Florida Film Critics Circle Nominations

Ryan, it’s pretty obvious I’m stating MY opinion. I’m not saying N.Y. is the be-all and end-all for everyone, but the New York Film Critics Circle has been giving out awards since 1936. They have an estimable history. They picked ”Citizen Kane” over ”How Green Was My Valley.” They picked ”Clockwork Orange” over ”The French Connection.” They picked ”Goodfellas” over ”Dances With Wolves.” I think their 78-year track record shows that they’re not in the business of predicting the Oscars. And whatever one thinks of the National Board of Review, it was founded in 1909 and has given out awards since the ’30s. I think I’ve agreed with many of their choices as opposed to the Oscar-winning pictures of that year. Among the NBR winners: ”Citizen Kane,” ”Sunset Blvd.,” ”All the President’s Men,” ”Days of Heaven,”’ ”Manhattan,” etc. Even now, they go their own idiosyncratic way: ”Hugo” (2011), ”Zero Dark Thirty” (2012), ”Her” (2013) and ”A Most Violent Year” (2014). You can criticize the NBR for many things, but not rubber-stamping other groups.
Look, all awards are subjective. If you’ve found a group that reflects your tastes, great! What bothers me is the glut of (fill in the name of a metropolitan area) critics’ groups that have sprouted like weeds in the past decade. When everyone and his dog is giving out awards, and often the same awards, I think it cheapens the actual honor. But everyone wants in on the act: Studios and stars need their egos stroked. Publicists have Oscar campaigns to run. Magazines and websites have ads to sell. Critics love to see their quotes in ads (and get their screeners). And there’s a horse race that needs to be fed. Often by those countless columns, prognostications and postings (like mine) that become just as obsolete as the silly plaques that collect the dust. 😉

Huh! Only 3 nominees each category. Interesting. It seems like if you’re only gonna have 3 films nominated for Best Picture, right now, Birdman – Boyhood – The Grand Budapest Hotel are the main 3.