American Hustle wins big at the NYFCC

Though it hasn't even been released yet, David O'Russell's "American Hustle" won Best Picture, Supporting Actress, and Screenplay in the first round of critics awards of the season. See the complete list of winners (with commentary from yours truly) below:


Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary): Stories We Tell (dir. Sarah Polley)

Best First Film: Fruitvale Station (dir. Ryan Coogler)

• After last night's Gotham's and this win, one thing is for certain: Fruitvale Station is still in the race. Just how much in the race is it is the only question left, one that will be answered surely later in the season.

Best Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel, Inside Llewyn Davis

Best Screenplay: Eric Warren Singer and David O'Russell, American Hustle

• Honestly thought they would've gone with something like Frances Ha or Inside Llewyn Davis, but this brings American Hustle into the race in a big way; don't discount it if it keeps winning awards.

Best Animated Film: The Wind Rises (dir. Hayao Miyazaki)  (runners-up: Frozen and Monsters University)

• In an otherwise weak year for animated films, this looks as if it could end up being Frozen's biggest competitor.

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club (runners-up: Michael Fassbender [12 Years A Slave] and James Franco [Spring Breakers]

• The first of many awards certainly to come for Leto no doubt. I feel like he's the frontrunner of this weak and un-solid category. There's a lot of love for this performance. 

Best Foreign Language Film: Blue is the Warmest Color (runners-up: The Past and The Great Beauty)

• The Cannes win coupled with this prestigious honor should keep its Oscar hopes alive. 

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle (runners-up: Lupita Nyong'o [12 Years A Slave] and June Squibb [Nebraksa]

• This comes as a bit of a surprise, I wasn't expecting the level of support for this performance considering the early version of the screenplay suggests it is a small part. However, it seems the same formula that propelled Lawrence to Oscar glory last year (Hunger Games box office+acclaimed role) could work here again. Can she steal it away from Nyong'o and Oprah? It's starting to seem like more of a possibility. This coupled with the screenplay award suggests a lot of love for American Hustle. 

Best Director: Steve McQueen, 12 Years A Slave (runners-up: Alfonso Cuaron [Gravity], David O'Russell [American Hustle] and Spike Jonze [Her]

• The only win for 12 Years thus far in the season outside of its award at Toronto. I think it's his to lose, and well deserved.  

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine (runners-up: Amy Adams [American Hustle] and Adele Exarchopoulos [Blue is the Warmest Color]

• Not a surprise in the slightest. I feel like this will be the starting point to her march to Oscar. 

Best Actor: Robert Redford, All is Lost (runners-up: Chiewetel Ejiofor [12 Years A Slave] and Oscar Isaac [Inside Llewyn Davis]

• Let's be honest, as heralded as Redford is in Hollywood, and as acclaimed as the performance is, he really needed this. The work is internalized, and near silent; it's not flashy or traditional by any means. This award will put a spotlight on what could've been an overlooked performance.

Best Picture: American Hustle (runners-up: 12 Years A Slave, Gravity and Her)

• I'm surprised (given the stature of 12 Years' and Gravity's acclaim) and then I'm not surprised (the screenplay and supporting actress wins were very telling). I can't comment much due to the fact that it hasn't even opened to the public yet, but all I will say is that it seems as if we have a late entry spoiler to shake up the race.