The New York Critics Film Circle has named Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” the best film of 2023.
Scorsese’s great American story bested fierce competition from Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and Celine Song’s “Past Lives.” Nolan ended up winning Best Director, while Song won Best First Film.
‘Killers’ now gets some much-needed momentum headed into the Oscar race. This win is a big deal as many pundits have been predicting “Oppenheimer” to win Best Picture. Of note, the supposed #3 in the Best Picture race, Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things,” didn’t win a single award.
A wonderful surprise came early in the voting when Franz Rogowski won Best Actor for his work in “Passages.” Rogowski’s performance was not predicted to be part of this year’s awards season, but New York didn’t seem to get the memo, and all the better for it.
Lilly Gladstone won Best Actress for “Killers of the Flower Moon.” As great as Gladstone’ performance was in ‘Killers’, I don’t believe it was a lead role, but Apple has been adamant in campaigning her as a lead instead of supporting. It worked with NYFCC, but will it also make her an Oscar winner?
Supporting Actress went to Da’Vine Joy Randolph for her performance in “The Holdovers.” Charles Melton won Supporting Actor for “May December.” Both well-merited.
The other two major year-end critics groups, the Los Angeles Film Critics Circle and the National Board of Review, will announce their year-end winners on Sunday, December 10, and Wednesday, December 6, respectively.
The winners …
Best Film: Killers of the Flower Moon
Best Director: Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer)
Best Actress: Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon)
Best Actor: Franz Rogowski (Passages)
Screenplay: May December
International Film: Anatomy of a Fall
Animated Film: The Boy and the Heron
First Film: Past Lives
Supporting Actor: Charles Melton (May December)
Cinematography: Oppenheimer
Non-Fiction Film: Menus-Plaisirs — Les Troisgros
Supporting Actress: Da'Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers)