Critics' Choice Awards: Winners and Losers

Many of last night’s Critics’ Choice award winners were expected (well done, Christoph Waltz and Mo’Nique!), but the night did offer a few surprises. In my mind, here are the biggest winners and losers from the evening.

WINNERS

The Hurt Locker The Broadcast Film Critics Association often goes for the little guy over the Oscar frontrunner (L.A. Confidential over Titanic, Fargo over The English Patient, Sideways over Million Dollar Baby), but the indie drama’s Best Picture and Best Director wins proved it can hold its own against Avatar.

Sandra Bullock The Blind Side star soared past Carey Mulligan and Gabourey Sidibe to tie with Meryl Streep for Best Actress. Never a bad thing to be mentioned in the same breath as Streep.

Inglourious Basterds Three big wins (compared to one each for Precious and Up in the Air) cement its status as a real player this season.

LOSERS

Nine It went into the night with the most nominations (ten) and went home empty-handed. Ouch.

Up in the Air Best Adapted Screenplay was well deserved. But if this film wants to contend with the likes of Avatar and The Hurt Locker, it’s going to have to score more than one win at the Globes.

TOSS-UP

Avatar It went 6 for 9, all but sweeping the big technical prizes. But it couldn’t close the deal on the two biggest categories of the night. Is it just because critics were voting, or will it have similar problems for the rest of the season?

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Picture The Hurt Locker

Best Director Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Best Original Screenplay Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Best Adapted Screenplay Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air

Best Acting Ensemble Inglourious Basterds

Best Actor Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Best Actress (tie) Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia; Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Best Supporting Actor Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress Mo’Nique, Precious

Best Young Actress Saoirse Ronan, The Lovely Bones

Best Documentary The Cove

Best Foreign Language Film Broken Embraces

Best Animated Movie Up

Best Comedy Movie The Hangover

Best Score Michael Giacchino, Up

Best Song “The Weary Kind,” Crazy Heart

Best Costume Design The Young Victoria

Best Make-Up District 9

Best Action Movie Avatar

Best Cinematography Avatar

Best Visual Effects Avatar

Best Art Direction Avatar

Best Editing Avatar

Best Sound Avatar