Which awards groups gave the smartest, artiest, sexiest insights into film this year? The Alliance of Women Film Journalists and the Women Film Critics Circle.
Most critics' lists resemble the fanboy arguments over the Top 5 Best Side One Track Ones in High Fidelity. But two groups of famous women critics have a sense of humor and provide an infinitely better snapshot of the year in cinema. I don't know if either has clout with the Academy, but everybody should read and heed both.
Who else has better addressed the Black Swan problem? Revered and reviled, more macho than The Wrestler, offensive or inspiring, it's tough to pin down on a standard list. But the Alliance of Women Film Journalists EDA Awards noms cover its contradictions with wit and panache. First, it's on this hard-to-argue-with list:
Best Depiction of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction:
Black Swan
Blue Valentine
I Am Love
The Kids Are All Right
Its kinkily kinetic esthetic impact is captured in nominations for best film, director, original screenplay, actress, editing, cinematography, bravest performance (Natalie Portman), unforgettable moment (when she sprouts wings in her last dance), and another category I wish the Academy would add:
Most Beautiful Film:
Black Swan
I Am Love
Inception
Never Let Me Go
True Grit
This has been a weird year for movies eliciting mixed responses, and Black Swan probably has an inverse bell curve of responses, dominated by lovers and haters. So they came up with this invaluable list:
Movies You Wanted to Love But Just Couldn't:
Black Swan
Conviction
For Colored Girls
Inception
The Social Network
Waiting for Superman
The Women's Film Critics Circle has less mixed feelings about Black Swan -- they gave it the Worst Female Images in a Movie Award.
Best Female Images: Conviction
Best Male Images: Another Year, tied with The King's Speech
Best Equality of the Sexes: Another Year, tied with Fair Game
Sick of hearing about The Social Network? Try the AWFJ's Sexist Pig Awards:
Michael Bay
Mel Gibson
Michael Patrick King
Michael Winterbottom
Mark Zuckerberg (the character in The Social Network, not to be confused with the real, long-term-commitment-type guy).
Women directors are almost as anonymous as animation directors, so check out these two lists:
Best Woman Director:
Andrea Arnold: Fish Tank
Lisa Cholodenko: The Kids Are All Right
Sofia Coppola: Somewhere
Debra Granik: Winter's Bone
Nicole Holofcener: Please Give
Who else has honored Shutter Island screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis, cool new action star Chloe Moretz in Kick-Ass, breakthrough performer Lena Dunham in Tiny Furniture and "Helen Mirren for opening five movies in the US?"
