Amid the anticipation for the LAFCA awards later this afternoon, you might not have realized that the Boston Society of Film Critics is also announcing its winners today. (I know I hadn’t.)
Anyway, it’s spectacular news for “The Hurt Locker,” which emerged triumphant in five categories, including Best Picture, Director, Cinematography and Film Editing. In a most welcome surprise, Jeremy Renner took Best Actor for the film — a cheer for the underdog amid a slate of more heavily-buzzed acting winners including Meryl Streep, Christoph Waltz and Mo’Nique. Here’s hoping it’s not the last.
Meanwhile, it fell to the brothers Coen to prevent a clean “Hurt Locker” sweep, taking Best Screenplay honors for “A Serious Man,” while the BSFC’s quirkiest move is the joint selection of “Precious” and “Star Trek” for Best Ensemble. In another gesture towards populist cinema, “District 9” took the debut director award. After some delay, meanwhile, “Summer Hours” took foreign-language honors.
Still, the only real story here is the loud arrival of Kathryn Bigelow’s Iraq actioner on the critics’ award scene. It’ll be interesting to see if the LA Critics continue the love across the country; we’ll know in a few hours. Full list of winners after the cut.
Best Picture: “The Hurt Locker”
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”
Best Ensemble: “Precious” and “Star Trek” (tie)
Best Actor: Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker”
Best Actress: Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia”
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds”
Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique, “Precious”
Best Screenplay: Joel and Ethan Coen, “A Serious Man”
Best Foreign Language Film: “Summer Hours”
Best Documentary: “The Cove”
Best Animated Feature: “Up”
Best New Filmmaker: Neill Blomkamp, “District 9”
Best Cinematography: Barry Ackroyd, “The Hurt Locker”
Best Film Editing: Chris Innis and Bob Murawski, “The Hurt Locker”
Best Use of Music: “Crazy Heart”
Comments
43 responses to “‘Hurt Locker’ sweeps Boston critics’ awards”
really now… The NBR was so foolish to ignore Mo’Nique’s performance. Once she wins the Oscar she’ll be one of the most deserving winners this category’s ever had.
How is it “foolish” to have a different opinion in matters of art? Unanimity is dull.
Yeah Anna Kendrick over Mo’Nique was a dumbass move.
Unanimity is great by me if it means Mo’Nique winning every supporting award this season.
Indeed, Guy. My hope is that with so many great films out this year, there won’t be a Slumdog for the masses to rally behind and every film will have its moment in the sun someplace or another.
Personally, I’m hoping someone decides to give Where the Wild Things Are an award or two.
I second Cameron. I’d love some awards for “Where the Wild Things Are”. I’m guessing Christoph Waltz and Mo’Nique are the frontrunners in the supporting categories now.
Now? They always were.
Unanimity may be boring, but isn’t it a worse crime to give an award for the sole purpose of being original?
I’ve just seen “Precious” and, for me, it was just a good enough film that felt right out of the ’80s. (Did anyone else sense that stinky ’80s aura about it?) Also, I didn’t find it all that shocking.
Sidibe was terrific; Mo’Nique was great; but in my eyes, the *real* gem is Paula Patton. She was magnificent. I don’t think Mo’Nique is such a juggernaut, a la Heath Ledger, that no one deserves to beat her. Variety among these critics awards is welcome. And I’d be happy to see Julianne Moore win the Oscar, actually.
Meryl Streep just won Best Actress!
Dylan: Who says that was their rationale?
I think Anna Kendrick was an inspired choice for Best Supporting Actress. Comedy is just as hard as drama. Screaming, yelling, crying, etc., make for great clips and drama is always appreciated more than comedy, which is not only a shame but a misrepresentation of how nuanced great comedy really is. I think NBR was very progressive for recognizing comedy in this manner. Mo’Nique will get plenty – not to worry people!
Finally something for Renner!
Wooo, Jeremy Renner! Best/Most inspired acting choice thus far.
Jeremy Renner yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wowsers Renner and Streep took best acting nods! Makes a change.
I know it doesn’t mean much but there are some worthy choices there.
I’m guessing The Hurt Locker takes pic and directing
Yeah, I echo the cheers for Renner. Still prefer his performance to any of the category’s frontrunners.
Same, Guy. Clooney gave his best, most vulnerable performance, but a winner? Please.
Now we know who gets the 5th Best Actor spot…
Goodbye, Viggo!
Oooh, yay, Star Trek.
Wow. Star Trek is a surprise, though well-deserved.
Meryl wins!!!! YES! I love you, Meryl!
Bigelow won best director!
Star trek again is a very good choice. I really hope a SAG nod is in the offing. And I guess the acting in Precious was all-right. So no beef there.
Star Trek – SAG nomination for best ensemble or am I reading too much?
Early-release films did VERY well here. We all thought Hurt Locker and Inglourious Basterds might show up, but the attention to Julie & Julia, Star Trek, and District 9 is pretty interesting.
Hurt Locker won Best Picture!
hmmm… so it looks like Meryl does have a chance! (despite being imo her future weakest nomination since Music of the Heart)
i know we take her for granted but… sorry, I was just one of those weirdos who thought she deserved it (out of the 5) for Doubt
Total awards for Up in the Air = 0.
I hope that firmly places it as NOT this year’s Slumdog Millionaire.
YES!
I hope LAFCA at least awards Kathryn Bigelow.
@Alex_in_Movieland: She’d be my 2nd or 3rd choice–with Melissa Leo being my first =).
However, in 2002, I oscillate between her and CZJ for the win. So hilarious.
Hurray for Meryl!
Foreign language film??? Have they forgotten!
These wins are great! They put Hurt Locker, Renner, Streep and Waltz back on the radar where they belong.
Sean: I’ll give you Renner, to an extent. But when were the others off the radar?
So I take it no Foreign Film was deemed worthy enough and/or received enough majority votes for a win? Hm.
James D. Precious had a, “stinky 80’s aura about it” because the films time period covered the late 80’s, in Harlem. Hence the style of dress, by the girls who attended the alternative school.
I thought Mo’Nique was great, but in no way does she deserve to take every single award. It’s refreshing to see different winners at time…frankly , I think one of the best supporting performances from this year is Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air….i haven’t been able to stop thinking about her performance for weeks–absolutely brilliant!
I’m aware of the time period, silly. But the film didn’t have to also have a stale, TV-movie ’80s aesthetic to it either. Plenty of period pieces are still lush and feel modernly vibrant.
Interesting that Star Trek keeps showing up on some of these early awards: NBR list, production design and ensemble nods in Washington, ensemble win here; if it wasn’t for Avatar (which will likely take any sci-fi blockbuster slot) I feel it would have a decent chance for a BP nod.
Other than Strep I’ll take it.
District 9 seems to be having a better day than Star Trek. It actually beat Avatar in something (Production Design, LAFCA) and also got a Boston critics nod for Neill Blomkamp.
Summer Hours won Foreign-Language Film.
Slayton: Thanks, I’ve updated the article. Good day for the film!