Okay, let’s lead with the really interesting news. By handing their Best Supporting Actress award to Juliette Lewis for her barnstorming, dialogue-jiggering hammery in “Conviction” (I mean that in wholly admiring terms, by the way), the Boston Society of Film Critics officially take the title for the coolest go-your-own-way pick of this admittedly young season. Is this win a one-night-only deal, or is Lewis a fun new name to add into the Oscar mix? The latter, I’m hoping.
Beyond that, it was back to regular business, as “The Social Network” furthered its reputation is this year’s critical darling by sweeping the top categories — Best Picture, Director, Actor and Screenplay, as well as a citation of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s score. Jesse Eisenberg toppled Colin Firth by a single vote to claim yet another handy precursor: that Oscar nomination is looking ever more comfortably in his grasp.
Elsewhere, Natalie Portman made her first move of the season by taking Best Actress for “Black Swan,” which also snagged a well-deserved Best Film Editing award. Christian Bale,, meanwhile, took Best Supporting Actor for “The Fighter,” which was also recognised for its entire ensemble — proving, along the wins for Juliette Lewis and David Fincher’s Harvard-set film, that a little local geography never hurts your case with the Beantown critics.
“Toy Story 3,” the group’s runner-up for Best Picture, duly took Best Animated Feature honors. “The Illusionist,” in turn, was runner-up for that. Huzzah. We’re still waiting on a Best Foreign Language Film announcement, however… perhaps “The Social Network” won that, too. (UPDATE: It didn’t — Bong Joon-ho’s “Mother” won instead. But I’ll bet it was close.)
Overall, however, this is a pretty exemplary batch of winners. Take a bow, Boston. Check out the full list at The Circuit.
[Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures]
Comments
28 responses to “‘Social Network’ rules Boston critics’ awards”
Mother just won Foreign Film
Great to see Eisenberg win. I like the little twist they pulled with Supporting Actress, but I don’t see her going anywhere.
Are the pundits still stubbornly holding out for The King’s Speech?
Three bodies have announced prizes so far (NBR, WDCFA, Boston) and all handed Picture/Director/Screenplay to The Social Network, Eisenberg winning in two of the places.
At Indiewire they have started tabulating their annual poll, and the results so far have The Social Network coming out tops in Picture, Screenplay, Leading Performance and Supporting Performance. The hold out is Director with Fincher currently in second place but we know he will eventually end up on top.
Yeah we have a race this year.
oh, my… what do people find so interesting in Eisenberg’s performance?… a “coaster” if there ever was one. Andrew Garfield is much much better.
Can’t wait to see Conviction! :P
What I dislike lately about the awards season is how many and how influential critics groups are. After 20 of these, SAG, GG, PGA, DGA, Bafta, BFCA noms we’ll most probably get no acting surprises come Oscar nominations time…
when will we ever again see a Marisa Tomei getting nominated for Cousin Vinny and moreso infomously winning?
So many great critics in Boston, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that their annual awards slates are regularly among the year’s most inspiring. But the winners and the runners-up are especially inspiring this year, I think.
I hope a drunk, bitter Ben Affleck crashes their awards party, since they loved all the other Boston movies except for his.
Graysmith: Affleck already played that scene in “Bounce.”
I don’t quite get the amount of love so far for Jesse Eisenberg. Should he really be the frontrunner??
Should he really be the frontrunner??
Ahead of Colin Firth? Yes. Yes, he should.
@red_wine:
It’s still very, very early. If Social Network takes both the NYFCC and the LAFCA, then you’ll have more ammo. I for one am waiting for the Guilds’ nominations: will we have some surprises?
Yeah, probably not. It’s smelling like a Social Network season.
The “slight” difference I see this year is: TSN winning all of these awards will no doubtedly help it’s chances for winninf BP ….. BUT …. The King’s Speech is not Avatar.
Avatar was a juggernaut with very good reviews. It was too hard to be ignored, even though it wasn’t conventional Oscar bait (no big actors, alien storyline, special effects-driven-bordering-on-animated movie).
The King’s Speech is getting great reviews, mentions in critics awards as Best Picture-worthy, and … as most mention, right up the Academy’s alley.
Saw BLACK SWAN last night. Liked it, didn’t love it and thought Portman was fine but nothing worthy of an Oscar. Are people impressed with the fact she trained ballet for the film? I just didn’t see “an amazing” performance from her.
I honestly don’t understand what they see in Eisenberg, he fits perfectly with the movie and all, but better than Bardem? I don’t mean to put him down but he’s gotten a nom or a mention at every award so far, but Bardem has only a Satellite nom? I’m starting to fear that his amazing performance in Biutiful will be ignored at the Oscars.
LA critics about to announce first batch of winners:
http://twitter.com/#!/lafilmcritics
I still think King’s Speech is the frontrunner; though Social Network should take adapted screenplay and editing, maybe even director.
I think the guilds will tell us if Social Network is a LA Confidential type that sweeps critics groups but isn’t popular enough with the academy for a best picture win, or if it is a Hurt Locker type where the academy follows the critics’ lead even if on paper it doesn’t seem like the most obvious contender.
Glad to Eisenberg win again. Its a terrific performance and one that could go easily unnoticed. Its natural. Its not loud at all. Some will look at it as emotionless, but I don’t think that’s the case.
First LA batch announced.
I feel bad for “The Town.” If it was ever going to get tons of love, it was here. Oh well…
First wave here:
http://incontention.com/the-circuit-2010-2011/#losangeles
Thanks, Kris. Could you make an open thread for the LA crix or are you waiting for the full list?
I’m ecstatic for Weaver. Perhaps she’s this season’s Amy Ryan? Let’s hope so, she deserves it.
Go Niels! Also awesome.
Hoping for a Ryan Gosling surprise from either LA or NY tomorrow….
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Don’t get too excitied about J.Lewis’ award from the Boston bunch. They are notorious homers having given out prizes to Boston-based stuff like GONE BABY GONE, MYSTIC RIVER, Marky Mark (DEPARTED) and now multi-awards to THE FIGHTER. Just surprised they didn’t toss a bone to Affleck & THE TOWN…….
“Don’t get too excitied about J.Lewis’ award from the Boston bunch.’
I just like the fact that she’s entered the conversation, finally.
Well, she entered the conversation amongst the homers in Boston (I grew up there!!), and exited everywhere else.
Remember, Marky Mark and Affleck have won awards from this group, too. Between THE FIGHTER, CONVICTION and even SOCIAL NETWORK (much takes place in and around Harvard) that’s most of their awards.
Glad for Jesse Eisenberg winning although I thought the “by one vote” thing referred to Firth and the 3rd placer, maybe Franco? Can someone clarify.
And I don’t get why Alex in Movieland has to compare Eisenberg to Garfield. They’re not competing, they’re both in the same film, the only difference is Eisenberg plays the lead and Garfield plays supporting, and in that category, Garfield is doing well (he was runner-up in this group) so I don’t know what he’s getting worked up about. The film worked because everyone was great in their respective roles. Even Justin Timberlake.
Joe S: Hardly revelatory — I made your very same point in the post.
Cecil: Wesley Morris’s tweet clearly stated that the one vote was between Eisenberg and Firth.
“Cecil: Wesley Morris’s tweet clearly stated that the one vote was between Eisenberg and Firth.”
Wow, that close! Makes this race even more interesting. Thanks for clarifying that. :)
Guy – yes you make the local boosterism point, but then undercut it by applauding the Lewis win and thinking out loud that it might be the sign of something else. Lewis isn’t a big factor outside the Hahvahd yahd.