2012 Awards -- Critics Choice Awards nominations & WINNERS

The Broadcast Film Critics have announced the nominees for the 2012 Critics Choice Awards. Almost always a very good preview of how the Oscar ballots might shape up. This year, Lincoln wrote a bit of history and broke Black Swan's previous record of 12 by landing a whopping 13 nominations!!!  Several films in the past few year have had 11 nods, including The Artist and Hugo last year, and True Grit and The King's Speech in 2010. Well we can officially add Les Miserables to that group as well, and it takes the runner-up spot on the nomination list. Here are the full nominees...

BEST PICTURE

• ARGO (winner)
• BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
• DJANGO UNCHAINED
• LES MIERABLES
• LIFE OF PI
• LINCOLN
• THE MASTER
• MOONRISE KINGDOM
• SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
• ZERO DARK THIRTY

BEST DIRECTOR

• BEN AFFLECK -- "ARGO" (winner)
• KATHRYN BIGELOW -- "ZERO DARK THIRTY"
• TOM HOOPER -- "LES MISERABLES"
• ANG LEE -- "LIFE OF PI"
• DAVID O. RUSSELL -- "SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK"
• STEVEN SPIELBERG -- "LINCOLN"

BEST ACTOR

• BRADLEY COOPER -- "SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK"
• DANIEL DAY-LEWIS -- "LINCOLN" (winner)
• JOHN HAWKES -- "THE SESSIONS"
• HUGH JACKMAN -- "LES MISERABLES"
• JOAQUIN PHOENIX -- "THE MASTER"
• DENZEL WASHINGTON -- "FLIGHT"

BEST ACTRESS

• JESSICA CHASTAIN -- "ZERO DARK THIRTY" (winner)
• MARION COTILLARD -- "RUST AND BONE"
• JENNIFER LAWRENCE -- "SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK"
• EMMANUELLE RIVA -- "AMOUR"
• QUVENZHANE WALLIS -- "BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD"
• NAOMI WATTS -- "THE IMPOSSIBLE"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• ALAN ARKIN -- "ARGO"
• JAVIER BARDEM -- "SKYFALL"
• ROBERT DE NIRO -- "SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK"
• PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN -- "THE MASTER" (winner)
• TOMMY LEE JONES -- "LINCOLN"
• MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY -- "MAGIC MIKE"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• AMY ADAMS -- "THE MASTER"
• JUDI DENCH -- "SKYFALL"
• ANN DOWD -- "COMPLIANCE"
• SALLY FIELD -- "LINCOLN"
• ANNE HATHAWAY -- "LES MISERABLES" (winner)
• HELEN HUNT -- "THE SESSIONS"

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST

• ARGO
• THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
• LES MISERABLES
• LINCOLN
• MOONRISE KINGDOM
• SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (winner)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• DJANGO UNCHAINED (winner)
• FLIGHT
• LOOPER
• THE MASTER
• MOONRISE KINGDOM
• ZERO DARK THIRTY

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• ARGO
• LIFE OF PI
• LINCOLN (winner)
• THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
• SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

• BRAVE
• FRANKENWEENIE
• MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED
• PARANORMAN
• RISE OF THE GUARDIANS
• WRECK-IT RALPH (winner)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

• LES MISERABLES
• LIFE OF PI (winner)
• LINCOLN
• THE MASTER
• SKYFALL

BEST FILM EDITING

• ARGO
• LES MISERABLES
• LIFE OF PI
• LINCOLN
• ZERO DARK THIRTY (winner)

BEST ART DIRECTION

• ANNA KARENINA (winner)
• THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
• LES MISERABLES
• LIFE OF PI
• LINCOLN

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

• ANNA KARENINA (winner)
• CLOUD ATLAS
• THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
• LES MISERABLES
• LINCOLN

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

• THE AVENGERS
• CLOUD ATLAS
• THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
• THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
• LIFE OF PI (winner)

BEST MAKEUP

• CLOUD ATLAS (winner)
• THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
• LES MISERABLES
• LINCOLN

