Here are my thoughts on this year’s movie category nominees for The 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards:
BIGGEST SNUBS: Each of the acting categories has six nominees, but four Hollywood heavyweights still weren’t able to secure slots. Will Smith is not up for Best Actor for his performance in “Concussion”, though I think he still has a legit shot at a surprise Oscar nod. Many more academy voters will have seen the film by then. Helen Mirren’s work in “Woman in Gold” was ignored, though she’s still in the Supporting Actress race for “Trumbo”. Idris Elba didn’t receive Supporting Actor consideration for Netflix’s “Beasts of No Nation”, after snagging both Globe and SAG nominations last week. And Globe nominee Jane Fonda didn’t make it into the Supporting Actress group for her six-minute role in “Youth”. In fact, that drama’s sole nomination is in the Best Original Song category.
Two Christmas Day releases, “Joy” and “The Hateful Eight” were snubbed from both the Best Picture category (which has 10 nominees) and Best Director (for David O. Russell and Quentin Tarantino, respectively). “Steve Jobs” is also NOT a Best Picture nominee. And box office juggernaut (and well-received by critics, too), “Pitch Perfect 2”, isn’t one of the SIX comedies nominated in that category.
BIGGEST SURPRISES: “Mad Max: Fury Road” leads all nominations with 13, including love for Charlize Theron in the Lead Actress category. A fellow surprise Best Picture nominee is “Sicario”, which wasn’t on anyone’s radar (expect for those who voted for it). Mark Ruffalo picked-up his first “Spotlight” nomination (Supporting Actor) of the season. Nine-year-old Jacob Tremblay (“Room”) is missing from that group, but he is the frontrunner for Best Young Actor/Actress.
Steven Spielberg is a Best Director nominee for “Bridge of Spies”, which was embraced by the Broadcast Film Critics Association for practically every element of that film…except for Tom Hanks.
Disney/Pixar’s “Inside Out” is up for Animated Feature, Original Screenplay and Best Comedy, but not Best Picture. Jennifer Lawrence got three acting nominations: two for “Joy” and one for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2”. “Sisters” is up for Best Comedy, and star Tina Fey for Actress in a Comedy, but personally (even though I can’t publish my review yet), I can say that these are not deserved.
Jason Statham had a supporting role in the action comedy “Spy”, but it was memorable enough to put him in the Best Actor in a Comedy race. Joining him is Robert De Niro for “The Intern”. And let’s just say – I’m glad I had something to do with that nomination.
The Critics Choice Awards, which for the first time ever will combine Movie and TV categories into one show, and will be hosted by “Silicon Valley” star T.J. Miller, airs Sunday January 17th at 8pmET on A&E, Lifetime and the Lifetime Movie Network. And I’ll be there for all the action!