The Edge of the Frame

Yes, it’s true that even more critics groups have laid out their winners today. Not a lot of patience in among my peers, as of late. Once again, the St. Louis and San Diego Film Critics groups have decided to first issue lists of nominations prior to their OFFICIAL announcements. Therefore, I will not be posting their decisions  yet. Their nominees will be posted here along with the winners, but I’m not dedicating two posts for each of their deliberations.

This is getting kind of ridiculous. As much as film critics like myself would love to vote in the Oscars, we don’t get that chance. Some critics groups don’t seem to understand that and so they try to make their own little Oscar ceremony. There is no need for the St. Louis Film Critics (to name one of many) to have nominees, followed by a special announcement of their winners. Forgive me, and I don’t mean to burn bridges here, but you’re really not that special. Groups like LA and NY have it correct. A simple winner and runner-up is fine. It’s classy, it’s efficient and it’s professional; the way it should be.

Anyway, here are the winners of the African American Film Critics Association. Some real originality here, if I do say so. Woody Harrelson for Best Actor is a truly inspired choice. I can’t wait to get a glimpse of his performance, myself.

Official winners:

BEST PICTURE: “The Tree of Life”

TOP TEN:
1. “The Tree of Life”
2. “Drive”
3. “Pariah”
4. “Rampart”
5. “Shame”
6. “Moneyball”
7. “The Descendants”
8. “A Better Life”
9. “My Week With Marilyn”
10. “The Help”

BEST DIRECTOR: Steve McQueen – “Shame”

BEST ACTOR: Woody Harrelson – “Rampart”

BEST ACTRESS: Viola Davis – “The Help”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Octavia Spencer – “The Help”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Albert Brooks – “Drive”

BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE: Adepero Oduye – “Pariah”

BEST DOCUMENTARY: “The Black Power Mixtape”

BEST SCREENPLAY: “I Will Follow”

BEST FOREIGN FILM: “Kinyarwanda”

BEST SONG: “The Show” from “Moneyball.”

BEST INDEPENDENT FILM: “Pariah”

LEGACY AWARD: Richard Roundtree

HORIZON AWARD: Hattie Winston

CINEMA VANGUARD AWARD: George Lucas

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Sony Pictures Entertainment