The Boston film critics have spoken! After our shortest gathering in years– 5 1/2  hours–the votes are in!  ANORA, which won the big prize at the Cannes Film Festival, the Palme d’Or, has won four awards from the Boston Society of Film Critics including top prize for Best Picture  (the “Elm d’Or” for the Mass state tree?) The film stars the spectacular Mikey Madison (Better Things) who also won for Best Actress in the titular role–  as a Brooklyn sex worker, sweet and lovely beneath the bravado who takes a chance on love and suddenly marries the fabulously wealthy son of a Russian Oligarch. When his family finds out, an advance team of gun-toting but less than ruthless thugs descends on the couple to help get the marriage promptly annulled. Trailer HERE!

Sean Baker named Best Director guides this brilliant ensemble in a non-stop physical comedy of manners to an explosively tender conclusion. Its Best Original Screenplay satirizes the increasingly transactional nature of modern life and the soul-crushing price it exacts.  It’s one long frantic chase, cracking to a profoundly satisfying conclusion which almost broke my heart.

Timothee Chalamet was named Best Actor for his compelling portrayal of the mercurial musical icon, poet, Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan in A COMPLETE UNKNOWN due out Christmas. But you won’t have to wait that long for my review which is due out Tuesday December 10! The movie also earned Edward Norton the Best Supporting Actor award as folkie/activist Pete Seeger.

Best Supporting Actress went to Danielle Deadwyler (TILL) for her role in THE PIANO LESSON adapted from August Wilson’s 1987 play set in in depression-era Pittsburg about a family’s heirloom piano which resonates with the legacy of slavery.

Also winning two awards is THE BRUTALIST about a Jewish Hungarian architect trying to make his way in America post World War II. Best Cinematography went to Lol Crawley and Daniel Blumberg won for Best Original Score. 

See the complete list of 45th Annual BOSTON SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS AWARDS  and COMMENDATIONS 2024 below:

Best Film – “Anora”

Best Actor – Timothée Chalamet, “A Complete Unknown”

Best Actress – Mikey Madison, “Anora”

Best Supporting Actor – Edward Norton, “A Complete Unknown”

Best Supporting Actress – Danielle Deadwyler, “The Piano Lesson”

Best Director – Sean Baker, “Anora”

Best Original Screenplay – Sean Baker, “Anora”

Best Adapted Screenplay – RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes, “Nickel Boys”

Best Cinematography – Lol Crawley “The Brutalist”

Best Documentary (awarded in memory of Lucia Small) – “No Other Land”

Best Animated Film – “Flow”

Best Film Editing (awarded in memory of Karen Schmeer) – Marco Costa, “Challengers”

Best New Filmmaker (awarded in memory of David Brudnoy) – Annie Baker, “Janet Planet”

Best Ensemble Cast – “Sing Sing”

Best Original Score – Daniel Blumberg, “The Brutalist”

Best Non-English Language Film – “Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World”