BEST SCORE

• ARGO
• LIFE OF PI
• LINCOLN (winner)
• THE MASTER
• MOONRISE KINGDOM

BEST SONG

• "FOR YOU" -- ACT OF VALOR
• "LEARN ME RIGHT" -- BRAVE
• "SKYFALL" -- SKYFALL (winner)
• "STILL ALIVE" -- PAUL WILLIAMS STILL ALIVE
• "SUDDENLY" -- LES MISERABLES

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

• AMOUR (winner)
• THE INTOUCHABLES
• A ROYAL AFFAIR
• RUST AND BONE

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

• BULLY
• THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE
• THE IMPOSTER
• THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES
• SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN (winner)
• WEST OF MEMPHIS

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS

• ELLE FANNING -- "GINGER & ROSA"
• KARA HAYWARD -- "MOONRISE KINGDOM"
• TOM HOLLAND -- "THE IMPOSSIBLE"
• LOGAN LERMAN -- "THE PARKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER"
• SURAJ SHARMA -- "LIFE OF PI"
• QUVENZHANE WALLIS -- "BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD" (winner)

BEST ACTION MOVIE

• THE AVENGERS
• THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
• LOOPER
• SKYFALL (winner)

BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE

• CHRISTIAN BALE -- "THE DARK KNIGHT RISES"
• DANIEL CRAIG -- "SKYFALL" (winner)
• ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. -- "THE AVENGERS"
• JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT -- "LOOPER"
• JAKE GYLLENHAAL -- "END OF WATCH"

BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE

• EMILY BLUNT -- "LOOPER"
• GINA CARANO -- "HAYWIRE"
• JUDI DENCH -- "SKYFALL"
• ANNE HATHAWAY -- "THE DARK KNIGHT RISES"
• JENNIFER LAWRENCE -- "THE HUNGER GAMES" (winner)

BEST COMEDY FILM

• 21 JUMP STREET
• BERNIE
• SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (winner)
• TED
• THIS IS 40

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

• JACK BLACK -- "BERNIE"
• BRADLEY COOPER -- "SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK" (winner)
• PAUL RUDD -- "THIS IS 40"
• CHANNING TATUM -- "21 JUST STREET"
• MARK WAHLBERG -- "TED"

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

• MILA KUNIS -- "TED"
• JENNIFER LAWRENCE -- "SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK" (winner)
• SHIRLEY MACLAINE -- "BERNIE"
• LESLIE MANN -- "THIS IS 40"
• REBEL WILSON -- "PITCH PERFECT"

BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE

• THE CABIN IN THE WOODS
• LOOPER (winner)
• PROMETHEUS

Here's how the films nominated for Best Picture faired in the nomination race:

LINCOLN -- 13

LES MISERABLES -- 11
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK -- 10

LIFE OF PI -- 9

ARGO -- 7
THE MASTER -- 7 
MOONRISE KINGDOM -- 5
ZERO DARK THIRTY -- 5

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD -- 3

DJANGO UNCHAINED -- 2

2012 Awards -- St. Louis Film Critics nominees/WINNERS

The St. Louis Film Critics have announced their nominees, and their are a few surprises thrown in with mostly the usual suspects. Also, they have several new categories (comedy film, scene, etc...), which always makes it more interesting.

(updated)

And their winners are in, and it's ARGO for the top prize!

BEST PICTURE
Argo
Django Unchained
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Moonrise Kingdom
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST DIRECTOR
Ben Affleck -- "Argo"
Wes Anderson -- "Moonrise Kingdom"
Kathryn Bigelow -- "Zero Dark Thirty"
Ang Lee -- "Life of Pi"
Quentin Tarantino -- "Django Unchained"
Benh Zeitlin -- "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

BEST ACTOR
Bradley Cooper -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
Daniel Day-Lewis -- "Lincoln"
Jamie Foxx -- "Django Unchained"
John Hawkes -- "The Sessions"
Joaquin Phoenix -- "The Master"
Denzel Washington -- "Flight"

