AWARD SEASON 2019 BEGINS

Award season has begun fast and furious with several critics groups and film organizations  announcing their picks for the best of the year. First we have the National Board of Review with the organization selecting "The Irishman" as Best Film while giving the Best Director prize to Quentin Tarantino for his work on the unique  tribute to the end of Hollywood's Golden Age, "Once Upon a Time . . . In Hollywood". Martin Scorsese's crime drama would also receive Best Adapted Screenplay and this year's Icon Award will go to the director and his stars, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. The National Board of Review has been around since 1909 and the group, which includes filmmakers, academics and movie enthusiasts, will hand out the prizes on January 8th in New York.

Here is the list of the 2019 winners selected by the National Board of Review:

Best Film: "The Irishman"
Best Director: Quentin Tarantino, "Once Upon A Time. . .In Hollywood"
Best Directorial Debut: Melina Matsoukas, "Queen & Slim"
Best Original Screenplay: Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie and Ronald Bronstein, "Uncut Gems"
Best Adapted Screenplay: Steven Zaillian, "The Irishman"
Best Actor: Adam Sandler, "Uncut Gems"
Best Actress: Renée Zellweger, "Judy"
Best Supporting Actor: Brad Pitt, "Once Upon A Time. . .In Hollywood"
Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates, "Richard Jewell"
Breakthrough Performance: Paul Walter Hauser, "Richard Jewell"
Best Ensemble: "Knives Out"
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Roger Deakins, "1917"
Best Animated Feature: "How To Train Your Dragon:The Hidden World"
Best Foreign Language Film: "Parasite"
Best Documentary: "Maiden"
NBR Icon Award: Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: "For Sama"
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: "Just Mercy"

The American Film Institute has announced their picks for the ten best films of 2019. "The Irishman" and "Once Upon a Time. . . In Hollywood" made the list as well as Lulu Wang's "The Farewell", Clint Eastwood's upcoming bio-pic, "Richard Jewell" and the violent comic-book thriller, "Joker". And a special award was given to Bong Joon Ho for his compelling black comedy thriller, "Parasite" which is designated for a work of excellence outside the institute’s criteria for American film and television. There will be an AFI Awards luncheon for the winners on January 3rd in Los Angeles.

AFI Motion Pictures of the Year:

"1917"
"The Farewell"
"The Irishman"
"Jojo Rabbit"
"Joker"
"Knives Out"
"Little Women"
"Marriage Story"
"Once Upon a Time. . .In Hollywood"
"Richard Jewell"

"The Irishman" was also the pick by The New York Film Critics Circle for Best Film but some of their more inspired selections include the Best Actress prize going to Lupita Nyong’o for her captivating turn in the horror film, "Us", Antonio Banderas receiving Best Actor for his amazing performance in Pedro Almodóvar's drama, "Pain and Glory" and the Safdie brothers winning Best Director for their indie drama, "Uncut Gems" which features an impressively dramatic Adam Sandler. The NYFCC, which was founded in 1935, includes critics from daily and weekly newspapers, magazines and online publications.

Here is the list of winners of the 2019 New York Film Critics Circle:

Best Film: "The Irishman"
Best Director: Josh and Benny Safdie, "Uncut Gems"
Best First Film: "Atlantics"
Best Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, "Once Upon a Time. . . in Hollywood"
Best Actor: Antonio Banderas, "Pain And Glory"
Best Actress: Lupita Nyong’o, "Us"
Best Supporting Actor: Joe Pesci, "The Irishman"
Best Supporting Actress: Laura Dern, "Marriage Story" and "Little Women"
Best Cinematography: Claire Mathon, "Portrait of a Lady on Fire"
Best Foreign Language Film: "Parasite"
Best Non-Fiction Film: "Honeyland"
Best Animated Film: "I Lost My Body"

Noah Baumbach and his exceptional drama, "Marriage Story" was the big winner at the 2019 Gotham Awards with the film receiving four awards; Best Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and the Audience Award. And Awkwafina took home Best Actress for her moving performance in "The Farewell".

Here is a partial list of nominations and the winners (highlighted) of the 2019 Gotham IFP Awards:

Best Feature:

"The Farewell"
"Hustlers"
"Marriage Story"
"Uncut Gems"
"Waves"

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award:

Laure De Clermont-Tonnerre, "The Mustang"
Kent Jones, "Diane"
Joe Talbot, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco"
Olivia Wilde, "Booksmart"
Phillip Youmans, "Burning Cane"

Best Screenplay:

Lulu Wang, "The Farewell"
Tarell Alvin McCraney, "High Flying Bird"
Jimmie Fails, Joe Talbot, and Rob Richert, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco"
Noah Baumbach, "Marriage Story"
Ari Aster, "Midsommar"

Best Actress:

Awkwafina, "The Farewell"
Elisabeth Moss, "Her Smell"
Mary Kay Place, "Diane"
Florence Pugh, "Midsommar"
Alfre Woodard, "Clemency"

Best Actor:

Willem Dafoe, "The Lighthouse"
Adam Driver, "Marriage Story"
Aldis Hodge, "Clemency"
André Holland, "High Flying Bird"
Adam Sandler, "Uncut Gems"

Breakthrough Actor:

Julia Fox, "Uncut Gems"
Aisling Franciosi, "The Nightingale"
Chris Galust, "Give Me Liberty"
Noah Jupe, "Honey Boy"
Jonathan Majors, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco"
Taylor Russell, "Waves"

Best Documentary:

"American Factory"
"Apollo 11"
"The Edge of Democracy"
"Midnight Traveler"
"One Child Nation"

Audience Award:

"American Factory"
"Apollo 11"
"Booksmart"
"Burning Cane"
"Diane"
"The Edge of Democracy"
"The Farewell"
"Hustlers"
"The Last Black Man in San Francisco"
"Marriage Story"
"Midnight Traveler"
"The Mustang"
"One Child Nation"
"Uncut Gems"
"Waves"