‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’: Critics’ Choice Awards Best Picture nomination controversy.Critics’ Choice Awards: Everybody is a nominee
Your U.S.-based awards group, all-encompassingly named the Critics’ Choice Awards, wants to compete with the Golden Globes to become the second-rank Academy Awards – itself a second-rank version of its former self. What to do?
Well, how about finding a way to nominate everyone you can so as to ensure your awards ceremony will attract loads of celebrities, which should in turn guarantee both television coverage and the breathless attention of every possible media venue out there – whether social or unsocial?
Can’t leave anyone out
Indeed, it seems like just about every movie released in the United States in 2015 and every individual employed in the American film industry – and most elsewhere – have been shortlisted for the Broadcast Film Critics Association’s Critics’ Choice Awards.
That’s no exaggeration. The list seems truly endless, ranging from László Nemes’ Hungarian holocaust drama Son of Saul, Carol cinematographer Edward Lachman, and The Revenant composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto to Paul Rudd in Ant-Man, Jason Statham in Spy, and the reality TV show Naked and Afaid.
As a post-last-minute addition, the Critics’ Choice Awards powers-that-be even managed to include Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the Best Picture category, despite the fact that J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars sequel or prequel or reboot was not screened for critics and, as to be expected, had failed to receive any nominations when the contenders were first announced in mid-December 2015.
‘Unprecedented cry out’
In a letter to its members – asking for a special vote in the Best Picture category – the Broadcast Film Critics Association’s board of directors claimed the it had experienced “an unprecedented cry out” from members bemoaning the fact that The Force Awakens was nowhere to be found among the nominees for this year’s Critics’ Choice Awards.
“The question will be: If you had seen The Force Awakens before casting your Critics’ Choice Awards ballot, would you have included it in your five [not ten?] choices for Best Picture?
One assumes – though one never knows – a majority of members opted to include the latest Star Wars flick among the Top Ten – ahem, Top Eleven – movies of the year.
Now, something similar is supposed to have happened back at the turn of the century, when Robert Zemeckis’ drama Cast Away, starring Tom Hanks, became a belated Critics’ Choice Awards choice and its volleyball, Wilson, topped the Best Inanimate Object category. No joke.
Whatever it takes
But hey, whatever it takes to beat the Golden Globes, even when it comes to tarnished reputations.
By the way, this year’s Critics’ Choice Awards ceremony, held on Jan. 17, ’16, at the Santa Monica Airport’s Barker Hangar, was aired on A&E, a cable channel half owned by Disney – the same company that brought you Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
See below the full list of 2016 Critics’ Choice Awards winners and nominations.
Critics’ Choice Awards Best Actress nominee Cate Blanchett in ‘Carol.’ Well regarded choice vs. ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ addition that stirred up controversy.Critics’ Choice Awards winners & nominations
Film Categories
Best Picture
The Big Short.
Bridge of Spies.
Brooklyn.
Carol.
Mad Max: Fury Road.
The Martian.
The Revenant.
Room.
Sicario.
* Spotlight.Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Best Foreign Language Film
The Assassin.
Goodnight Mommy.
Mustang.
The Second Mother.
* Son of Saul.Best Actor
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo.
Matt Damon, The Martian.
Johnny Depp, Black Mass.
* Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant.
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs.
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl.Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, Carol.
* Brie Larson, Room.
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy.
Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years.
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn.
Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road.Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight.
Rooney Mara, Carol.
Rachel McAdams, Spotlight.
Helen Mirren, Trumbo.
* Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl.
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs.Best Supporting Actor
Paul Dano, Love & Mercy.
Tom Hardy, The Revenant.
Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight.
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies.
Michael Shannon, 99 Homes.
* Sylvester Stallone, Creed.Best Young Actor/Actress
Abraham Attah, Beasts of No Nation.
RJ Cyler, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
Shameik Moore, Dope.
Milo Parker, Mr. Holmes.
* Jacob Tremblay, Room.Best Acting Ensemble
The Big Short.
The Hateful Eight.
* Spotlight.
Straight Outta Compton.
Trumbo.Best Director
Todd Haynes, Carol.
Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant.
Tom McCarthy, Spotlight.
* George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road.
Ridley Scott, The Martian.
Steven Spielberg, Bridge of Spies.Best Original Screenplay
Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, Bridge of Spies.