BEST ACTRESS
Jessica Chastain -- "Zero Dark Thirty"
Jennifer Lawrence -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
Helen Mirren -- "Hitchcock"
Aubrey Plaza -- "Safety Not Guaranteed"
Quvenzhane Wallis -- "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin -- "Argo"
John Goodman -- "Argo"
Tommy Lee Jones -- "Lincoln"
William H. Macy -- "The Sessions"
Christoph Waltz -- "Django Unchained"
Bruce Willis -- "Moonrise Kingdom"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams -- "The Master"
Ann Dowd -- "Compliance" (tie)
Sally Field -- "Lincoln"
Anne Hathaway -- "Les Miserables"
Helen Hunt -- "The Sessions" (tie)
Emma Watson -- "Perks of Being a Wallflower"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Cabin in the Woods
Django Unchained
Moonrise Kingdom
Seven Psychopaths
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Life of Pi
Lincoln (tie)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Silver Linings Playbook (tie)

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Brave
Frankenweenie
ParaNorman
Rise of the Guardians
Wreck-It Ralph

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Cloud Atlas
Django Unchained
Life of Pi
The Master
Skyfall

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
The Avengers
Cloud Atlas
Life of Pi
Prometheus
Snow White and the Huntsman

BEST MUSIC SCORE/SOUNDTRACK
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Cloud Atlas
The Dark Knight Rises
Django Unchained (tie)
Moonrise Kingdom (tie)
Not Fade Away

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Fairy
Headhunters
Holy Motors
The Intouchables
The Kid with a Bike

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
Bully
How to Survive a Plague
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Searching for Sugar Man

BEST COMEDY
The Cabin in the Woods
Moonrise Kingdom (tie)
Seven Psychopaths
Ted (tie)
Wreck-It Ralph

BEST ARTHOUSE OR FESTIVAL FILM
Bernie
Compliance (tie)
The Fairy
Safety Not Guaranteed (tie)
Sleepwalk with Me
Take This Waltz

BEST SCENE
Beasts of the Southern Wild -- The hurricane (and Wink shooting at it)
Django Unchained -- The "bag head" bag/mask problems scene (tie)
Flight -- The plane crash
Hitchcock -- Anthony Hopkins in lobby conducting to music/audience's reaction during "Psycho" shower scene (tie)
The Impossible -- Opening tsunami scene (tie)
The Master -- The first "processing" questioning scene between Hoffman and Phoenix (tie)

2012 Awards -- AFI Top Ten Films of the Year

The American Film Institute has chosen their Top 10 Films of the Year. This is something they've been doing for about a decade now. In fact, to be exact, this is the 13th year that they've done this. It's actually a decently big deal to be chosen, as the selections are made by a jury process with involved film scholars, producers, actors, critics, and the AFI Broad of trustees. And their selections for the Best Films of 2012 are...

ARGO -- (Ben Affleck)

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD -- (Benh Zeitlin)

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES -- (Christopher Nolan)

DJANGO UNCHAINED -- (Quentin Tarantino)

LES MISERABLES -- (Tom Hooper)

LIFE OF PI -- (Ang Lee)

LINCOLN -- (Steven Spielberg)

MOONRISE KINGDOM -- (Wes Anderson)

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK -- (David O. Russell)

ZERO DARK THIRTY -- (Kathryn Bigelow)

And for those interested, here are their choices for the 10 best television shows as well...

AMERICAN HORROR STORY
BREAKING BAD
GAME CHANGE
GAME OF THRONES
GIRLS
HOMELAND
LOUIE
MAD MEN
MODERN FAMILY
THE WALKING DEAD

2012 Awards -- New York Online Critics

The New York Online Critics announced their winners, and followed suit with the NYCCC and selected Zero Dark Thirty. No big surprises here, although they did choose Chico & Rita for animated, which actually was nominated at last year's Oscars, so that's a bit of a throw-away win. Also noticeable is the Doc win for The Central Park Five, which is a glaring omission from the finalist list at the Oscars this year.

Best Picture:  ZERO DARK THIRTY
Best Director:  KATHRYN BIGELOW -- "ZERO DARK THIRTY"
Best Actor:  DANIEL DAY-LEWIS -- "LINCOLN"
Best Actress:  EMMANUELLE RIVA -- "AMOUR"
Best Supporting Actor:  TOMMY LEE JONES -- "LINCOLN"
Best Supporting Actress:  ANNE HATHAWAY -- "LES MISERABLES"
Best Ensemble Cast:  ARGO
Best Screenplay:  ZERO DARK THIRTY
Best Animated Feature:  CHICO & RITA
Best Cinematography:  LIFE OF PI
Best Use of Music:  DJANGO UNCHAINED
Best Foreign Language Film:  AMOUR
Best Documentary:  THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE
Best Debut Director:  BENH ZEITLIN -- "BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD"
Best Breakthrough Performance:  QUVENZHANE WALLIS -- "BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD"

2012 Awards -- Boston Society of Film Critics

One of top groups in what I refer to as the 2nd-tier of critics, the Boston Film Critics have announced their winners for the year, right on the heels of Los Angeles announcing earlier.

