Unlike NBR, whose choices usually relate to how Academy voters think, the NY Film Critics Circle tends to fly in its own rarefied high orbit.
This time around it delivered a mix of eclectic & mainstream winners — but, as they say on the Oscar front, anything’s possible. Janus Films’ drama DRIVE MY CAR, which won, is Japan’s official entry in Oscar’s international feature race. It’s not the first film that comes to mind to win the best picture — but, of course, neither was PARASITE!
Last year’s big NYFCC winner was the western drama FIRST COW. The Oscar went to NOMADLAND, whose director, Chloe Zhao, won NYFCC’s directing prize and then took home the Oscar. This year’s directing champion is Jane Campion for Netflix’s romantic western drama THE POWER OF THE DOG. In 1994, Campion won the original screenplay Oscar for THE PIANO, for which she also had a directing nod. She now has a solid Oscar shot for picture & directing.
Other NYFCC winners with strong prospects: lead actress Lady Gaga (pictured with Adam Driver) for MGM/UAR/BRON’s HOUSE OF GUCCI, lead actor Benedict Cumberbatch for DOG & cinematographer Janusz Kaminski for Disney/20th’s WEST SIDE STORY.