2014 AWARD SEASON BEGINS

Yes film lovers, it's that time once again. Critics from across the country are getting their say on what they consider the best of 2014. Over the past week, New York, Boston, Los Angeles and the National Board of Review have announced their picks and today, the American Film Institute weighed in on their favorites. You can always count on them to bring some attention to little-seen gems (Tom Hardy in "Locke", "Nightcrawler", "Ida" and Marion Cotillard for her work in "The Immigrant") and buzz for upcoming releases ("Selma"and Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper") but surprisingly, they all seem to be in agreement with Richard Linklater and his amazing "Boyhood" as the film is receiving universal love from these groups.

Here is a round-up of the selections:

AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR

"American Sniper"
"Birdman (Or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
"Boyhood"
"Foxcatcher"
"The Imitation Game"
"Interstellar"
"Into the Woods"
"Nightcrawler"
"Selma"
"Unbroken"
"Whiplash"

2014 New York Film Critics Circle Awards

Best Picture: "Boyhood"
Best Director: Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"
Best Screenplay: Wes Anderson and and Hugo Guinness, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Best Actor: Timothy Spall, "Mr. Turner"
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard, "The Immigrant" and "Two Days, One Night"
Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons,"Whiplash"
Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"
Best Cinematographer: Darius Khondji, "The Immigrant"
Best Animated Film: "The LEGO Movie"
Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary): "Citizenfour"
Best Foreign Film: "Ida"
Best First Film: Jennifer Kent, "The Babadook"

2014 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

Best Picture: “Boyhood”
Best Director: Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”
Best Screenplay: Wes Anderson and Hugo Guinness, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Best Actor: Tom Hardy, “Locke”
Best Actress: Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”
Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”
Best Supporting Actress: Agata Kulesza, “Ida”
Best Foreign Language Film: “Ida”
Best Animation: “Tale of the Princess Kaguya”
Best Documentary: “Citizenfour”
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, “Birdman”
Best Editing: Sandra Adair, “Boyhood”
New Generation Award: Ava DuVernay, “Selma”

2014 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards:

Best Picture: "Boyhood"
Best Director: Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"
Best Screenplay: (Tie) Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Armando Bo, "Birdman," and Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"
Best Actor: Michael Keaton, "Birdman"
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard, "Two Days, One Night" and "The Immigrant"
Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"
Best Supporting Actress: Emma Stone, "Birdman"
Best Ensemble Cast: "Boyhood"
Best Documentary: "Citizenfour"
Best Animated Film: "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya"
Best Foreign Language Film: "Two Days, One Night"
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki,"Birdman"
Best Film Editing: Sandra Adair, "Boyhood"
Best Use of Music in a Film: "Inherent Vice"
Best New Filmmaker: Dan Gilroy, "Nightcrawler"

National Board of Review Top Films of 2014:

"American Sniper"
"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance"
"Boyhood"
"Fury"
"Gone Girl"
"The Imitation Game"
"Inherent Vice"
"The Lego Movie"
"Nightcrawler"
"Unbroken"

Best Film: "A Most Violent Year"
Best Director: Clint Eastwood, "American Sniper"
Best Actor (Tie): Oscar Isaac, "A Most Violent Year" and Michael Keaton, "Birdman"
Best Actress: Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"
Best Supporting Actor: Edward Norton, "Birdman"
Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain, "A Most Violent Year"
Best Original Screenplay: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, "The Lego Movie"
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, "Inherent Vice"
Best Animated Feature: "How to Train Your Dragon 2"
Breakthrough Performance: Jack O'Connell, "Starred Up" & "Unbroken"
Best Directorial Debut: Gillian Robespierre, "Obvious Child"
Best Foreign Language Film: "Wild Tales"
Best Documentary: "Life Itself"
Best Ensemble: "Fury"
Spotlight Award: Chris Rock for writing, directing, and starring in "Top Five"
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: "Rosewater"
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: "Selma"