This prognosticator said that Everything Everywhere All at Once would win five races at the Critics Choice Awards last night and indeed it did. However, it was 3 for 5 in categories where I said it would emerge victorious. It had a better night than I figured considering where it was successful. I went 13 for 21 in my collective picks.
The acclaimed genre mash-up was unquestionably the the belle of the critical ball – taking Best Picture, Directors (s), Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Original Screenplay, and Editing. I correctly had it for Picture, Supporting Actor (where Quan is probably on his way to a seasonal sweep), and Editing. For Director, I forecasted Globes winner Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans). Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert have established themselves as major competitors for the Academy’s filmmaking award. I’m doing my updated Oscar projections later today and I still haven’t decided whether the Daniels or Spielberg will sit in first position.
Everything also pulled an Original Screenplay trophy over The Banshees of Inisherin (which also was the Globe honoree). Martin McDonagh’s black comedy was surprisingly goose egged at CCA. I thought Colin Farrell may take Actor considering the critics groups prizes he’s compiled. Yet it was Brendan Fraser (The Whale) surfacing. His victory solidifies the Actor race as a three-way showdown between him, Austin Butler (Elvis), and Farrell. At this moment, Farrell might be third.
I also had Kerry Condon’s work in Banshees as the Supporting Actress recipient. CCA instead chose Globes taker Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever). Like Quan, Bassett could be teeing up a sweep. I’m less confident about her running the field chances than Quan, but it’s absolutely possible.
The Everything love did not extend to Michelle Yeoh as I correctly named Cate Blanchett for Tár. I’ve had Blanchett in 1st for seemingly ever and last night confirmed my ranking (though Yeoh is still a threat). The biggest shocker of the evening was a second win for Tár in Score (I said Babylon). It’s not even eligible at Oscar due to its minimal music that’s barely in the film.
Women Talking (as I projected) took Adapted Screenplay. Here are other correct calls (all ones where the Academy could follow suit) – Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio for Animated Feature, Top Gun: Maverick in Cinematography, the Hair and Makeup of Elvis, Babylon‘s Production Design, RRR‘s “Naatu Naatu” as Original Song, and the Visual Effects of Avatar: The Way of Water.
CCA has some prizes that the Oscars doesn’t feature. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery was named Best Acting Ensemble and Best Comedy. Those are two competitions where I thought Everything Everywhere would win and did not. That’s a nice double consolation situation for Onion. The Young Performer award marked the only victory for The Fabelmans with Gabriel LaBelle (who I predicted). For those keeping score, that means Banshees and Fabelmans didn’t win a single CCA that the Oscars have. In Foreign Language Feature, RRR rose up as I assumed. India is looking more foolish by the day by not making it their submission for International Feature Film at the Oscars.
My remaining miss – I had Elvis in Costume Design and it was Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Bottom line: this was a very good night for Everything and not for Banshees and Fabelmans. I’ve had Everything at #1 for quite some time in BP for the Oscars. It might not happen, but it’s looking more realistic as we get closer to nominations morning and the actual ceremony.
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I guess I am losing my mojo. I hated “Everything “ as well as Babylon and Tar, the seeming darlings of awards season. This is going to be a frustrating year for Rosy the Reviewer!