I’m really proud to see that The Florida Film Critics Circle really went against trends in their choices for the best of cinema in 2019. Most impressive was the nice representation for what I think is this year’s masterpiece in cinema: Portrait of a Lady on Fire. It won in some of the most prestigious categories: Best Picture and Best Director for Céline Sciamma. Her film will most likely end up as my favorite of the year. I’ll share that list before year’s end. For now on to a few thoughts on the FFCC picks, an organization I am currently serving as chairperson.
I truly thought the year’s most amazing acting performance belonged to Florence Pugh in Midsommar (A Midsommar beyond horror), so at least she was recognized as the Breakout award of the year. It was Marriage Story, the excellent new film by Noah Baumbach, that nearly swept all acting categories. Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Laura Dern, all won awards for their performances in the movie.
It was nice to see the love then spread out among some great films still to see release in theaters, including Little Women (Best Adapted Screenplay), 1917 (Best Cinematography) and Uncut Gems (Best Score). Some other major surprises included well-earned credit for Queen & Slim, a movie I caught up with only a little while ago and features incredible camera work and performances.
Here’s the full list of winners. I’ve added an star by the one I voted for. They all appeared as either winners or runners up, so no complaints from me this year.
Best Picture
Portrait of a Lady on Fire*
Runner up: 1917
Best Actor
Adam Driver, Marriage Story
Runner up: Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory*
Best Actress
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Runner up: Florence Pugh, Midsommar*
Best Supporting Actor
Joe Pesci, The Irishman*
Runner up: John Lithgow, Bombshell
Best Supporting Actress
Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Runners up: Margot Robbie, Bombshell and Isla Fisher, The Beach Bum*
Best Ensemble
Little Women*
Runner up: The Farewell
Best Director
Céline Sciamma, Portrait of a Lady on Fire*
Runner up: Sam Mendes, 1917
Best Original Screenplay
Ronald Bronstein, Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie, Uncut Gems*
Runner up: Lulu Wang, The Farewell
Best Adapted Screenplay
Greta Gerwig, Little Women*
Runner up: Steven Zaillian, The Irishman
Best Cinematography
Roger Deakins, 1917
Runner up: Claire Mathon, Portrait of a Lady on Fire*
Best Visual Effects
Alita: Battle Angel*
Runners up: Ad Astra and Avengers: Endgame
Best Art Direction/Production Design
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Ad Astra*
Best Score
Daniel Lopatin, Uncut Gems*
Runner up: No clear runner up
Best Documentary
Apollo 11
Runner up: Honeyland*
Best Foreign Language Film
Portrait of a Lady on Fire*
Runner up: Parasite
Best Animated Film
I Lost My Body*
Runner up: Toy Story 4
Best First Film
Queen & Slim*
Runner up: Honeyland
Pauline Kael Breakout Award
Florence Pugh, Midsommar, Fighting With My Family and Little Women*
Runner up: Lulu Wang, The Farewell
Jay Boyar Golden Orange Award
Tampa Theatre*
For the full press release regarding the winners and runners up, check out the FFCC’s website, but jumping through this link.