The Boston Online Critics announced previously, and they went with Zero Dark Thirty. Well, the Boston Society has taken a similar path, and another win is chalked up on the board for Bigelow's bin laden film.

Best Film:  ZERO DARK THIRTY
  Runner-up:  Moonrise Kingdom & Amour (tie)

Best Director:  KATHRYN BIGELOW -- "ZERO DARK THIRTY"
  Runner-up:  Paul Thomas Anderson -- "The Master"

Best Actor:  DANIEL DAY-LEWIS -- "LINCOLN"
  Runner-up:  Denis Lavant -- "Holy Motors"

Best Actress:  EMMANUELLE RIVA -- "AMOUR"
  Runner-up:  Deanie Yip -- "A Simple Life"

Best Supporting Actor:  EZRA MILLER -- "PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER"
  Runner-up:  Christoph Waltz -- "Django Unchained"

Best Supporting Actress:  SALLY FIELD -- "LINCOLN"
  Runner-up:  Emma Watson -- "Perks of Being a Wallflower"

Best Screenplay:  LINCOLN
  Runner-up:  Moonrise Kingdom

Best Animated Film:  FRANKENWEENIE
  Runner-up:  ParaNorman

Best Cinematography:  THE MASTER
  Runner-up:  Moonrise Kingdom & Life of Pi (tie)

Best Film Editing:  ZERO DARK THIRTY
  Runner-up:  Argo

Best Use of Music:  MOONRISE KINGDOM
  Runner-up:  Django Unchained

Best Foreign Language Film:  AMOUR
  Runner-up:  Holy Motors

Best Documentary:  HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE
  Runner-up:  Queen of Versailles

Best New Filmmaker:  DAVID FRANCE -- "HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE"
  Runner-up:  Benh Zeitlin -- "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

2012 Awards -- Los Angeles Film Critics Association

The L.A. critics have released their winners. Along with New York and Chicago, they are the most prestigious "critics group" award out there. At least, from a specific city. That said, they are also the film major group to go for something new with their prize, choosing the wonderful French language film Amour as best film of 2012. This film (which is Austria's official submission in the foreign race this year) was also the winner of this year's Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Also heavily awarded is P.T. Anderson's The Master, which was selected in several categories.

Best Film:  AMOUR
  Runner-up:  The Master

Best Director:  PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON -- "THE MASTER"
  Runner-up:  Kathryn Bigelow -- "Zero Dark Thirty"

Best Actor:  JOAQUIN PHOENIX -- "THE MASTER"
  Runner-up:  Denis Lavant -- "Holy Motors"

Best Actress:  EMMANUELLE RIVA -- "AMOUR"  &  JENNIFER LAWRENCE -- "SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK"  (tie)

Best Supporting Actor:  DWIGHT HENRY -- "BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD"
  Runner-up:  Christoph Waltz -- "Django Unchained"

Best Supporting Actress:  AMY ADAMS -- "THE MASTER"
  Runner-up:  Anne Hathway -- "The Dark Knight Rises" & "Les Miserables"

Best Screenplay:  ARGO
  Runner-up:  Silver Linings Playbook

Best Animated Film:  FRANKENWEENIE
  Runner-up:  It's Such a Beautiful Day

Best Cinematography:  SKYFALL
  Runner-up:  The Master

Best Film Editing:  ZERO DARK THIRTY
  Runner-up:  Argo

Best Production Design:  THE MASTER
  Runner-up:  Moonrise Kingdom

Best Score:  BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
  Runner-up:  The Master

Best Foreign Language Film:  HOLY MOTORS
  Runner-up:  Footnote

Best Documentary:  THE GATEKEEPERS
  Runner-up:  Searching for Sugar Man

New Generation Award:  BENH ZEITLIN -- "BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD"

2012 Awards -- Washington DC Film Critics Association

The Washington, DC critics have also announced their nominees for this year. Strong showing from the usual suspects, including Les Miz hitting a few categories where it's been missing otherwise. A few surprises in Actress, and a nod to Javier Bardem for his villainous Skyfall work.

