Birdman, Boyhood and several other films that are now familiar names on the awards circuit led the way when the 20th Critics' Choice Movie Awards nominations were unveiled on Monday – but it was Wes Anderson's darkly whimsical The Grand Budapest Hotel that proved the biggest surprise with 11 nominations.
In addition to nods for the film, direction, script and cinematography, star Ralph Fiennes was recognised in two acting categories: Best Actor and Best Actor in a comedy.
Though beloved by critics and a box-office success, The Grand Budapest Hotel was viewed as a dark horse in the awards race because of its March release date. But after earning four Golden Globe nominations last week, the quirky film could be rising in awards stature as Oscar voting begins.
Birdman scored the most nominations, with 13 including Best Picture and Best Director. Lead actor Michael Keaton and co-stars Emma Stone and Edward Norton all scored acting nods as well. Richard Linklater's 12-years-in-the-making film Boyhood got eight nominations, including Best Picture, Director, and Best Supporting Actor and Actress for Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette.
The Broadcast Film Critics Association also recognised Gone Girl, The Imitation Game, Selma, The Theory of Everything, Nightcrawler, Unbroken and Whiplash with multiple nominations.
For the most part, the major acting nominees matched other recent awards, including Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything), Reese Witherspoon (Wild) and Julianne Moore (Still Alice).
Notably, Angelina Jolie, whose Unbroken was shut out of the Globes nominations, picked up a best directing nod, as did Ava DuVernay (Selma) and David Fincher (Gone Girl). The Critics' Choice Awards have a solid track record of matching the eventual best picture Oscar winner. They also honour achievements in genre films including action, comedy and sci-fi/horror, and include categories such as Best Young Actor and Actress, allowing movies such as Edge of Tomorrow, 22 Jump Street and The Babadook into the mix.
The winners will be announced at a Hollywood ceremony on January 15.
[ artslife@thenational.ae ]
