The double-barrel cultural phenomenon known as Barbenheimer —
Greta Gerwin’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer — loomed
large in the list of nominees announced Tuesday for the 17th annual
awards from the Houston Film Critics Society (HFCS).
Greta Gerwig’s comic fantasy leads all films with 10
nominations, followed closely with nine nominations for Nolan’s epic biography
of the physicist who changed the world. Killers of the Flower
Moon, Martin Scorsese’s exploration of the Osage County murders,
and Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimos’ outrageous look at a
woman’s search for identity – each received eight nominations. All four are
nominated for Best Picture of 2023.
Other films competing for the top prize include American
Fiction, a seriocomic examination of Black literature and identity; Are You
There God? It’s Me, Margaret, a girl’s journey adjusting to a new
community; The Color Purple, the film adaptation of the
Broadway musical from Alice Walker’s novel; Godzilla Minus One, an
homage to traditions of sci-fi thrillers; The Holdovers, a
touching visit to personal and academic challenges in the 1970s; and Past
Lives, a heartbreaking celebration of a distant friendship.
“In a year where audiences rediscovered the magic of
returning to theaters, filmmakers were more than happy to deliver some
incredible cinema that will be hard to top next year,” says HFCS president Travis
Leamons. “For 2023, the films and talent we recognize as a collective
organization remind us why while the business of movies have changed, the magic
of cinema still charms.”
(In the interest of full disclosure: Yours truly is a
founding and voting member of the Houston Film Critics Society.)
Contenders for the Texas Independent Film Award, honoring
the best of film made in the Lone Star State, are Bolivar, a
young woman’s journey to recover from her mother’s death; Breaking the
Code, the work and life of artist Vernon Fisher of Fort Worth; Chocolate
Lizards, a failed actor’s next steps in Buffalo Gap; I’ll Be
There, people searching for connection in the midst of chaos;
and A Town Called Victoria, citizens confronting how they
learn to hate.
Winners of the 2023 Houston Film Critics Society awards
will be announced Jan. 22. Here is a
complete list of nominees.
Best
Picture
American Fiction
Are You There God? It's
Me, Margaret.
Barbie
The Color Purple
Godzilla Minus One
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Past Lives
Poor Things
Best
Director
Greta Gerwig, Barbie
Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Alexander Payne, The Holdovers
Martin Scorsese, Killers of
the Flower Moon
Best
Actor – Leading Role
Leonardo DiCaprio, Killers of
the Flower Moon
Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Andrew Scott, All of Us
Strangers
Jeffrey Wright, American
Fiction
Best
Actress – Leading Role
Fantasia Barrino, The Color
Purple
Lily Gladstone, Killers of the
Flower Moon
Greta Lee, Past Lives
Margot Robbie, Barbie
Emma Stone, Poor Things
Best
Actor – Supporting Role
Robert De Niro, Killers of the
Flower Moon
Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things
Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers
Best
Actress – Supporting Role
Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks, The Color
Purple
Rachel McAdams, Are You There
God? It's Me, Margaret.
Rosamund Pike, Saltburn
Da'Vine Joy Randolph, The
Holdovers
Best
Screenplay
American Fiction, Cord
Jefferson
Barbie, Greta
Gerwig and Noah Baumbach
The Holdovers, David
Hemingson
Oppenheimer, Christopher
Nolan
Past Lives, Celine
Song
Poor Things, Tony
McNamara
Best
Animated Film
The Boy and the Heron
Nimona
Robot Dreams
Spider-Man: Across the
Spider-Verse
Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Best
Cinematography
Barbie, Rodrigo
Prieto
Killers of the Flower
Moon, Rodrigo Prieto
Oppenheimer, Hoyte
Van Hoytema
Poor Things, Robbie
Ryan
Saltburn, Linus
Sandgren
Best
Documentary Feature
American Symphony
Beyond Utopia
The Eternal Memory
Still: A Michael J. Fox
Movie
20 Days in Mariupol
Best
Foreign Language Feature
Anatomy of a Fall
Godzilla Minus One
Perfect Days
Society of the Snow
The Zone of Interest
Best
Original Score
The Boy and the Heron, Joe
Hisaishi
Killers of the Flower
Moon, Robbie Robertson
Oppenheimer, Ludwig
Göransson
Poor Things, Jerskin
Fendrix
Spider-Man, Across the
Spider-Verse: Daniel Pemberton
Best
Original Song
“Dance the Night” from Barbie
“I'm Just Ken” from Barbie
“Keep It Movin'” from The
Color Purple
“Meet in the Middle” from Flora
and Son
“What Was I Made For?” from Barbie
Best
Visual Effects
The Creator
Godzilla Minus One
Guardians of the Galaxy
Vol. 3
Mission: Impossible - Dead
Reckoning Part One
Poor Things
Best
Stunt Coordination Team
Guardians of the Galaxy
Vol. 3
The Iron Claw
John Wick: Chapter 4
Mission: Impossible - Dead
Reckoning Part One
Polite Society
Best
Ensemble Cast
Barbie
The Holdovers
The Iron Claw
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Texas
Independent Film
Bolivar
Breaking the Code
Chocolate Lizards
I’ll Be There
A Town Called Victoria
