New York, Los Angeles, And Boston Critics Name Spotlight Best Film Of 2015

Today was a busy day for awards season, with the New York Film Critics Online, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and the Boston Society of Film Critics all weighing in on their favorite films of 2015. What’s particularly interesting here is that, just like last year, all three groups have agreed on their top pick, naming Tom McCarthy’s journalist drama Spotlight as the best film of 2015. The movie also took home Best Screenplay from all three groups, while also claiming Best Ensemble from Boston and New York, and Best Director from New York.

Looking over the rest of the awards, the only thing that might be considered surprising is Paul Dano racking up two more victories for Love & Mercy, both for Best Actor, despite being labeled a supporting actor by the studio. He certainly gives a great performance in the film, and is certainly worthy of being in contention, but will he be able to compete with the big contenders like Mark Rylance for Bridge of Spies, Sylvester Stallone for Creed, and Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo for Spotlight when it comes time for the big awards?

Meanwhile, George Miller’s action romp Mad Mad: Fury Road also continues to garner awards, including Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design from New York, Best Film Editing from Boston, and a place on Los Angeles’ Top Ten Films of 2015. It’s hard to believe that a movie like this, primarily composed of insane action sequences, is doing so well with the critics. Then again, the critics are one thing – the Academy will be a different beast all together.

With these announcements, Spotlight has been thrust into what has become a fascinating, and more importantly, a competitive race, one that has the film sharing Best Picture wins with Carol and Mad Max: Fury Road. Of course, this could very well mark the beginning of its predicted streak, much like the ones that 12 Years a Slave and Boyhood had in recent years. However, there are still lots of awards left to hand out, with multiple directions that the race could go, so as always we’ll just have to see what happens next.

This week also sees the announcement of the Screen Actors Guild nominations on Wednesday and the Golden Globe nominations on Thursday, so be sure to check back to see if your favorites make the cut. In the meantime, please see below for a complete list of today’s winners:

LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

BEST PICTURE, Winner: “Spotlight.”
Runner-up: “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
BEST DIRECTOR, Winner: George Miller, “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
Runner-up: Todd Haynes, “Carol.”
BEST ACTRESS, Winner: Charlotte Rampling, “45 Years.”
Runner-up: Saoirse Ronan, “Brooklyn.”
BEST ACTOR, Winner: Michael Fassbender, “Steve Jobs.”
Runner-up: Géza Röhrig, “Son of Saul.”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, Winner: Alicia Vikander, “Ex Machina.”
Runner-up: Kristen Stewart, “Clouds of Sils Maria.”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, Winner: Michael Shannon, “99 Homes.”
Runner-up: Mark Rylance, “Bridge of Spies.”
BEST SCREENPLAY, Winner: Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy, “Spotlight.”
Runner-up: Charlie Kaufman, “Anomalisa.”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, Winner: John Seale, “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
Runner-up: Edward Lachman, “Carol.”
BEST EDITING, Winner: Hank Corwin, “The Big Short.”
Runner-up: Margaret Sixel, “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM, Winner: “Son of Saul.”
Runner-up: “The Tribe.”
BEST ANIMATION, Winner: “Anomalisa.”
Runner-up: “Inside Out.”
BEST DOCUMENTARY, Winner: “Amy”
Runner-up: “The Look of Silence.”
BEST MUSIC SCORE, Winner: Carter Burwell, “Anomalisa” and “Carol.”
Runner-up: Ennio Morricone, “The Hateful Eight.”
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN, Winner: Colin Gibson, “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

BOSTON SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS

Best Picture  –  Spotlight

Best Actor – (tie) Paul Dano for Love & Mercy and Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant

Best Actress –  Charlotte Rampling for 45 Years

Best Supporting Actor – Mark Rykance for Bridge of Spies

Best Supporting Actress – Kristen Stewart for Clouds of Sils Maria

Best Director – Todd Haynes for Carol

Best Screenplay – Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer for Spotlight

Best Cinematography – Edward Lachman for Carol

Best Documentary – Amy

Best Foreign-Language Film  (awarded in memory of Jay Carr) –  The Look of Silence

Best Animated Film –  (tie) Anomalisa and Inside Out

Best Film Editing (awarded in memory of Karen Schmeer) –  Margaret Sixel for Mad Max: Fury Road

Best New Filmmaker (awarded in memory of David Brudnoy) –  Marielle Heller for The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Best Ensemble Cast –  Spotlight

Best Use of Music in a Film –  Love & Mercy