The nominations for the prestigious London Critics' Circle film awards have been unveiled, with Paul Thomas Anderson's counter-culture thriller 'One Battle After Another' emerging as the frontrunner. The film, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, has secured an impressive nine nominations, setting the stage for a competitive awards season.
Frontrunners and Major Contenders
'One Battle After Another', loosely based on Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, received nods in all major categories. These include Film of the Year, Director of the Year for Paul Thomas Anderson, and Actor of the Year for Leonardo DiCaprio. Co-stars Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn were recognised in the supporting performance categories, while Chase Infiniti earned a nomination for Breakthrough Performer.
Hot on its heels is the Shakespearean drama 'Hamnet', which garnered eight nominations. The film, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley as William Shakespeare and his wife, is nominated for Film of the Year. Chloé Zhao is up for Director of the Year, and Jessie Buckley is in contention for Actress of the Year, though co-star Paul Mescal was notably absent from the actor category.
In third place, with seven nominations, is Ryan Coogler's juke-joint horror-thriller 'Sinners'. Coogler himself received nominations for both Director and Screenwriter of the Year, cementing the film's status as a major awards player.
Full Spectrum of Categories
The awards, voted on by more than 200 members of the London Critics' Circle film section, celebrate a wide range of cinematic achievements. Other notable nominees for Film of the Year include 'Marty Supreme', 'The Mastermind', and 'Sentimental Value'.
The acting categories are fiercely contested. The Actor of the Year race sees DiCaprio up against Timothée Chalamet for 'Marty Supreme', Ethan Hawke, Wagner Moura, and Josh O'Connor. For Actress of the Year, Jessie Buckley faces competition from Rose Byrne, Jennifer Lawrence, Renate Reinsve, and Eva Victor.
The awards also highlight British and Irish talent through specific categories. 'Hamnet' leads the British/Irish Film of the Year category, while performers like Naomi Ackie, Robert Aramayo, and Josh O'Connor are nominated for British/Irish Performer of the Year.
Ceremony and Anticipation
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on 1 February. The breadth of nominations across mainstream and independent cinema underscores a vibrant year for film, with the London Critics' Circle awards serving as a key indicator of critical acclaim as the awards season reaches its peak.
