The Best Picture Race Comes Into Focus: A Look at Some Key Players

The adulation for Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car” continues. After winning Best Film from both the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the New York Film Critics Circle, Japan’s submission for the International Film Oscar dominated the winner’s list from the National Society of Critics.

The National Society of Film Critics has named Drive My Car for its Best Picture Awards of 2021.

Best Picture: “Drive My Car” (48 points)Runners-up: “Petit Maman” (25), “The Power of the Dog” (23)Best Actor: Hidetoshi Nishijima, “Drive My Car” (63)Runners-up: Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog” (44); Simon Rex, “Red Rocket” (30)Best Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Parallel Mothers” (55)Runners-up: Renate Reinsve, “The Worst Person in the World” (42); Alana Haim, “Licorice Pizza” (32)Best Supporting Actor: Anders Danielsen Lie, “The Worst Person in the World” (54)Runners-up: Vincent Lindon, “Titane” (33); Mike Faist, “West Side Story” (26) and Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog” (26)Best Supporting Actress: Ruth Negga, “Passing” (46)Runners-up: Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story” (22); Jessie Buckley, “The Lost Daughter” (21)Best Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi, “Drive My Car” and “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” (46)Runners-up: Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog” (36), Celine Sciamma, “Petite Maman” (28)Best Screenplay: Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe, “Drive My Car” (46)Runners-up: Pedro Almodovar, “Parallel Mothers” (22); Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza” (20)Best Nonfiction Film:Runners-up:Best Cinematography: Andrew Droz Palermo, “The Green Knight” (52)Runners-up: Ari Wegner, “The Power of the Dog” (40); Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, “Memoria” (35)Special citation for film awaiting U.S. distribution: “Returning to Reims,” Jean-Gabriel PeriotFilm Heritage Award: Bertrand Tavernier and Peter BogdanovichFilm Heritage Award: Maya Cade for the Black Film Archive

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As the year comes to a close and the major awards contenders have screened, we look at some of the films competing for a slot in the best picture race.

Clayton Davis It’s time to have a serious conversation about “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and what it can achieve at the Oscars this year.Looking at the Oscars shortlists announced on Tuesday, the third chapter in the Tom Holland universe showed up in two categories — sound and visual effects — despite its late release.Unlike most superhero pics, critical and audience opinion are aligned (at 94% and 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively) about the film.

The 2022 Oscar shortlists are here which means multiple Academy branches have given us some insight into what they like and, well, what they don’t.

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.MOVIES— Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem star as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in Aaron Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardos,” a smart and quippy showbiz pic that takes audiences behind the curtains of a tricky relationship on an especially fraught week of “I Love Lucy.” Neither of the stars especially look like the icons they’re portraying, and the

After the first 48 hours in the 2021 Christmas Number 1 race (#XmasNo1), LadBaby take an early lead and could be on course to make Official Charts history this Friday.

After the first 48 hours in the 2021 Christmas Number 1 race (#XmasNo1), LadBaby take an early lead and could be on course to make Official Charts history this Friday.

Mark Keizer “Holy Beasts” doesn’t work on every level, but it hits the bullseye where it matters most: as a cinematic reclamation project in honor of the late Dominican director Jean-Louis Jorge.

A column chronicling conversations and events on the awards circuit.

Strictly Come Dancing star Rose Ayling-Ellis has shared a rare glimpse into the home she shares with her boyfriend Samuel Arnold. Rose, 27, shot to fame as part of the cast of BBC One soap EastEnders and is now preparing to compete for the Glitterball trophy on Saturday 18 December alongside professional partner Giovanni Pernice.