Jordan Peele’s seismic thriller Get Out captured the most wins from the members of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA). Released early in 2017, the film earned Best Film, Best Directing, Best Acting and Best Screenplay recognition from the world’s largest group of professional Black film critics.
In addition to acting newcomer Daniel Kaluuya, AAFCA also recognized Frances McDormand for her tough-as-nails performance as a grieving mom in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Laurence Fishburne and Tiffany Haddish won Best Supporting nods for their performances in Last Flag Flying and Girls Trip, while actor Lakeith Stanfield (who also appears in Get Out) earned Breakout Star for his lead role in Crown Heights, which also won the group’s Best Independent Award.
“The films released in 2017 captured a plethora of lifestyles, experiences and emotions that allowed our members to engage with a different range of storylines from previous years,” stated AAFCA co-founder and president, Gil Robertson. “The success of Girls Trip, the first R-rated film starring an all-Black female cast to surpass $100 million, and Get Out, Jordan Peele’s directorial debut which surpassed $250 million worldwide, prove just how viable Black films are across the board. Also, Gook, with its Asian-centered storyline, and Coco, the animated film spotlighting Dia de los Muertos, the revered Mexican tradition, provided our membership with an opportunity to recognize storylines that are relevant to communities that have not previously been included on our list. Overall, it was a great year for cinema that reflects the diverse and complicated world that we live in.”
“AAFCA’s Top 10 lists in Film and TV represent the organization’s commitment to an expanded analysis of both mediums,” stated AAFCA co-founder Shawn Edwards. “While content targeting Black audiences dominates both charts, AAFCA is pleased to acknowledge and recognize content that represents the global community. This wave of new content thrives in an environment where multiple voices are welcomed and championed. Inclusion is a win for everybody, especially audiences.”
As previously announced the 2018 AAFCA Awards Program will include two ceremonies – a Special Achievement Luncheon Sponsored by Morgan Stanley on February 3, 2018 at the California Yacht Club, and the AAFCA Awards sponsored by Nissan on February 7, 2018 at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood.
The following is a complete list of 2017 AAFCA Awards winners.
BEST PICTURE: GET OUT (Universal Pictures)
BEST DIRECTOR: JORDAN PEELE – GET OUT (Universal Pictures)
BEST ACTOR: DANIEL KALUUYA – GET OUT (Universal Pictures)
BEST ACTRESS: FRANCES McDORMAND – THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI (Fox Searchlight)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: LAURENCE FISHBURNE – LAST FLAG FLYING (Amazon Studios/Lionsgate)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: TIFFANY HADDISH – GIRLS TRIP (Universal Pictures)
BEST COMEDY: GIRLS TRIP (Universal Pictures)
BEST ENSEMBLE: DETROIT (Annapurna Pictures)
BEST INDEPENDENT: CROWN HEIGHTS (Amazon Studios/IFC Films)
BEST ANIMATED: COCO (Disney/Pixar)
BEST DOCUMENTARY: STEP (Fox Searchlight)
BEST FOREIGN: THE WOUND (Kino Lorber)
BEST SCREENPLAY: GET OUT (Universal Pictures)
BEST SONG: “IT AINT FAIR” – DETROIT – THE ROOTS featuring BILAL (Motown Records)
BEST NEW MEDIA: MUDBOUND (Netflix)
BEST TV SERIES (COMEDY): BLACKISH (ABC)
BEST TV SERIES (DRAMA): QUEEN SUGAR (OWN)
BREAKOUT: LAKEITH STANFIELD – CROWN HEIGHTS (Amazon Studios/IFC Films)
AAFCA TOP 10 FILMS OF 2017
GET OUT (Universal Pictures)
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI (Fox Searchlight)
COCO (Disney/Pixar)
GIRLS TRIP (Universal Pictures)
DETROIT (Annapurna Pictures)
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (Sony Pictures Classics)
THE SHAPE OF WATER (Fox Searchlight)
GOOK (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
CROWN HEIGHTS (Amazon Studios/IFC Films)
MARSHALL (Open Road Films)
AAFCA TOP 10 TV PROGRAMS – 2017
QUEEN SUGAR: Season 2 (OWN)
UNDERGROUND: Season 2 (WGN)
INSECURE: Season 2 (HBO)
MASTER OF NONE: Season 2 (Netflix)
BLACK-ISH: Season 4 (ABC)
THE HANDMAID’S TALE: Season 1 (Hulu)
DEAR WHITE PEOPLE: Season 1 (Netflix)
SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT: Season 1 (Netflix)
THE DEFIANT ONES (HBO)
TIE: GUERILLA/SNOWFALL: Season 1 (Showtime/FX)
Review: Writer-Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood’s “Heretic”
"Heretic" opens with an unusual table setter: Two young missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are discussing condoms and why some are labeled as large even though they're all pretty much a standard size. "What else do we believe because of marketing?" one asks the other.
That line will echo through the movie, a stimulating discussion of religion that emerges from a horror movie wrapper. Despite a second-half slide and feeling unbalanced, this is the rare movie that combines lots of squirting blood and elevated discussion of the ancient Egyptian god Horus.
Our two church members — played fiercely by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East — are wandering around trying to covert souls when they knock on the door of a sweet-looking cottage. Its owner, Mr. Reed, offers a hearty "Good afternoon!" He welcomes them in, brings them drinks and promises a blueberry pie. He's also interested in learning more about the church. So far, so good.
Mr. Reed is, of course, if you've seen the poster, the baddie and he's played by Hugh Grant, who doesn't go the snarling, dead-eyed Hannibal Lecter route in "Heretic." Grant is the slightly bumbling, bashful and self-mocking character we fell in love with in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," but with a smear of menace. He gradually reveals that he actually knows quite a bit about the Mormon religion — and all religions.
"It's good to be religious," he says jauntily and promises his wife will join them soon, a requirement for the church. Homey touches in his home include a framed "Bless This Mess" needlepoint on a wall, but there are also oddities, like his lights are on a timer and there's metal in the walls and ceilings.
Writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood — who also... Read More