After yesterday and this morning's exertions (a phrase which here means 'I had to move around a little, for a not very significant amount of time'), I've come to a couple conclusions about today's big list, namely that things are going to get pared down even more. It's a bummer, but that's the way this year is, and there's nothing to do but grit your teeth, bludgeon your way through it, and then cry for a long time afterward. So that's what we can all do together! In a normal year I'd have two more separate posts, each with plenty of write-ups, discussion, and attempts at silliness, but given the now legendary mauling of my brittle body, we're just gonna dump everything at once, throw up our hands (or hand, in my case), and promise to do better next year.
So what does that look like in practice? I'll still do some write-ups, but they'll be very brief--and, in the case of categories like directing, acting and screenplay, which I've always struggled to do, they might not exist at all. I'll still include images and videos where appropriate, but I'll freely admit that I'm in full 'just finish this so you can not move for few hours' mode. But here we are! Maybe next year I'll do a twice-as-long listing extravaganza, just to set the planets back on their proper paths.
I'll start with acting, directing, screenplays, then I'll segue to the craft categories, where you're most likely to find pictures and/or more words than 'ooh wow, that was good, big happy face for sure.' I'll link to some clips for the acting awards, but there'll be no rhyme or reason to who gets a link--just whoever I feel like in the moment!
Best Actress
5. Tang Wei-Decision to Leave
4. Mia Goth-Pearl
3. Emma Thompson-Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
2. Cate Blanchett-Tar
1. Michelle Yeoh-Everything Everywhere All at Once
Honorable mention: Guslagie Malanda-Saint Omer
Lot of my choices this year dictated by physicality, Mia Goth being unhinged and storky in Pearl, Emma Thompson finding a million layers of security in insecurity in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Cate Blanchette being a self-possessed terror, or Michelle doing everything (everywhere) with her face and body, carrying entire character arcs in her face and posture while beating the shit out of people
Actor
5. Gabrielle LaBelle-The Fabelmans
4. Paul Mescal-Aftersun
3. Jack Lowden-Benediction
2. Franz Rogowski-Great Freedom
1. Colin Farrell-The Banshees of Inisherin
Honorable mention: Austin Butler-Elvis
Great category--I'm in love with the goofy, jangly insecurity and earnestness that Gabrielle Labelle brings, as well as the shifting faces of Paul Mescal's inscrutable work. Lowden is great, and Rogowski's hangdog hunger could win in another year, but 2022 was all about Colin Farrell who topped an already stellar career.
Supporting Actress
5. Hong Chau-The Whale
4. Noomi Rapace-You Won't Be Alone
3. Dolly De Leon-Triangle of Sadness
2. Nicole Kidman-The Northman
1. Nina Hoss-Tar
Honorable mention: Dakota Johnson-Cha Cha Real Smooth
Hate to say anything nice about The Whale, but Hong Chau earned her spot. Somehow ended up banging the drum for a number of nominees forgotten by awards season, including Rapace learning how to be a person in You Won't Be Alone, Nicole Kidman having a spoiler-heavy meltdown in The Northman, and Nina Hoss's perfect and glacial changes of mood that slide across her face, just as good or better than her (justly) celebrated co-star Cate Blanchett.
Supporting Actor
5. Paul Dano-The Fabelmans
4. Brian Tyree Henry-Causeway
3. Judd Hirsch-The Fabelmans
2. Barry Keoghan-The Banshees of Inisherin
1. Ke Huy Quan-Everything Everywhere All at Once
Honorable mention: Brendan Gleeson-The Banshees of Inisherin
Bless Paul Dano and Brian Tyree Henry's respective silences, and Judd Hirsch's exact opposite of that, but this category belongs to the top two. I almost went with wacky goblin Barry Keoghan who continues to challenge while being weird as shit, but I'll stick a toe out for empathy, humor, and doing all your own stunts and fight choreography.
Director
5. Jordan Peele-Nope
4. Steven Spielberg-The Fabelmans
3. S.S. Rajamouli-RRR
2. Todd Field-Tar
1. Charlotte Wells-Aftersun
Honorable mention: Jerzy Skilimowski-EO
Peele pushes his visual style way beyond his previous work and makes his scariest movie, Spielberg returns to his roots and then films them, Rajamouli makes one of the pound-for-pound wildest action extravaganzas ever made, and Field makes an impeccably crafted contradiction--and all of them beat by the hazy memories and delicate contours of Wells' debut.
Original Screenplay
5. Saint Omer
4. Nope
3. Aftersun
2. Petite Maman
1. Tar
Honorable mention: Decision to Leave
Lots of labyrinths here (Saint Omer, Decision to Leave, Tar) accompanied by movies wherein people tend to not have much to say (...the other three).
Adapted Screenplay
5. The Wonder
4. Catherine Called Birdy
3. Glass Onion
2. Living
1. Fire Island
Honorable mention: Bones and All
A mostly silly selection in a somewhat sparse year, though The Wonder gives us enough dense existential doubt to get us across the finish line. Admired Catherine Called Birdy and Glass Onion's commitment to their own heightened styles, but let me live in Fire Island's horny and aloof rendition of Jane Austen.
Production Design
5. Avatar: The Way of Water
Gilded queer cages with spectacular wallpaper!
3. Moonfall
5. The Menu-the kind of music you'd hear in an upwards elevator going down, the kind of music that would be played if a string quartet were hired to humanely destroy someone.
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