn't good (I haven't seen the film) but it just feels like all of these "Critics Circles" are in competition over who gets to award the most obscure and independent film/actor. It just feels disingenuous. Like come on, Dwight Henry over Phil Hoffman, DiCaprio, Waltz, Jackson, McConaughey? Oh please. I saw Beasts and he was perfectly fine in it but #GetSerious.
Ezra Miller's performance, in my opinion, is on par with McConaughey's (although very different). I am glad he got that award. Although I haven't seen it, I do feel like I agree with you on Dwight Henry, though
Anne Hathaway for best supporting actress please
Is there anywhere to follow this live? as in a twitter feed or livestream?
Amy Adams??? really?
I picked Amy Adams to get the win here, thank you LAFCA!
On my Gold Derby predictions I should say. Always loved Amy as an actress, good for her on winning here but won't win the Oscar. Hathaway will easily take it.
Ok. So none of the above will win Oscars. Neither Adams, neither Henry!
You're fine, I'm just bored and was hoping there's somthing to watch (as I avoid the dreaded term paper.)
Ha, avoidance eh?
Oh man, sounds like you're gonna have to do #AGoodResearch.
At last! Some love for Skyfall and Deakins.
Yay for Deakins!
Nice for Deakins.
what is happening? are all the critics in one room hashing it out? or are they counting ballots?
Are the critics deliberating in a room, category by category or are they counting ballots?
Deliberating, they go through rounds of voting and I believe films are eliminated throughout.
I would've rather seen The Master win over Skyfall, but you won't hear me complaining too much there, as both films had excellent cinematography.
The Master's cinematography I feel, adds more to the narrative of the movie. Skyfall's is just GORGEOUS for the sake of it. They're both amazing like you said though.
@Brad, having seen Django Unchained, do you think this could be DiCaprio's year? I'm very eager to see his performance.
Joaquin for the win! Very happy about that one. He totally deserves it.
Phoenix is much deserving.
Surprising. DDL wasn't even runner up Best Actor for LAFC
So happy to see Joaquin win, he was my favorite this year!
Lavant would be the winner for me. Best performance of the year!
Grrr, I was just about to predict Lavant for runner-up, but went with Omar Sy last second.
So is The Master back in the game now?
I was hoping so hard for Jennifer Lawrence!!! Yeah! :D
Saw Amour today and was blown away by Riva, pleased with this result though because I also loved Lawrence. Marion Cotillard is the one to beat for me at the moment, however.
Looks like we're going to have quite a race this year, anything could swoop in a nab the award, it isn't quite as black and white as the last few years.
YAY for Jennifer! Well deserved!
The Master's got it at this point. I was hoping for a Holy Motors or Amour pick. Amour could get runner-up though...
And if The Master wins it, they better announce the Blu-Ray for early January! I gotta rewatch that movie!
Well, you're out of luck. Coming to Blu-Ray February 26! Which I'm very pissed about, as I wanted to give it another spin before the Oscars. Damn it, Weinstein!
I've been looking for that release date! Why so long? Looper is coming out on the 31st and that came out around the same time as The Master and Looper is still in some theaters. It's a movie I wasn't really over the roof about but I feel like it deserves a major re-watch.
Yeah, I feel exactly the same way. I'm interested to see how it holds up upon a second viewing. Looper's one I missed in theaters, so I'm glad it'll come out soon. I really liked Brick by Rian Johnson, so I have high hopes for his latest.
Looks like The Master may not be forgotten yet.
YES JENNIFER LAWRENCE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOH AMOUR WINS!!!! Reasons why I've been predicting it in the Best Picture lineup all along! The Master may still get in too.
Wow, I really didn't see that one coming. I've been anxiously awaiting Amour, so I hope it plays near me so I don't have to wait until after the awards season.
I still don't think Amour is going to get much attention during the Oscars. I don't know, I just don't see the Academy falling for a foreign language film.
I agree with you. I see Amour getting like 2-4 noms like A Separation but the only win being Best Foreign Language Film. Glad to see The Master getting some attention but it still won't get much Oscar attention sadly. Zero Dark Thirty is still the frontrunner to me but I'm happy to see that Jennifer Lawrence has won an award for her great performance. I love Chastain more so I hope she wins the award. But I'll be fine with either winning in the end.
So for the Oscars, is Amour being considered in the best foreign film category or the best picture category?
Both
So happy to see that ZDT, Argo and Lincoln didn't win the big ones. I didn't love The Master, but I'd rather see that win the big ones instead of those others.
Um question, AS. How can u be happy ZDT didn't win when it's not even out yet for audiences? Did u see the movie?
This is seriously the most interesting Oscar race I've ever seen.
LOL @ DDL not winning (or even running up for that matter). I agree with AS on above about these critics looking to have obscure wins.
I'm still betting NYFC best actress winner Rachel Weisz will be among the Oscar nominees.
Brad, aren't you going to put Emma Watson for supporting actress on your Oscar chart? She got nominated by San Diego critics and Boston film critics.
Nah, nominations by critical groups really don't matter. Wins can only really help boost established buzz and potentially start some, and I stress potentially.
Seems L.A and Boston scattered their awards out over a good range of films. No sense that one yet is going to dominate. I expect that to change soon enough but at the moment a nice spread of films winning.
Hey, good to see The Master being remembered.
See, I really think Emmanuelle Riva will be a good frontrunner, but I also loved Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook. Waiting to see Beasts of the Southern Wild and Zero Dark Thirty. I heard great things about The Sessions and I wanna see Helen get some love, but hmmm... It really is a great run this year. Let's just hope we don't have another 2010 and have a disappointing Best Picture and Director above such great films. Yeah was really not impressed with the Academy that year. They should be ashamed of that.
Urgh, the more I think about it, the more I disliked Amour. And The Master didn't do it for me either. Won't be moving to LA! Haha.
I'm glad to see the love being spread around for Master, Beasts, Amour and Silver Linings. Also, the Runner-Up status for a Django performance is very encouraging. Other than Anne Hathaway for Best Supp. Actress and some production Noms (Art Direction, Costume Design, Cinematography, etc.), it is looking like Les Miserables could miss out on the major Oscar Awards.
Thems the facts