Critics Choice Awards Spread the Wealth

Anora is suddenly at the front of the pack
thanks to wins at the Critics Choice, DGA and PGA

Anora, Wicked, Emilia Perez, and The Substance were among the top winners at the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards held Fri. Feb. 7 in Los Angeles after two postponements due to wildfires in the area. No one picture dominated the proceedings, throwing the race for the Oscars even further into disarray with no clear frontrunner before the big night on March 2. Anora unexpectedly won Best Picture though it lost in all of its other categories. The comedy about an escort marrying the son of a Russian oligarch suddenly leapt to the head of the Oscar pack since it also won the top prize at the PGA Awards and its director Sean Baker won at the DGA Awards, both presented the next day on Feb. 8. Wicked's John Chu was named best directed by the Critics Choice though he was not nominated by the DGA or the Oscars. Emilia Perez took awards for Best Foreign-Language Film, Supporting Actress Zoe Saldana, and Best Song. The French-made, set-in-Mexico film has been embroiled in controversy since anti-black and Muslim tweets by its transgender star Karla Sofia Gascon have surfaced. The Substance won for Best Actress Demi Moore, Original Screenplay and Make-up. Best Supporting Actor Kieran Culkin of A Real Pain was not present since he is rehearsing Glengarry Glen Ross for Broadway in NYC.  Adrien Brody of The Brutalist was named Best Actor.

Host Chelsea Handler opened the show by paying tribute to LA first responders, a sampling of whom were special guests at the ceremony. In the TV categories, FX's Shogun dominated with four wins while Hacks won three.

Winners of the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards :

Film

Best picture: "Anora"

Best actor: Adrien Brody, "The Brutalist"

Best actress: Demi Moore, "The Substance"

Best supporting actor: Kieran Culkin, "A Real Pain"

Best supporting actress: Zoe Saldaña, "Emilia Pérez"

Best young actor/actress: Maisy Stella, "My Old Ass"

Best acting ensemble: "Conclave"

Best director: Jon M. Chu, "Wicked"

Best original screenplay: Coralie Fargeat, "The Substance"

Best adapted screenplay: Peter Straughan, "Conclave"

Best animated film: "The Wild Robot"

Best comedy (tie): "A Real Pain" and "Deadpool & Wolverine"

Best foreign language film: "Emilia Pérez"

Best song: “El Mal” from "Emilia Pérez" (Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Camille)

Best score: "Challengers" (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross)

Best Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke – Nosferatu 

Best  Production Design: Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales – Wicked 

Best Editing: Marco Costa – Challengers

Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell- Wicked

Best Hair and Makeup: Hair and Make-up Team--The Substance

Best Visual Effects: Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, Gerd Nefzer – Dune: Part Two 

TV

Best drama series: "Shōgun"

Best drama actor: Hiroyuki Sanada, "Shōgun"

Best drama actress: Kathy Bates, "Matlock"

Best drama supporting actor: Tadanobu Asano, "Shōgun"

Best drama supporting actress: Moeka Hoshi, "Shōgun"

Best comedy series: "Hacks"

Best comedy actor: Adam Brody, "Nobody Wants This"

Best comedy actress: Jean Smart, "Hacks"

Best comedy supporting actor: Michael Urie, "Shrinking"

Best comedy supporting actress: Hannah Einbinder, "Hacks"

Best limited series: "Baby Reindeer"

Best TV movie: "Rebel Ridge"

Best actor in a limited series or TV movie: Colin Farrell, "The Penguin"

Best actress in a limited series or TV movie: Cristin Milioti, "The Penguin"

Best supporting actor in a limited series or TV movie: Liev Schreiber, "The Perfect Couple"

Best supporting actress in a limited series of TV movie: Jessica Gunning, "Baby Reindeer"

Best foreign language series: "Squid Game"

Best animated series: "X-Men ’97"

Best talk show: "John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A."

Best comedy special: "Ali Wong: Single Lady"