Sunday’s Critics Choice Awards, held once again at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, CA., kicked-off what promises to be an exciting, unpredictable Awards Season. The event drew more stars than ever, and I had the chance to speak with many of the nominees, winners and guests before, during and after the show.
At the Pre-Party “Veep”‘s Timothy Simons spoke highly of his “Christine” co-star, Rebecca Hall. “We shot it in an abandoned warehouse in Savannah, GA. The AC wouldn’t work. Rebecca was amazing to work with.” “Manchester by the Sea” Best Young Actor/Actress winner Lucas Hedges told me Casey Affleck “is one of my acting heroes.”
“Don’t Think Twice” star Gillian Jacobs recognized me from a phone interview we did a few weeks ago. When I told her I had to fly back to NY the next day to take finals she said, “Don’t take your finals. Don’t go back. This is Hollywood. You don’t need a degree. None of us here has a college degree between us.”
“Rules Don’t Apply”‘s Lily Collins loved the opportunity to work with Warren Beatty. As for her other entertainment inspirations: “Audrey Hepburn. Katherine Hepburn. And my grandma was a dancer.” Beatty and wife Annette Bening, who I met at their table later in the evening, were both gracious and friendly.
Several minutes with “Nocturnal Animals” screenwriter and director Tom Ford were spent mostly talking fashion. “We gotta get you into some of my clothes, even though you look great,” he told me. Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”) said it didn’t take her very long to pick-out her dress for the event.
Some of the celebs liked discussing their animated movie voice work, from “Florence Foster Jenkins” nominee Hugh Grant (who appreciated my admiration for his performance in “The Pirates! Band of Misfits”) to “The Big Bang Theory”‘s Jim Parsons, who really enjoyed playing Oh in DreamWorks’ “Home”: “I loved doing that character.” I also quickly chatted with Hugh Laurie, Dev Patel and Nick Cannon before showtime.
One of the highlights of the evening at Critics Choice was “This is Us” star Mandy Moore joining me on Facebook Live. I asked her if she was involved in Disney Channel’s upcoming “Tangled” TV series – and she responded, “I am! Thanks, man!”
Justin Timberlake was the night’s first presenter, and shortly afterwards I met him and told him how fantastic “Trolls” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling” are. Another music mogul turned movie star, “Hidden Figures” and “Moonlight”‘s Janelle Monae, was very sweet.
I reunited with “Arrival” Best Actress nominee Amy Adams (we first met in NYC several years ago) who instantly said, “You’ve grown so much! You used to be…little.” I pointed-out that we’re now about the same height. But she replied, “Well, I actually have heels on.” I told her how much I enjoyed the twist in “Arrival”. Shawn Levy, the film’s producer, was also pleased that I liked what he called a “bold” ending. “We spent six years making [the film]: a year on the screenplay and five more to the screen.”
Andrew Garfield won Best Actor in an Action Movie for Mel Gibson’s “Hacksaw Ridge”. But the award wasn’t presented on stage during the show, which Garfield told me was a great relief, “I would’ve been so nervous.” The calm, cool, and collected Denzel Washington was in good spirits, smiling throughout our conversation. Supporting Actor nominee Jeff Bridges said he was very pleased with “Hell or High Water”: “It’s a good movie.” Co-star Ben Foster, who worked with Chris Pine on both “Hell” and “The Finest Hours” told me, “Pine is the best.”
After meeting “Modern Family” star Ty Burrell at the Pre-Party I had a chance to chat with his TV wife Julie Bowen during a break in the show. She wondered what else I was watching on TV right now. She asked, “Are you watching ‘The Crown’? You HAVE to watch ‘The Crown’ over the holidays!” And she spent the next minute telling me why “The Crown” is such a good show. John Lithgow, from “The Crown”, also had roles in “Miss Sloane” and “The Accountant” this year – and he especially enjoyed making the latter.
“Loving” nominee Joel Edgerton loved talking about his outstanding 2015 thriller “The Gift”, which he also directed. He shared info on his next directorial effort (starting at the end of 2017) – an investigation movie that’s “in the vain of ‘Spotlight’.” Emma Stone was delightful to talk with about “La La Land”.
I passed Kevin Hart as he was on the run, heading backstage to present an award. We shook hands, and I wished him good luck, to which he genuinely replied, “Thanks!” Best Supporting Actor winner Mahershala Ali is excited for the Awards Season ahead and was so grateful for the win. “Atlanta”‘s Donald Glover couldn’t have been more pleased to be at the show, and with the attention his show is getting.
“The Edge of Seventeen” director Kelly Fremon Craig (who I also interviewed recently) discussed making her first movie, saying the cast “is all great kids”. And they are! I got to hang with Haley Lu Richardson, Blake Jenner and Hayden Szeto for a few minutes after the show.
One of my goals heading into the night was to ask the legendary producer James L. Brooks if a sequel to “The Simpsons Movie” really is in the works. He smiled and said, “Maybe.” A few moments later he again said, “Maybe.” “We’re loving doing the show right now”, and he expressed his excitement over the first-ever “Simpsons” special, which airs in January.
At the After Party, one of the night’s big winners, “Westworld”‘s Evan Rachel Wood, was absolutely ecstatic, “I never won an award for acting before in my life.” Her joy and satisfaction summed-up the overall sentiment of the entire evening. All in all, a nice December debut for Critics Choice.