(updated)

They have also announced their winners, and it's another win for Zero Dark Thirty! Also loving the screenplay win for Looper! One of the most overlooked and original films of the year.

BEST PICTURE
Argo
Les Miserables
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST DIRECTOR
Ben Affleck -- "Argo"
Paul Thomas Anderson -- "The Master"
Kathryn Bigelow -- "Zero Dark Thirty"
Tom Hooper -- "Les Miserables"
Steven Spielberg -- "Lincoln"

BEST ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis -- "Lincoln"
John Hawkes -- "The Sessions"
Hugh Jackman -- "Les Miserables"
Joaquin Phoenix -- "The Master"
Denzel Washington -- "Flight"

BEST ACTRESS
Jessica Chastain -- "Zero Dark Thirty"
Marion Cotillard -- "Rust and Bone"
Jennifer Lawrence -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
Helen Mirren -- "Hitchcock"
Emmanuelle Riva -- "Amour"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin -- "Argo"
Javier Bardem -- "Skyfall"
Leonardo DiCaprio -- "Django Unchained"
Philip Seymour Hoffman -- "The Master"
Tommy Lee Jones -- "Lincoln"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams -- "The Master"
Samantha Barks -- "Les Miserables"
Sally Field -- "Lincoln"
Anne Hathaway -- "Les Miserables"
Helen Hunt -- "The Sessions"

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Argo
Les Miserables
Lincoln
Moonrise Kingdom
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Django Unchained
Looper
The Master
Moonrise Kingdom
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Argo
Life of Pi
Lincoln
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Silver Linings Playbook

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Brave
Frankenweenie
ParaNorman
Rise of the Guardians
Wreck-It Ralph

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
The Master
Skyfall
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST ART DIRECTION
Anna Karenina
Cloud Atlas
Les Miserables
Lincoln
Moonrise Kingdom

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Beasts of the Southern Wild
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Lincoln
The Master
Moonrise Kingdom

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Amour
I Wish
The Intouchables
A Royal Affair
Rust and Bone

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Bully
The Imposter
The Invisible War
The Queen of Versailles
Searching for Sugar Man

BEST YOUTH PERFORMANCE
Jared Gilman -- "Moonrise Kingdom"
Kara Hayward -- "Moonrise Kingdom"
Tom Holland -- "The Impossible"
Logan Lerman -- "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
Quvenzhane Wallis -- "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

2012 Awards -- San Diego Film Critics Society

The San Diego critics are always an interesting bunch to watch. In the past they have chosen their winners off the beaten path at times, which makes it more interesting. That variety is shown in several of their nominee choices, in almost every category. I also don't recall them announcing nominees before, but I could easily be mistaken about that. Either way, here are their choices...

(updated)

They have now selected their winners...and it's the first prize of the year for ARGO, taking Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Editing! 

BEST PICTURE
Argo (winner)
Django Unchained
The Master
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST DIRECTOR
Ben Affleck -- "Argo" (winner)
Paul Thomas Anderson -- "The Master"
Kathryn Bigelow -- "Zero Dark Thirty"
Ang Lee -- "Life of Pi"
David O. Russell -- "Silver Linings Playbook"

BEST ACTOR
Bradley Cooper -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
Daniel Day-Lewis -- "Lincoln" (winner)
Hugh Jackman -- "Les Miserables"
Joaquin Phoenix -- "The Master"
John Hawkes -- "The Sessions"

BEST ACTRESS
Helen Hunt -- "The Sessions"
Jennifer Lawrence -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
Jessica Chastain -- "Zero Dark Thirty"
Michelle Williams -- "Take This Waltz" (winner)
Naomi Watts -- "The Impossible"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin -- "Argo"
Philip Seymour Hoffman -- "The Master"
Matthew McConaughey -- "Killer Joe"
Christoph Waltz -- "Django Unchained" (winner)
Christopher Walken -- "Seven Psychopaths"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams -- "The Master"
Samantha Barks -- "Les Miserables"
Anne Hathaway -- "Les Miserables"
Emma Watson -- "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (winner)
Rebel Wilson -- "Pitch Perfect"

