‘Mad Max’, ‘Fargo’ lead noms – Critics’ Choice Awards to be hosted by Miller

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LOS ANGELES, Dec 15, (RTRS): The 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards announced nominations for the combined 2016 ceremony on Monday and Warner Bros’ “Mad Max: Fury Road” paced the film race with 13 nominations, while FX’s “Fargo” led TV series noms with eight.

Weinstein Co’s “Carol,” and two big Fox pics, “The Martian” and “The Revenant,” scored nine noms apiece in voting by the Broadcast Film Critics Assn.

Open Road’s “Spotlight” tallied eight; Paramount’s “The Big Short,” seven; TWC’s “The Hateful Eight,” six; Disney-DreamWorks’ “Bridge of Spies,” Fox Searchlight’s “Brooklyn,” Focus Features’ “The Danish Girl,” Universal’s “Jurassic World,” and Lionsgate’s “Sicario” each earned five; and A24’s “Room” nabbed four.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association is returning to the Critics’ Choice name after splitting the awards into two ceremonies in 2010, and adding movie and TV to the shows’ titles.

Especially in an unpredictable year, pre-Oscar awards are watched closely. However, comparisons between Oscar and the Critics’ Choice are limited, since the categories differ so much. For example, “Mad Max” is up for best picture, but also nominated for best action movie and best sci-fi/horror film.

However, in the all-important best-picture race, the Critics’ Choice winners are watched more carefully than the nominations, since they have been the same in 11 of the past 15 years.

Buildup

Because the awards are part of a buildup to the Academy Awards, films get disproportionate attention. But the TV races are just as jam-packed with interesting contenders. ABC, HBO and FX Networks led with 14 nominations apiece, followed by Fox with 12. Topping the list of nominated series is “Fargo” (FX) with eight. “The Leftovers” (HBO) and “Transparent” (Amazon) earned six each; “The Wiz Live!” (NBC), five; and “Black-ish” (ABC), “Mr. Robot” (USA) and “Penny Dreadful” (Showtime) have four apiece.

Previously, TV awards were handed out in June. Because of the new combined format, only television shows airing primarily within the seven months from June 1 to Dec 31 were eligible for nomination.

Nominations

Movie

*Best Picture: The Big Short; Bridge of Spies; Brooklyn; Carol; Mad Max: Fury Road; The Martian; The Revenant; Room; Sicario; Spotlight.

* Actor: Bryan Cranston — Trumbo; Matt Damon — The Martian; Johnny Depp — Black Mass; Leonardo DiCaprio — The Revenant; Michael Fassbender — Steve Jobs; Eddie Redmayne — The Danish Girl.

* Actress: Cate Blanchett — Carol; Brie Larson — Room; Jennifer Lawrence — Joy; Charlotte Rampling — 45 Years; Saoirse Ronan — Brooklyn; Charlize Theron — Mad Max: Fury Road.

* Supporting Actor: Paul Dano — Love & Mercy; Tom Hardy — The Revenant; Mark Ruffalo — Spotlight; Mark Rylance — Bridge of Spies; Michael Shannon — 99 Homes; Sylvester Stallone — Creed.

* Supporting Actress: Jennifer Jason Leigh — The Hateful Eight; Rooney Mara — Carol; Rachel McAdams — Spotlight; Helen Mirren — Trumbo; Alicia Vikander — The Danish Girl; Kate Winslet — Steve Jobs.

* Young Actor/Actress: Abraham Attah — Beasts of No Nation; RJ Cyler — Me and Earl and the Dying Girl; Shameik Moore — Dope; Milo Parker — Mr. Holmes; Jacob Tremblay — Room.

* Acting Ensemble: The Big Short; The Hateful Eight; Spotlight; Straight Outta Compton; Trumbo.

* Director: Todd Haynes — Carol; Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu — The Revenant; Tom McCarthy — Spotlight; George Miller — Mad Max: Fury Road; Ridley Scott — The Martian; Steven Spielberg — Bridge of Spies.

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