Alex Garland, Ex Machina.
Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight.
Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley, Inside Out.
* Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy, Spotlight.Best Adapted Screenplay
* Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, The Big Short.
Nick Hornby, Brooklyn.
Drew Goddard, The Martian.
Emma Donoghue, Room.
Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs.Best Cinematography
Carol, Ed Lachman.
The Hateful Eight, Robert Richardson.
Mad Max: Fury Road, John Seale.
The Martian, Dariusz Wolski.
* The Revenant, Emmanuel Lubezki.
Sicario, Roger Deakins.Best Editing
The Big Short, Hank Corwin.
* Mad Max: Fury Road, Margaret Sixel.
The Martian, Pietro Scalia.
The Revenant, Stephen Mirrione.
Spotlight, Tom McArdle.Best Score
Carol, Carter Burwell.
* The Hateful Eight, Ennio Morricone.
The Revenant, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto.
Sicario, Johann Johannsson.
Spotlight, Howard Shore.Best Production Design
Bridge of Spies, Adam Stockhausen, Rena DeAngelo.
Brooklyn, François Séguin, Jennifer Oman and Louise Tremblay.
Carol, Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler.
The Danish Girl, Eve Stewart, Michael Standish.
* Mad Max: Fury Road, Colin Gibson.
The Martian, Arthur Max, Celia Bobak.Best Costume Design
Brooklyn, Odile Dicks-Mireaux.
Carol, Sandy Powell.
Cinderella, Sandy Powell.
The Danish Girl, Paco Delgado.
* Mad Max: Fury Road, Jenny Beavan.Best Hair & Make-Up
Black Mass.
Carol.
The Danish Girl.
The Hateful Eight.
* Mad Max: Fury Road.
The Revenant.Best Visual Effects
Ex Machina.
Jurassic World.
* Mad Max: Fury Road.
The Martian.
The Revenant.
The Walk.Best Animated Feature
Anomalisa.
The Good Dinosaur.
* Inside Out.
The Peanuts Movie.
Shaun the Sheep Movie.Best Action Movie
Furious 7.
Jurassic World.
* Mad Max: Fury Road.
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.
Sicario.Best Actor in an Action Movie
Daniel Craig, Spectre.
Tom Cruise, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.
* Tom Hardy, Mad Max: Fury Road.
Chris Pratt, Jurassic World.
Paul Rudd, Ant-Man.Best Actress in an Action Movie
Emily Blunt, Sicario.
Rebecca Ferguson, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.
Bryce Dallas Howard, Jurassic World.
Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.
* Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road.Best Comedy
* The Big Short.
Inside Out.
Joy.
Sisters.
Spy.
Trainwreck.Best Actor in a Comedy
* Christian Bale, The Big Short.
Steve Carell, The Big Short.
Robert De Niro, The Intern.
Bill Hader, Trainwreck.
Jason Statham, Spy.Best Actress in a Comedy
Tina Fey, Sisters.
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy.
Melissa McCarthy, Spy.
* Amy Schumer, Trainwreck.
Lily Tomlin, Grandma.Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie
* Ex Machina.
It Follows.
Jurassic World.
Mad Max: Fury Road.
The Martian.Best Documentary Feature
* Amy.
Cartel Land.
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief.
He Named Me Malala.
The Look of Silence.
Where to Invade Next.Best Song
Fifty Shades of Grey, “Love Me Like You Do.”
* Furious 7, “See You Again.”
The Hunting Ground, “Til It Happens To You.”
Love & Mercy, “One Kind of Love.”
Spectre, “Writing’s on the Wall.”
Youth, “Simple Song #3.”
Television
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
Childhood’s End.
* Fargo.
Luther.
Saints & Strangers.
Show Me a Hero.
The Wiz Live!.BEST DRAMA SERIES
Empire.
* Mr. Robot.
Penny Dreadful.
Rectify.
The Knick.
The Leftovers.
UnREAL.BEST COMEDY SERIES
Black-ish.
Catastrophe.
Jane the Virgin.
* Master of None.
The Last Man on Earth.
Transparent.
You’re the WorstX.BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
* Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Aya Cash, You’re the WorstX.
Wendi McLendon-Covey, The Goldbergs.
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin.
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish.
