Awards Season Begins Monday

The New York Film Critics Circle will announce their 2012 favorites on Monday. As one of the most influential critics’ groups in the United States, the New York critics’ choices have often been a harbinger of things to come at the Academy Awards and at other awards season announcements.

Gold Derby’s Tom O'Neil in a piece titled Experts predict 'Zero Dark Thirty' will win New York Film Critics Circle writes “Only a few of our experts are predicting winners of the New York Film Critics Circle, but we have a shrewd sampling of opinions. Looks like "Zero Dark Thirty" is out front to win Best Picture when victors are unveiled on Monday.”

The published reviews of Zero Dark Thirty continue to be positive and full of praise. Here are a few more that I liked.

Roger Friedman at Showbiz 411 discussed Oscar Buzz: What the Voters, Not the Prognosticators, Are Saying.

In the article, he said, “I have my own supporting favorites this year: Jennifer Ehle in “Zero Dark Thirty.” Scoot McNairy in “Killing them Softly.” Nicole Kidman in “The Paperboy.” Amy Adams in “The Master.”

There is a thoughtful review at Scott Mendelson’s blog. He says “The rest of the CIA crew are represented by the likes of Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Ehle, and James Gandolfini. All of these people are presented merely as dedicated professionals and none of them are lionized nor villainized.”  And also notes, “This is a story of professionals doing their jobs, plain and simple.”

A review by Jeffrey Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere is another one to read.  He wrote, “It may not warm the cockles of your heart, but for me Zero Dark Thirty is Bigelow's masterpiece. And big cheers in particular for Boal's screenplay, which nails right through and hones it all down, scene after scene after scene.”

Edward Douglas’s review tells us “Every so often, the film leaves Maya to follow another operative on their side-mission like Jennifer Ehle or Edgar Ramirez” and he praises “an eclectic and talented ensemble cast”, saying, “The impressive array of actors really delivers on Boal's script as they come in and out of the story.”

David Edelsteins’s List of Top 10 Movies of 2012 has Zero Dark Thirty at number one.  He said, “Kathryn Bigelow’s thriller is mercilessly gripping.” And that “This is a phenomenal piece of action filmmaking—and an even better piece of nonaction filmmaking.”

By Clayton Davis at Awards Circuit we're told, “Zero Dark Thirty is one of the best cast ensembles this year.”  and that director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal “display an impressive amount of control in the way the film is told and showcases some brilliant moments in filmmaking.  Zero Dark Thirty hooks you from minute one and just DOESN’T. LET. GO.  It’s one of the best pictures of the year!”