It just keeps getting better and being a real indicator of an Oscar win – all eyes were on Santa Monica California last night at the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards.
The epic “Oppenheimer” was the big winner at the Critics Choice Awards, winning 8 awards including best picture, director for Christopher Nolan and supporting actor Robert Downey Jr. “Barbie” had six wins, including best comedy and best song for “I’m Just Ken” sung by Ryan Gosling.
The ceremony shook up the awards race, handing best actress to Emma Stone for “Poor Things” which many thought would go to Lily Gladstone for Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon or Emma. Best actor in a movie went Paul Giamatti for “The Holdovers” – which hands down is my choice, though Bradley Cooper and Cillian Murphy do outstanding jobs in Meastro and Oppenheimer respectively. Bradley Cooper’s masterpiece sadly is just in the wrong year because any other year he would have won.
There were few surprises with television as “The Bear,” “Succession” and “Beef” each won many awards including best comedy series, drama series and limited series, respectively.
The event was fantastic. I loved it. Did not slow for a minute this year. Endless Hollywood power in the room. Well hosted, well organized, well appointed, well attended, huge celebrity presence filled Barkar Hanger at the Santa Monica Airport because this thing has just grown so wonderfully big. Excellent broadcast coverage on the CW, which is KTLA 5 here in Los Angeles and throughout North America, USA and Canada on the cable carriers that carry the mega station. Red carpet hosted by veteran Sam Ruben and Jessica Holmes. All in all a fantastic awards year on every front.