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
Argo
Django Unchained
Les Miserables
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (winner)
Seven Psychopaths

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Cabin in the Woods
Django Unchained
The Master (winner)
Moonrise Kingdom
Take This Waltz

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Argo (winner)
Life of Pi
Lincoln
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Silver Linings Playbook

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Brave
Frankenweenie
ParaNorman (winner)
Rise of the Guardians
Wreck-It Ralph

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Miserables
Life of Pi (winner)
The Master

BEST FILM EDITING
Argo (winner)
Killing Them Softly
Life of Pi
The Master
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Anna Karenina
Argo
Cloud Atlas (winner)
Les Miserables
Moonrise Kingdom

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Life of Pi
The Master (winner)
Moonrise Kingdom

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Amour
Headhunters
Holy Motors
The Intouchables
The Kid With a Bike (winner)

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Bully
The Invisible War (winner)
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Queen of Versailles
Samsara

Body of Work for 2012:  Greig Fraser -- Cinematographer -- "Zero Dark Thirty", "Killing Them Softly" & "Snow White and the Huntsman"

Critics Top Tens -- Ann Hornaday, The Huffington Post, Lou Lumenick & Kyle Smith

ANN HORNADAY -- THE WASHINGTON POST

1. ZERO DARK THIRTY
2. Lincoln
3. The Waiting Room
4. Monsieur Lazhar
5. Middle of Nowhere
6. This Is Not a Film
7. Argo
8. Margaret
9. Anna Karenina
10. Amour

HUFFINGTON POST

1. ZERO DARK THIRTY
2. Lincoln
3. Beasts of the Southern Wild
4. Argo
5. Django Unchained
6. Moonrise Kingdom
7. Silver Linings Playbook
8. Skyfall
9. Les Miserables
10. Looper 

LOU LUMENICK -- NEW YORK POST

1. MOONRISE KINGDOM
2. Argo
3. Zero Dark Thirty
4. Beasts of the Southern Wild
5. The Sessions
6. The Dark Knight Rises
7. Amour
8. Looper
9. Frankenweenie
10. Bernie

 KYLE SMITH -- NEW YORK POST

1. LES MISERABLES
2. Magic Mike
3. The Impossible
4. Argo
5. Zero Dark Thirty
6. Ted
7. Flight
8. 21 Jump Street
9. Pitch Perfect
10. The Dark Knight Rises 

2012 Awards -- Boston Online Film Critics

Not to be confused with the Boston Society of Film Critics, this is the Boston ONLINE critics, a new group that was actually formed this last May, according to their website. That said, they also have selected Zero Dark Thirty as the best film of the year, as well as awards for Director and Actress. Here are their inaugural winners...

BEST PICTURE:  Zero Dark Thirty
BEST DIRECTOR:  Kathryn Bigelow -- "Zero Dark Thirty"
BEST ACTOR:  Daniel Day-Lewis -- "Lincoln"
BEST ACTRESS:  Jessica Chastain -- "Zero Dark Thirty"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:  Tommy Lee Jones -- "Lincoln"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:  Anne Hathaway -- "Les Miserables"
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST:  Moonrise Kingdom
BEST SCREENPLAY:  Lincoln
BEST ANIMATED FILM:  ParaNorman
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:  Skyfall
BEST FILM EDITING:  Zero Dark Thirty
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:  The Master
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:  Oslo, August 31st
BEST DOCUMENTARY:  How to Survive a Plague

TOP TEN FILMS

1. ZERO DARK THIRTY
2. Beasts of the Southern Wild
3. Lincoln
4. Moonrise Kingdom
5. Django Unchained
6. Oslo, August 31st
7. Holy Motors
8. The Master
9. Argo
10. Cloud Atlas

Critics Top 10 -- Peter Travers

Always one of the biggest and well-known critics, year after year, is Mr. Peter Travers. Check out your DVD collection and I guarantee you'll see more than a few films with a quote by him. Also, his top tens are usually in the same mind arena that most Oscar voters seem to be. In fact, back in 2010, his top ten list ended up being ALL 10 of the nominees for Best Picture!

