Ol Stephen Dedalus in Talk Back on the Moriarty Rumblings, just pulled in the New York Film Critic... best list... and folks.. It is a mark of a great year when no critic group can decide on a single BEST film. So far we have had, TOPSY-TURVY (NEW YORK Critics), THREE KINGS (BOSTON Critics), THE INSIDER (LOS ANGELES Critics) and AMERICAN BEAUTY (NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW). And there are still other films that you could argue as being better than these. What a friggin year we have had. Take a look at how loose the field is, not only in the 'Best Picture' area, but also in the acting awards, writing, directing, etc. Amazing year.
New York Film Critics Circle just announced their 1999 awards... BEST FILM: Mike Leigh's "Topsy-Turvy." I have not seen this yet, but I LOVE all of Leigh's dramas, and this, a look at how Gilbert and Sullivan made "The Mikado," certainly looks interesting... BEST ACTOR: Richard Farnsworth in "The Straight Story." 'Nuff said... BEST ACTRESS: Hillary Swank in "Boys Don't Cry," which may be the best gay drama in years... BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: John Malkovich in "Being John Malkovich." Unexpected, seeing as the critics usally award actors who go out of their way to create a role, rather than just an autobiographical one... BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Catherine Keener in "Being John Malkovich." This could easily put Keener above Cameron Diaz for the Oscar running. BEST DIRECTOR: Mike Leigh for "Topsy-Turvy." Also awarded... BEST SCREENPLAY: "Election." BEST FOREIGN FILM: "All About My Mother." BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: "The Straight Story." BEST DOCUMENTARY: "The Buena Vista Social Club." LIFETIME ACHIEVEMNT AWARD FOR FILM CRITICISM: Manny Farber. And here's the pride and glory- a new category for... BEST ANIMATED FILM: "South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut." Now there's one I didn't expect to see.
in Boston...
``Three Kings'' was named best picture by the Boston Society of Film Critics Sunday, and also snagged the directing honor for David O. Russell. Jim Carrey was named best actor in ``Man on the Moon,'' Hilary Swank was named best actress for ``Boys Don't Cry.'' Chloe Sevigny was named best supporting actress. ``Boys'' director Kimberly Peirce was named best new filmmaker of the year. Christopher Plummer, who played ``60 Minutes'' anchor Mike Wallace in ``The Insider,'' was named best supporting actor . Charlie Kaufman for his ''Being John Malkovich'' screenplay, and ``All About My Mother'' director Pedro Almodovar in the best foreign film category. the cinematography award to Emmanuel Lubezki for his work on ``Sleepy Hollow,'' and the documentary prize to the little-seen ``Hands on a Hard Body.''
THE LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS...
``The Insider,'' won best motion picture of 1999. Russell Crowe, won best actor. Christopher Plummer won best supporting actor , and ``The Insider'' cinematographer, Dante Spinotti, was also chosen as the best in his field by the Los Angeles film critics. In other awards, Sam Mendes got best director for American Beauty . Hillary Swank was named the top actress in ``Boys Don't Cry,'' Chloe Sevigny won for supporting actress for her work in the movie. Other picks included Charlie Kaufman for best screenplay for ``Being John Malkovich''; Pedro Almodovar's ``All About My Mother'' for best foreign film; and Wim Wenders and Ry Cooder for the documentary ``The Buena Vista Social Club.''
NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW.... (taken from Variety
DreamWorks' ``American Beauty'' was named best film of the year by National Board of Review, whose annual announcement traditionally marks the launch of the awards season. The group spread the major honors across several films, naming Russell Crowe best actor for Disney's ``The Insider,'' Janet McTeer best actress for Fine Line's ``Tumbleweeds,'' and Anthony Minghella best director for Paramount-Miramax's ``The Talented Mr'' which opens Christmas Day. ``Ripley,'' which was shown to the board in an unfinished print, was ranked the second best film of the year, followed by New Line's ``Magnolia,'' which opens Dec. 17. ``Magnolia'' was given an award for best ensemble. Supporting actor nods also went to its costars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Julianne Moore. Hoffman's roll as a wealthy American expat in ``Ripley,'' and Moore's turns in First Look's ''A Map of the World,'' Miramax's ``An Ideal Husband'' and USA Films' ``Cookie's Fortune,'' were also cited. ``The Insider'' was named the fourth best film, followed by ``The Straight Story'' and ``Cradle Will Rock,'' both from Disney. In addition, Tim Robbins will be given a special filmmaking achievement nod for his writing and directing of ``Cradle,'' which opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday. Fox Searchlight's ``Boys Don't Cry'' nabbed the seventh spot, with director Kimberly Peirce named best debut director and actress Hilary Swank given the breakthrough performance award. ``American Beauty's'' Wes Bentley will share the breakthrough honor with Swank. USA Films' ``Being John Malkovich,'' Fine Line's ``Tumbleweeds'' and Warner Bros.' ``Three Kings'' round out the top 10. In what was the sole nod for Miramax's Friday release ``The Cider House Rules,'' John Irving was awarded best screenplay for his adaptation of his own novel. As evidence of Gotham-based Sony Pictures Classics' growing reputation as the premiere distrib for foreign language films, four of the National Board of Review's five best foreign films were SPC releases -- ``All About My Mother,'' ``Run Lola Run,'' ``East-West'' and ``The Emperor and the Assassin.'' Paramount Classics' ``Cabaret Balkan'' rounded out the list. A career achievement award will be given to Clint Eastwood, and the Billy Wilder award will be given to director John Frankenheimer. Freedom of expression awards will be given to Michael Mann for ``The Insider'' and Joan Chen for ``Xiu: The Sent Down Girl.'' This year, the organization gave a special mention for outstanding indie films. Listing them alphabetically, they were: ``A Map of the World,'' ``A Walk on the Moon'' ``Election,'' ``Go,'' ``Limbo'' ``Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,'' ``Man of the Century,'' ``Stir of Echoes,'' ``This is My Father'' and ``Twin Falls Idaho.''
