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    “Roma” Earns Best Picture Distinction From NY Film Critics

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    This image released by Netflix shows a scene from the film “Roma,” by filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron. (Alfonso Cuarón/Netflix via AP)

    By Jake Coyle, Film Writer

    NEW YORK (AP) --

    In what may be the just the first of many such sweeps, Alfonso Cuaron's masterful, memory-drenched drama "Roma" dominated the New York Film Critics Circle Awards on Thursday, winning best film, best director and best cinematography.

    The overwhelming show of support for "Roma" by the critics group wasn't a surprise. Cuaron's film has been hailed as a masterpiece since winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. It's widely expected to contend for best picture, among other categories, at the Academy Awards, and Netflix has put its full weight behind an awards campaign. Cuaron made the black-and-white 1970s-set film based on his own upbringing in Mexico City, serving as his own cinematographer.

    The critics voted Ethan Hawke best actor for Paul Schrader's "First Reformed," and named Schrader's script best screenplay. Those wins provided yet another boost to Schrader's anguished tale of a doubt-riddled pastor (Hawke), which took the same awards at Monday's Gotham Awards.

    While the selections of critics groups like the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association often deviate from awards-season favorites, their prestige and early timing can bring less heralded films and performers into the Oscar conversation. That may have happened with the group's pick for best actress: Regina Hall, star of Andrew Bujalski's indie comedy "Support the Girls," about the waitress staff of a Texas sports bar. Hall bested the likes of Lady Gaga ("A Star Is Born") and Olivia Colman ("The Favourite").

    Supporting acting prizes went to more widely acknowledged contenders: Regina King for her performance as the matriarch of Barry Jenkins' James Baldwin adaptation "If Beale Street Could Talk"; and Richard E. Grant as Melissa McCarthy's debauched conspirator in the literary forgery drama "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

    Leaving the bigger categories to "Roma," the critics voted Pawel Pawlikowski's "Ida" follow-up "Cold War" best foreign language film. Best documentary went to "Minding the Gap," Bing Liu's directorial debut about a trio of skateboarding friends in Rockford, Illinois. Bo Burnham's tender coming-of-age tale "Eighth Grade" took best first film.

    And fresh off its glowing reviews, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" was chosen as best animated film over Pixar's "Incredibles 2."

    The critics also added special awards for the retiring chief curator of the Museum of the Moving Image, David Schwartz, and Kino Classics' DVD box set "Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers."
     

    Here’s a rundown of New York Film Critics 2018 Award winners:

    Best Picture
    “Roma”

    Best Director
    Alfonso Cuarón, “Roma”

    Best Screenplay
    Paul Schrader, “First Reformed”

    Best Actress
    Regina Hall, “Support the Girls”

    Best Actor
    Ethan Hawke, “First Reformed”

    Best Supporting Actress
    Regina King, “If Beale Street Could Talk”

    Best Supporting Actor
    Richard E. Grant, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”

    Best Cinematography
    “Roma,” Alfonso Cuaron

    Best Non-fiction Film
    “Minding the Gap,” director Bing Liu

    Best Foreign Language Film
    “Cold War,” director Pawel Pawlikowski

    Best Animated Feature
    “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

    Best First Film
    “Eighth Grade,” director Bo Burnham

    Special Award For Career Achievement
    David Schwartz, Chief Film Curator at Museum of the Moving Image for 33 years

    Special Award
    Kino Classics Box Set “Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers”

    Category:News
    Tags:First ReformedNew York Film Critics CircleROMA



    Robert Eggers and Willem Dafoe Reunite For “Nosferatu”

    Tuesday, December 24, 2024

    When Willem Dafoe enjoys working with a filmmaker, he'll often jump at the chance to do it again.

    The list of directors with whom the 69-year-old has worked with more than once is extensive, including Wes Anderson,Yorgos Lanthimos,Paul Schrader,Lars von Trier and, now for a third time, Robert Eggers. "If it's good, you come back," Dafoe said plainly.

    The pair spoke about Eggers' adaptation of "Nosferatu" that hits theaters Wednesday, some of the challenges they faced making "The Lighthouse" — their first project together released in 2019 — and the unique relationship that exists between actors and directors.

    The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

    Q: Willem, I read that you called Robert after you saw "The Witch." What did you say?

    DAFOE: I want to meet you and I want to know who this filmmaker is.

    Q: What is it about him that keeps bringing you back?

    DAFOE: Well, if it's good, you come back. When I saw "The Witch," I thought, "Wow, this is a film about a period that I'm not particularly knowledgeable about, but I enter it so easily. This is relevant. It's rooted. It's my story. I'm with these people."

    That's quite an incredible trick because a lot of period films, they're always pointing to themselves. They're always sending messages. They're always showing. This had a kind of energy and the kind of physicality and sensuality that I thought, "Who does this? I gotta see this guy." And then I had a wonderful experience in "The Lighthouse" and I played a part that was really fun in "The Northman." So, when he wants to do this passion project and offers me this beautiful role of Professor Von Franz, I say,... Read More

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