PETER TRAVERS -- Rolling Stone

1. THE MASTER
2. Zero Dark Thirty
3. Beasts of the Southern Wild
4. Lincoln
5. Argo
6. Silver Linings Playbook
7. Les Miserables
8. Life of Pi
9. Moonrise Kingdom
10. The Dark Knight Rises

2012 Awards -- National Board of Review

Traditionally the first big award of the year, the National Board of Review announced 2nd this year, after the New York critics. However, they chose the same film for the top prize, giving an even bigger boost to Kathyn Bigelow's Bin Laden film, Zero Dark Thirty. Here are the full winners...

Best Film:  ZERO DARK THIRTY

Best Director:  KATHRYN BIGELOW -- "ZERO DARK THIRTY"

Best Actor:  BRADLEY COOPER -- "SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK"

Best Actress:  JESSICA CHASTAIN -- "ZERO DARK THIRTY"

Best Supporting Actor:  LEONARDO DICAPRIO -- "DJANGO UNCHAINED"

Best Supporting Actress:  ANN DOWD -- "COMPLIANCE"

Best Ensemble Cast:  LES MISERABLES

Best Original Screenplay:  LOOPER

Best Adapted Screenplay:  SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

Best Animated Feature:  WRECK-IT RALPH

Best Foreign Language Film:  AMOUR

Best Documentary:  SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN

Best Directorial Debut:  BENH ZEITLIN -- "BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD"

Breakthrough Actor:  TOM HOLLAND -- "THE IMPOSSIBLE"

Breakthrough Actress:  QUVENZHANE WALLIS -- "BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD"

Special Achievement in Filmmaking:  BEN AFFLECK -- "ARGO"

Spotlight Award:  JOHN GOODMAN -- "ARGO, FLIGHT, PARANORMAN & TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE"

William K Everson Film History Award:  50 YEARS OF BOND FILMS

NBR Freedom of Expression Award:  CENTRAL PARK FIVE
NBR Freedom of Expression Award:  PROMISED LAND

Top 10 Films (# 2-9 in alphabetical order)
ARGO
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
DJANGO UNCHAINED
LES MISERABLES
LINCOLN
LOOPER
THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
PROMISED LAND
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

Top 5 Foreign Language Films (in alphabetical order)
BARBARA
THE INTOUCHABLES
THE KID WITH A BIKE
NO
WAR WITCH

Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order)
AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY
DETROPIA
THE GATEKEEPERS
THE INVISIBLE WAR
ONLY THE YOUNG

Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order)
ARBITRAGE
BERNIE
COMPLIANCE
END OF WATCH
HELLO I MUST BE GOING
LITTLE BIRDS
MOONRISE KINGDOM
ON THE ROAD
QUARTET
SLEEPWALK WITH ME

Critics Top 10s -- Owen Gleiberman and Lisa Schwarzbaum

OWEN GLEIBERMAN -- Entertainment Weekly

1. LINCOLN
2. Amour
3. Silver Linings Playbook
4. Room 237
5. Zero Dark Thirty
6. Perks of Being a Wallflower
7. Killing Them Softly
8. Argo
9. Flight
10. Bernie

LISA SCHWARZBAUM -- Entertainment Weekly

1. ZERO DARK THIRTY
2. Lincoln
3. The Master
4. Amour
5. Argo
6. The Gatekeepers
7. Beasts of the Southern Wild
8. Skyfall
9. The Loneliest Planet
10. How to Survive a Plague 

Critics Top 10s -- David Edelstein and Richard Corliss

I decided to post some prominent critic Top Ten Lists this year as well, something I don't think I've done in the past. It surely won't be everyone, but prominent critics that I notice I will try to post. Here's the first 2.

