Drive My Car, the Japanese drama co-written and directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi based on a short story by Haruki Murakami, has been been named the Best Film of the year by the New York Film Critics Circle.
West Side Story took the group’s award for Best Cinematography, while Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza was named Best Screenplay.
Jane Campion has been named Best Director by the New York Film Critics Circle for The Power of the Dog. The award marks the film’s second big win from the Critics today, following Benedict Cumberbatch’s win as Best Actor for the film.
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter was named Best First Film by the group, and The Mitchells vs. the Machines was named Best Animated Film.
Lady Gaga has been named Best Actress for her performance in House of Gucci by the New York Film Critics Circle.
Flee has been the year’s Best Non-Fiction Film by the New York Film Critics Circle.
Kathryn Hunter was named Best Supporting Actress for her performance The Tragedy of Macbeth. Kodi Smit-McPhee was named Best Supporting for his performance in The Power of the Dog, andThe Worst Person in the World was named Best Foreign-Language Film.
Special Awards went to Maya Cade for the creation of the Black Film Archive, and Marshall Fine “for his years of service as NYFCC’s General Manager and decades on the NY film scene.”
The New York Film Critics Circle kicked off its voting this morning morning for its 2021 awards, with the group taking its customary place as an early barometer of the movie-kudos season.
The NYFCC, founded in 1935, includes critics from daily and weekly newspapers, magazines and online publications and tends to favor more independent fare. Last year, it chose Kelly Reichardt and A24’s First Cow as its Best Film, the marquee among 12 categories up for grabs. Chloé Zhao, who eventually won two Oscars for Searchlight’s Nomadland (Best Picture and Director), won the group’s directing award a year ago.
Past NYFCC Best Film winners include The Irishman (2019), Roma (2018), Lady Bird (2017), La La Land (2016), Carol (2015) and Boyhood (2014).
This year, films released in the greater New York City area either in theaters or on digital platforms between January 1-December 31 are eligible. Winners will be honored at the NYFCC’s gala awards dinner which is planned for January 10 at Tao Downtown.
The NYFCC marks the second of the early groups to weigh in with awards this season. On Thursday, the National Board of Review voted Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza from MGM and United Artists Releasing as its Best Film, with Anderson also taking Best Director.
WINNERS:
Best Film: Drive My Car
Best Cinematography: West Side Story
Best Screenplay: Licorice Pizza
Best First Film: The Lost Daughter
Best Director: Jane Campion for The Power of the Dog
Best Animated Film: The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Best Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch for The Power of the Dog
Best Actress: Lady Gaga for House of Gucci
Best Non-Fiction Film: Flee
Best Supporting Actress: Kathryn Hunter for The Tragedy of Macbeth
Best Foreign Language Film The Worst Person in the World
Best Supporting Actor: Kodi Smit-McPhee for The Power of the Dog
