A whole lot of critics’ groups announced their picks for the best films and performances of the year today and the New York Film Critics are voting as I type.  I’m on lunch from work right now so a full list will have to wait until later tonight.  For now, I’m just going to share the choices made by the Los Angeles Film Critics.  The L.A. Critics are one of the big three as far as critics groups are concerned. 

As I’ve said before, I think professional film critics are overrated but I just love awards.  And, of course, all of these December awards tend to serve as a precursor for who and what will receive Oscar nominations next year.  At their best, these groups can remind Academy voters of films and performances that they might otherwise overlook.  Certainly, if Jacki Weaver receives a deserved nomination for Animal Kingdom, it’ll be largely due to organizations like the National Board of Review and the L.A. Film Critics.

Anyway, since my time is limited, I’m going to simply post the winners and then add a few comments on my own.

PICTURE:

• “The Social Network”
• Runner-up: “Carlos”

DIRECTOR:

• Olivier Assayas, “Carlos,” and David Fincher, “The Social Network” (tie)

ACTOR:

• Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”
• Runner-up: Edgar Ramirez, “Carlos”

ACTRESS:

• Kim Hye-ja, “Mother”
• Runner-up:  Jennifer Lawrence, “Winter’s Bone”

SUPPORTING ACTOR:

• Niels Arestrup, “A Prophet”
• Runner-up: Geoffrey Rush, “The King’s Speech”

SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

• Jacki Weaver, “Animal Kingdom”
• Runner-up: Olivia Williams, “The Ghost Writer”

SCREENPLAY:

• Aaron Sorkin, “The Social Network”
• Runner-up: David Seidler, “The King’s Speech”

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:

• “Carlos”
• Runner-up: “Mother”

ANIMATION:

• “Toy Story 3″
• Runner-up: “The Illusionist”

DOCUMENTARY / NON-FICTION FILM:

• “Last Train Home”
• Runner-up: “Exit Through the Gift Shop”

CINEMATOGRAPHY:

• Matthew Libatique, “Black Swan”
• Runner-up: Roger Deakins, “True Grit”

MUSIC/SCORE:

• Alexandre Desplat, “The Ghost Writer,” and  Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “The Social Network” (tie)

PRODUCTION DESIGN:

• Guy Hendrix Dyas, “Inception”
• Runner-up: Eve Stewart, “The King’s Speech”

NEW GENERATION:

• Lena Dunham, “Tiny Furniture”

DOUGLAS E. EDWARDS INDEPENDENT/EXPERIMENTAL FILM/VIDEO:

• “Film Socialism”

LEGACY OF CINEMA AWARDS:

• Serge Bromberg, “Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno,” and the F.W. Murnau Foundation and Fernando Pena for the restoration of “Metropolis”

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT:

• Paul Mazursky

The main news here, I guess, is just how well foreign language films did in the voting.  I haven’t seen Carlos and seeing as how I’m basically in fly-over country, I doubt I’ll get a chance to see it before the Oscar nominations are announced.  I do have Mother on DVD and I’m going to watch it sometime before the start of the new year.  It’s also nice to see some attention being given to A Prophet.

Obviously, I’m disappointed not to see more love for Black Swan but I guess it’s to be expected as Black Swan is one of those films that people either love madly or hate with a passion.  I think that’s why The Social Network will win big at the Oscars this year.  It’s well-made and offensive only if you’re 1) female or 2) Mark Zuckerberg.