In a surprising departure from the choices made by their East Coast counterparts, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named Jonathan Glazer’s powerful Holocaust drama, “The Zone of Interest,” as the best movie of the year. The accolades didn’t stop there, with Glazer receiving recognition for his outstanding directing and Mica Levi’s haunting score contributing to the film’s success. Sandra Hüller, who delivered compelling performances in both “The Zone of Interest” and the French courtroom drama “Anatomy of a Fall,” was honored with one of the two lead performance awards.
Unlike other film critics’ groups, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association does not differentiate between genders in its acting categories. This year, all four acting awards went to women, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to celebrating outstanding performances irrespective of gender.
Los Angeles Film Critics Association, The Zone of Interest, Jonathan Glazer
In the lead acting category, Sandra Hüller shared the spotlight with Emma Stone, recognized for her role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ unique take on Frankenstein, “Poor Things.” The supporting performance awards were presented to Rachel McAdams for her role in the Judy Blume adaptation “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, co-star of the boarding school comedy-drama “The Holdovers.”
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association’s choices diverged significantly from those of the New York Film Critics Circle, which had earlier named Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” as the best film of the year. Such variations highlight the subjective nature of film criticism and the diverse perspectives within the cinematic community.
The awards ceremony, set for January 13, promises to be a celebration of cinematic excellence. Last year, the top honors were shared by “Tár” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” This year’s awards showcase a range of outstanding achievements in the film industry.
Here is the complete list of winners according to the Los Angeles Film Critics Association:
Best Film: “The Zone of Interest”
Best Director: Jonathan Glazer, “The Zone of Interest”
Best Lead Performance: Sandra Hüller, “Anatomy of a Fall” and “The Zone of Interest”; Emma Stone, “Poor Things”
Best Supporting Performance: Rachel McAdams, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”; Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”
Best Non-English Language Film: “Anatomy of a Fall”
New Generation Award: Celine Song, “Past Lives”
Best Screenplay: Andrew Haigh, “All of Us Strangers”
Best Documentary: “Menus-Plaisirs — Les Troisgros”
Best Animated Film: “The Boy and the Heron”
Best Editing: Laurent Sénéchal, “Anatomy of a Fall”
Best Production Design: Sarah Greenwood, “Barbie”
Best Score: Mica Levi, “The Zone of Interest” (with a special recognition for sound designer Johnnie Burn)
Best Cinematography: Robbie Ryan, “Poor Things”
Douglas Edwards Experimental Film Prize: “Youth (Spring)”
Career Achievement Award: Agnieszka Holland
The inclusion of categories like Best Non-English Language Film, New Generation Award, and Douglas Edwards Experimental Film Prize reflects the association’s commitment to acknowledging diverse and innovative contributions to the world of cinema.
Andrew Haigh’s outstanding screenplay for “All of Us Strangers” and the mesmerizing cinematography by Robbie Ryan in “Poor Things” further showcase the breadth of talent and creativity recognized by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
Additionally, the awards ceremony will honor Agnieszka Holland with a Career Achievement Award, acknowledging her significant contributions to the film industry over the years.
As the anticipation builds for the upcoming awards ceremony, film enthusiasts and industry insiders alike are sure to celebrate the unique and compelling contributions that have made this year’s winners stand out in the world of cinema.