DAVID EDELSTEIN -- New York Magazine

1. ZERO DARK THIRTY
2. Lincoln
3. Amour
4. The Gatekeepers
5. The Deep Blue Sea
6. Life of Pi
7. How to Survive a Plague & Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (tie)
8. Pitch Perfect
9. Oslo, August 31st
10. Friends With Kids

RICHARD CORLISS -- Time Magazine

1. AMOUR
2. Beasts of the Southern Wild
3. Life of Pi
4. Anna Karenina
5. The Dark Knight Rises
6. Zero Dark Thirty
7. Dark Horse
8. Dragon
9. Frankenweenie
10. Invisible War  

2012 Awards -- Golden Satellite nominations/WINNERS

The Satellites are presented by the IPA (International Press Academy), a group of journalists compromising of both foreign and domestic writers. For some reason, I always enjoy these nominees, because many times the IPA goes with choices that few or no other groups do. Always fun to mix it up a bit, but don't take these choices too seriously. That's always been my thoughts with the IPA. And their nominees are...

(updated)

And now the IPA have announced their winners, and it's a sweep for Silver Linings Playbook!!! It took home 5 awards...Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Film Editing!

BEST PICTURE
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Moonrise Kingdom
The Sessions
Silver Linings Playbook
Skyfall
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST DIRECTOR
Ben Affleck -- "Argo"
Kathryn Bigelow -- "Zero Dark Thirty"
Kim Ki-Duk -- "Pieta"
Ben Lewin -- "The Sessions"
David O. Russell -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
Steven Spielberg -- "Lincoln"

BEST ACTOR
Bradley Cooper -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
Daniel Day-Lewis -- "Lincoln"
John Hawkes -- "The Sessions"
Hugh Jackman -- "Les Miserables"
Joaquin Phoenix -- "The Master"
Omar Sy -- "The Intouchables" 
Denzel Washington -- "Flight"

BEST ACTRESS
Laura Birn -- "Purge"
Jessica Chastain -- "Zero Dark Thirty"
Emilie Dequenne -- "Our Children"
Keira Knightley -- "Anna Karenina"
Jennifer Lawrence -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
Emmanuelle Riva -- "Amour"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem -- "Skyfall"
Robert De Niro -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
John Goodman -- "Flight"
Philip Seymour Hoffman -- "The Master"
Tommy Lee Jones -- "Lincoln"
Eddie Redmayne -- "Les Miserables"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams -- "The Master"
Samantha Barks -- "Les Miserables"
Judi Dench -- "Skyfall"
Helene Florent -- "Cafe De Flore"
Anne Hathaway -- "Les Miserables"
Helen Hunt -- "The Sessions"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Flight
The Intouchables
The Master
Moonrise Kingdom
Pieta
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Anna Karenina
Argo
Life of Pi
Lincoln
The Sessions
Silver Linings Playbook

BEST ANIMATED OR MIXED MEDIA FILM
Brave
Frankenweenie
Ice Age: Continental Drift
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
ParaNorman
Rise of the Guardians
Wreck-It Ralph

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Anna Karenina
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Life of Pi
Lincoln
The Master
Skyfall

BEST FILM EDITING
Cloud Atlas
Flight
Les Miserables
The Sessions
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION DESIGN
Anna Karenina
The Dark Knight Rises
Les Miserables
Lincoln
The Master
A Royal Affair

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Anna Karenina
Cloud Atlas
Les Miserables
My Queen
A Royal Affair
Snow White and the Huntsman

BEST SOUND (Mixing & Editing)
Flight
Kon-Tiki
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Prometheus
Snow White and the Huntsman 


BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Cloud Atlas
The Dark Knight Rises
Flight
Life of Pi
Prometheus
Skyfall

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Anna Karenina
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Lincoln
The Master
Skyfall 

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Fire in the Blood/Snake Song" -- Lawless
"Learn Me Right" -- Brave
"Love Always Comes as a Surprise" -- Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
"Skyfall" -- Skyfall
"Still Alive" -- Paul Williams: Still Alive
"Suddenly" -- Les Miserables

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
Amour -- Austria
Beyond the Hills -- Romania
Caesar Must Die -- Italy
The Intouchables -- France (tie)
Kon-Tiki -- Norway
Our Children -- Belgium
Pieta -- South Korea (tie)
A Royal Affair -- Denmark
War Witch -- Canada

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
The Central Park Five
Chasing Ice
The Gatekeepers
Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present
The Pruitt-Igoe Myth
Searching for Sugar Man
West of Memphis