14 DAY TRIAL // People are still talking about yesterday’s Oscar 2015 nominations, who was snubbed, who was a surprise nominee and who didn’t deserve to be included in the race. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, at the Hollywood Palladium, critics honored their top choice in various categories in film, with the Critics’ Choice Awards 2015.
If anything, the Critics’ Choice are the best indication of whom critics favor from a batch of select actors, directors and films from the previous year. Academy members are not regular moviegoers, so that means that this particular awards gala has just made predictions for next month’s Oscars considerably easier.
So let’s see who won.
“Birdman,” “Boyhood,” Michael Keaton and Julianne Moore
“Birdman” and “Boyhood” remain the biggest contenders and the favorites of this awards season. The former film picked up no less than 7 Critics’ Choice awards, including Best Acting Ensemble, Best Actor and Best Actor in a Comedy.
Michael Keaton is probably a shoo-in for Best Leading Actor at the Oscars as well. “Birdman” also had the most nominations, totaling 13 throughout all categories.
“Boyhood,” a small budget film / coming of age tale that took 12 years to shoot so that it could show its protagonist grow up as realistically as possible, was named Best Picture.
Unsurprisingly, Julianne Moore won Best Actress for her role as a linguist diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s in “Still Alice.” At this point, all industry watchers are saying that she will end the awards season with that much-coveted Oscar on her mantelpiece as well.
Also unsurprisingly, Patricia Arquette and J.K. Simmons won Best Supporting Actress and Actor (for their roles in “Boyhood” and “Whiplash,” respectively), and Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston went home empty-handed, despite their huge efforts to get “Unbroken” and “Cake” to be big contenders in the awards race.
Below is the complete list of winners. Check it out to see if your favorite won anything.
Best Picture: “Boyhood” Best Actor: Michael Keaton, “Birdman” Best Actress: Julianne Moore, “Still Alice” Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash” Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood” Best Young Actor / Actress: Ellar Coltrane, “Boyhood” Best Acting Ensemble: “Birdman” Best Director: Richard Linklater, “Boyhood” Best Original Screenplay: “Birdman,” Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., Armando Bo Best Adapted Screenplay: “Gone Girl,” Gillian Flynn Best Cinematography: “Birdman,” Emmanuel Lubezki Best Art Direction: “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Adam Stockhausen/Production Designer, Anna Pinnock/Set Decorator Best Editing: “Birdman,” Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione Best Costume Design: “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Milena Canonero Best Hair & Makeup: “Guardians of the Galaxy” Best Visual Effects: “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” Best Animated Feature: “The Lego Movie” Best Action Movie: “Guardians of the Galaxy” Best Actor in an Action Movie: Bradley Cooper, “American Sniper” Best Actress in an Action Movie: Emily Blunt, “Edge of Tomorrow” Best Comedy: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Best Actor in a Comedy: Michael Keaton, “Birdman” Best Actress in a Comedy: Jenny Slate, “Obvious Child” Best Sci-Fi / Horror Movie: “Interstellar” Best Foreign Language Film: “Force Majeure” Best Documentary Feature: “Life Itself” Best Song: “Glory,” Common / John Legend – “Selma” Best Score: Antonio Sanchez – “Birdman” Louis XIII Genius Award: Ron Howard Lifetime Achievement Award: Kevin Costner Critics’ Choice MVP Award: Jessica Chastain