Sunday was awards day on both sides of the country, with the Boston Society of Film Critics and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association both announcing their awards for 2015. While they differed in some areas, they both agreed on best picture.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Tom McCarthy’s Spotlight was a big favorite in Boston. After all, the film is about the Boston Globe’s investigation into the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal. Boston critics gave the film Best Picture, Best Screenplay (Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer) and Best Ensemble cast.
In Los Angeles, Spotlight won Best Screenplay and Best Picture. However, they showed much more love for Mad Max: Fury Road, which earned Best Director (George Miller); Best Cinematography (John Seale); and Best Production Design (Colin Gibson).
Both critics groups gave a serious boost to actors on the fringes of Oscars consideration. Charlotte Rampling was named Best Actress by both groups for 45 Years. Kristen Stewart won Best Supporting Actress in Boston for Clouds of Sils Maria after winning the same award from New York critics. Stewart was the runner-up for Los Angeles critics, who gave Supporting Actress to Alicia Vikander for her role in Ex Machina.
Here’s the full list of awards:
Boston Society of Film Critics:
Best Picture - Spotlight
Best Actor - (tie) Paul Dano for Love & Mercy and Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant
Best Actress - Charlotte Rampling for 45 Years
Best Supporting Actor - Mark Rylance for Bridge of Spies
Best Supporting Actress - Kristen Stewart for Clouds of Sils Maria
Best Director - Todd Haynes for Carol
Best Screenplay - Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer for Spotlight
Best Cinematography - Edward Lachman for Carol
Best Documentary - Amy
Best Foreign-Language Film (awarded in memory of Jay Carr) - The Look of Silence
Best Animated Film - (tie) Anomalisa and Inside Out
Best Film Editing (awarded in memory of Karen Schmeer) - Margaret Sixel for Mad Max: Fury Road
Best New Filmmaker (awarded in memory of David Brudnoy) - Marielle Heller for The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Best Ensemble Cast - Spotlight
Best Use of Music in a Film - Love & Mercy
Los Angeles Film Critics Association:
Best Picture: Spotlight
Best Director: George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Actor: Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Best Actress: Charlotte Rampling, 45 years
Best Supporting Actor: Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
Best Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Best Screenplay: Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
Best Cinematography: John Seale, Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Production Design: Colin Gibson, Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Editing: Hank Corwin, The Big Short
Best Music Score: Carter Burwell, Anomalisa & Carol
Best Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul
Best Documentary: Amy
Best Animation: Anomalisa
Special Citation: David Shepard, film preservationist
Career Achievement: Anne V. Coates, editor