Constance Wu, Fresh Off the Boat.BEST ACTRESS IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Hotel.
* Kirsten Dunst, Fargo.
Sarah Hay, Flesh and Bone.
Alyvia Alyn Lind, Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors.
Rachel McAdams, True Detective.
Shanice Williams, The Wiz Live!.BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Shiri Appleby, UnREAL.
* Carrie Coon, The Leftovers.
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder.
Eva Green, Penny Dreadful.
Taraji P. Henson, Empire.
Krysten Ritter, Jessica Jones.BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
Wes Bentley, American Horror Story: Hotel.
Martin Clunes, Arthur & George.
* Idris Elba, Luther.
Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero.
Vincent Kartheiser, Saints & Strangers.
Patrick Wilson, Fargo.BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish.
Aziz Ansari, Master of None.
Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth.
Randall Park, Fresh Off the Boat.
Fred Savage, The Grinder.
* Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent.BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Hugh Dancy, Hannibal.
* Rami Malek, Mr. Robot.
Clive Owen, The Knick.
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan.
Justin Theroux, The Leftovers.
Aden Young, Rectify.BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
David Alan Grier, The Wiz Live!.
Ne-Yo, The Wiz Live!.
Nick Offerman, Fargo.
* Jesse Plemons, Fargo.
Raoul Trujillo, Saints & Strangers.
Bokeem Woodbine, Fargo.BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
* Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Jaime Camil, Jane the Virgin.
Jay Duplass, Transparent.
Neil Flynn, The Middle.
Keegan-Michael Key, Playing House.
Mel Rodriguez, Getting On.BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Clayne Crawford, Rectify.
Christopher Eccleston, The Leftovers.
Andre Holland, The Knick.
Jonathan Jackson, Nashville.
Rufus Sewell, The Man in the High Castle.
* Christian Slater, Mr. Robot.BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
Mary J. Blige, The Wiz Live!.
Laura Haddock, Luther.
Cristin Milioti, Fargo.
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Hotel.
Winona Ryder, Show Me a Hero.
* Jean Smart, Fargo.BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
* Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory.
Kether Donohue, You’re the WorstX.
Allison Janney, Mom.
Judith Light, Transparent.
Niecy Nash, Getting On.
Eden Sher, The Middle.BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Ann Dowd, The Leftovers.
Regina King, The Leftovers.
Helen McCrory, Penny Dreadful.
Hayden Panettiere, Nashville.
Maura Tierney, The Affair.
* Constance Zimmer, UnREAL.BEST GUEST ACTOR/ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ellen Burstyn, Mom.
Anjelica Huston, Transparent.
Cherry Jones, Transparent.
Jenifer Lewis, Black-ish.
* Timothy Olyphant, The Grinder.
John Slattery, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp.BEST GUEST ACTOR/ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Richard Armitage, Hannibal.
Justin Kirk, Manhattan.
Patti LuPone, Penny Dreadful.
* Margo Martindale, The Good Wife.
Marisa Tomei, Empire.
B.D. Wong, Mr. Robot.BEST ANIMATION SERIES
Bob’s Burgers.
* BoJack Horseman.
South Park.
Star Wars Rebels.
The Simpsons.BEST TALK SHOW
Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
* Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
The Graham Norton Show.
The Late Late Show with James Corden.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.BEST REALITY SHOW, COMPETITION
Chopped.
Face Off.
MasterChef Junior.
Survivor.
The Amazing Race.
* The Voice.BEST REALITY SHOW HOST
Ted Allen, Chopped.
Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race.
* James Lipton, Inside the Actors Studio.
Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night.
Jeff Probst, Survivor.
Gordon Ramsay, Hell’s Kitchen.BEST STRUCTURED REALITY SHOW
Antiques Roadshow.
Inside the Actors Studio.
MythBusters.
Project Greenlight.
* Shark Tank.
Undercover Boss.BEST UNSTRUCTURED REALITY SHOW
* Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.
Cops.
Deadliest Catch.
Intervention.
Naked and Afraid.
Pawn Stars.
Critics’ Choice Awards Best Actress nominee Cate Blanchett Carol image: The Weinstein Company.
Publicity image from the controversial Critics’ Choice Awards Best Picture nominee Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Walt Disney Studios.
Broadcast Film Critics Association’s Critics’ Choice Awards website.