By While Roma was irreverently snubbed at the Golden Globes last week, it’s back in its rightful place thanks to the board over in LA. The results of the LA Film Critics Association have also offered Cuarón’s hailed monochrome masterpiece an award for Best Cinematography, as well as nods for Best Director and Best Editing. A host of other accolades have been distributed to others, celebrating this year’s achievements.
Following Roma in the lead, Best Supporting Actor went to the charismatic Steven Yeun in Burning (he was also fantastic in Sorry To Bother You), and Burning was further celebrated with a tie for Best Foreign Language Film. Debra Granik received an award for Best Director of the affecting Leave No Trace, while Best Actor was awarded to Ethan Hawke for his performance in First Reformed, and, maybe predictably, Best Actress went to Olivia Colman for her eccentric role in The Favourite.
I have to admit, I was slightly disappointed by the result – while I have no doubt about Colman’s strengths, I felt as if Octavia Spencer in Widows was such a powerful and important figure, that it’s a shame she didn’t even receive a runner-up nod. Although Elizabeth Debicki was offered runner-up for Best Supporting Actress, meaning that the film has been recognized, I would have liked to have seen Steve McQueen’s work better rewarded. Still, with the awards season train having well and truly set off, it’s likely that his time will come with the numerous accolades yet to be dished out between now and next Spring.
A few notable films went away empty-handed: other than a runner-up nod for Best Score going to (my all-time fave composer) Justin Hurwitz, Damien Chazelle didn’t receive anything for First Man, and others that were left empty-handed included Hereditary and Sorry To Bother You. Yet, all is not lost. Spiderman: Into The Spiderverse was well received and If Beale Street Could Talk made an appearance. And, in a move that has been widely celebrated by Film Twitter probably more than most, Hugh Grant received runner-up for Paddington 2. At least it shows that there’s still good left in the world.
Take a look at the full list of nominations below.
Best Film: Roma
Runner-up: Burning
Best Director: Debra Granik, Leave No Trace
Runner-up: Alfonso Cuaron, Roma
Best Actor: Ethan Hawke, First Reformed
Runner-up: Ben Foster, Leave No Trace
Best Actress: Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Runner-up: Toni Collette, Hereditary
Best Supporting Actor: Steven Yeun, Burning
Runner-up: Hugh Grant, Paddington 2
Best Supporting Actress: Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Runner-up: Elizabeth Debicki, Widows
Best Screenplay: Nicole Holofcener, Jeff Whitty, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Runner-up: Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara, The Favourite
Best Animated Film: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Runner-up: Incredibles 2
Best Foreign Language Film: Burning and Shoplifters (Tie)
Best Documentary: Shirkers
Runner-up: Minding the Gap
Best Cinematography: Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Runner-up: James Laxton, If Beale Street Could Talk
Best Editing: Joshua Altman and Bing Liu, Minding the Gap
Runner-up: Alfonso Cuarón and Adam Gough, Roma
Best Music/Score: Nicholas Britell, If Beale Street Could Talk
Runner-up: Justin Hurwitz, First Man
Best Production Design: Hannah Beachler, Black Panther
Runner-up: Fiona Crombie, The Favourite
Career Achievement Award: Hayao Miyazaki
Douglas Edwards Experimental Film Award: The Green Fog
New Generation Prize: Chloe Zhao
Special Citation: The Other Side of the Wind
‘Roma’ Named Best Film of 2018 by L.A. Film Critics Association [Variety]
