L.A., Boston film critics name "Spotlight" year's best
"Spotlight," the true story of the Boston Globe's team of investigative reporters who uncovered the scandal of child abuse within the Catholic Church, was named Best Film of 2015 by both the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the Boston Society of Film Critics.
Both critics' groups announced their year-end awards Sunday.
Critics on both coasts named "Amy," the despairing story of the tragic life and death of singer Amy Winehouse, as Best Documentary.
Los Angeles Critics
The L.A. critics named George Miller Best Director for the post-apocalyptic thriller, "Mad Max: Fury Road."
Michael Fassbender was named Best Actor for his performance as the founder of Apple in "Steve Jobs," while Charlotte Rampling won Best Actress as a woman marking her 45th wedding anniversary in "45 Years."
Alicia Vikander, as an experimental model of artificial intelligence in "Ex Machina," was named Best Supporting Actress. Michael Shannon, as an unscrupulous real estate magnate in "99 Homes," won Best Supporting Actor.
The Hungarian film "Son of Saul," László Nemes' devastating tale of a Jewish Sonderkommando working as a cog in the death machinery at Auschwitz, won the Best Foreign Language Film Award.
The LAFCA also announced runners-up in their voting, which are listed below.
2015 LAFCA Awards:
Best Picture: "Spotlight"
Runner-up: "Mad Max: Fury Road"
Best Actor: Michael Fassbender, "Steve Jobs"
Runner-up: Géza Röhrig, "Son of Saul"
Best Actress: Charlotte Rampling, "45 Years"
Runner-up: Saoirse Ronan, "Brooklyn"
Best Supporting Actor: Michael Shannon, "99 Homes"
Runner-up: Mark Rylance, "Bridge of Spies"
Best Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander, "Ex Machina"
Runner-up: Kristen Stewart, "Clouds of Sils Maria"
Best Director: George Miller, "Mad Max: Fury Road"
Runner-up: Todd Haynes, "Carol"
Best Screenplay: Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy, "Spotlight"
Runner-up: Charlie Kaufman, "Anomalisa"
Best Cinematography: John Seale, "Mad Max: Fury Road"
Runner-up: Edward Lachman, "Carol"
Best Foreign Film: "Son of Saul" (Hungary)
Runner-up: "The Tribe" (Ukraine)
Best Documentary: "Amy"
Runner-up: "The Look of Silence"
Best Animation: "Anomalisa"
Runner-up: "Inside Out"
Best Production Design: Colin Gibson, "Mad Max: Fury Road"
Runner-up: Judy Becker, "Carol"
Best Editing: Hank Corwin, "The Big Short"
Runner-up: Margaret Sixel, "Mad Max: Fury Road"
Best Music Score: Carter Burwell, "Anomalisa" and "Carol"
Runner-up: Ennio Morricone, "The Hateful Eight"
New Generation Prize: Director Ryan Coogler, "Creed"
Career Achievement Award (previously announced): Editor Anne V. Coates
This year's awards banquet will be dedicated to filmmaker Chantal Akerman.
Boston Critics
On Sunday, the Boston Society of Film Critics awarded its top prize to "Spotlight," while "Mad Max: Fury Road" was their runner-up.
Paul Dano, who played the younger version of the Brach Boys' Brian Wilson in the biopic "Love & Mercy," tied for Best Actor with Leonardo DiCaprio for "The Revenant." Charlotte Rampling won Best Actress for "45 Years." Supporting nods went to Mark Rylance in "Bridge of Spies," and Kristen Stewart for "Clouds of Sils Maria."
2015 Boston Society of Film Critics picks:
Best Picture: "Spotlight"
Runner-up: "Mad Max: Fury Road"
Best Actor (tie): Paul Dano for "Love & Mercy," and Leonardo DiCaprio for "The Revenant"
Best Actress: Charlotte Rampling for "45 Years"
Best Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance for "Bridge of Spies"
Best Supporting Actress: Kristen Stewart for "Clouds of Sils Maria"
Best Director: Todd Haynes for "Carol"
Runner-up: Tom McCarthy for "Spotlight"
Best Screenplay: Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer for "Spotlight "
Best Cinematography: Edward Lachman for "Carol"
Best Documentary: "Amy"
Best Foreign-Language Film: "The Look of Silence"
Runner-up: "White God"
Best Animated Film (tie): "Anomalisa" and "Inside Out"
Best Film Editing: Margaret Sixel for "Mad Max: Fury Road"
Best New Filmmaker: Marielle Heller for "Diary of a Teenage Girl"
Best Ensemble Cast: "Spotlight"
Best Use of Music in a Film: "Love & Mercy"
Also in Boston on Saturday, "Mad Max: Fury Road" took the majority of prizes from the Boston Online Film Critics Association, including Best Picture, Best Director (George Miller), Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Original Score.
Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for "Creed," with Sylvester Stallone winning Best Supporting Actor. Saoirse Ronan was named Best Actress for "Brooklyn," while Kristen Stewart received Best Supporting Actress honors for "Clouds of Sils Maria."
"Spotlight" received awards for Best Ensemble and Best Screenplay. "Son of Saul" was named Best Foreign Language Film. "Amy" nabbed Best Documentary, while "Inside Out" won Best Animated Film.