For Immediate Release
The Brutalist Leads Houston Film Critics Nominations
Houston critics will name the Best of 2024 on January 14, 2025
HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 7, 2025) — The Brutalist – director Brady Corbet’s epic examination of post-World War II America – leads the nominees for the 18th annual awards from the Houston Film Critics Society. The film is nominated for nine awards including Best Picture of 2024.
Closely following with eight nominations, including Best Picture, is the papal thriller Conclave. Three films are nominated in six categories including Best Picture: Sean Baker’s outrageous comedy Anora, director Denis Villeneuve’s continuation of Paul Atreides’s ascension to power in Dune: Part Two, and Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of the Broadway musical hit Wicked.
Other films competing for Best Picture are A Complete Unknown, a peek at the early years of Bob Dylan’s career; Nickel Boys, based on Colson Whitehead’s novel; A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg’s study of a complex relationship between cousins; Sing Sing, a moving tribute to the impact of creative arts on prison life; and The Substance, a satirical view of the challenges of aging.
“2024 was such an odd cinema year and yet the range of our nominees continues to remind us that art, commerce, and the diversity of both is what allows film to thrive,” says Travis Leamons, the Society’s President. “If you would have told me body horror could be as beloved as a Bob Dylan biopic at the start of the year, I’d say you’re mad. But leave it to our members to keep audiences informed about what movies can say. The fact we can recognize small character stories, giant studio spectacle, and a thriller where papal guidance is suggested is exciting.”
Nominated as the year’s Best Actors are Adrien Brody as a visionary architect trying to achieve the American Dream in The Brutalist, Timothée Chalamet as the early Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, Colman Domingo as a prisoner daring to creatively rehabilitate in Sing Sing, Ralph Fiennes as a papal politician in Conclave, and Hugh Grant as an unorthodox host to young missionaries in Heretic.
Competing for Best Actress are Cynthia Erivo for capturing a misunderstood life in song in Wicked, Marianne Jean-Baptiste for examining the origins of anger in Hard Truths, Angelina Jolie for bringing famed opera singer Maria Callas to life in Maria, Mikey Madison for stripping away our perceptions of strip club entertainers in Anora, and Demi Moore for fighting ageism in The Substance.
All winners will be announced by the Society on January 14, 2025. An annual highlight of the HFCS awards is the presentation of the Texas Independent Film Award that honors the best of film made in the Lone Star State. This year’s nominees explore a complex relationship between a forgotten music star and a delivery driver in Deliveries from Eva; a former YouTube star trying to find her place in an unfriendly world in The Ego Death of Queen Cecilia; a rapper’s journey into himself and his music in Lost Soulz; the magic created by Houston 101 KLOL in Runaway Radio; and the impact of the city’s Black music scene in When Houston Had the Blues.
The 38 members of the Houston Film Critics Society are working film journalists on television, radio, online and in traditional print. Together, they reach millions of people each week across the United States with their critiques and commentaries on film. The organization’s mission is to promote the advancement and appreciation of film in the Houston community and beyond. For a list of members, visit www.HoustonFilmCritics.com.
2024 Houston Film Critics Society Nominees
Best Picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Nickel Boys
A Real Pain
Sing Sing
The Substance
Wicked
Best Director
Anora, Sean Baker
The Brutalist, Brady Corbet
Conclave, Edward Berger
Dune: Part Two, Denis Villeneuve
The Substance, Coralie Fargeat
Wicked, Jon M. Chu
Best Actor – Leading Role
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Hugh Grant, Heretic
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Best Actress – Leading Role
Angelina Jolie, Maria
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Demi Moore, The Substance
Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths
Mikey Madison, Anora
Best Actor – Supporting Role
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Yura Borisov, Anora
Best Actress – Supporting Role
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Margaret Qualley, The Substance
Zoë Saldaña, Emilia Perez
Best Screenplay
Anora, Sean Baker
The Brutalist, Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
Conclave, Peter Straughan
Nickel Boys, RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes
A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg
Sing Sing, Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
Best Animated Feature
Flow
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Best Cinematography
The Brutalist, Lol Crawley
Conclave, Stéphane Fontaine
Dune: Part Two, Greig Fraser
Nickel Boys, Jomo Fray
Nosferatu, Jarin Blaschke
Best Documentary
Daughters
No Other Land
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin
Sugarcane
Union
Will & Harper
Best Foreign Language Feature
All We Imagine As Light
Emilia Pérez
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
I’m Still Here
Kneecap
Best Original Score
The Brutalist, Daniel Blumberg
Challengers, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Conclave, Volker Bertelmann
Dune: Part Two, Hans Zimmer
Emilia Pérez, Clément Ducol
The Wild Robot, Kris Bowers
Best Original Song
Challengers, Compress / Repress
Emilia Pérez, El Mal
Sing Sing, Like a Bird
The Wild Robot, Kiss the Sky
Will & Harper, Harper and Will Go West
Best Visual Effects
Alien: Romulus
Dune: Part Two
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Nosferatu
Twisters
Wicked
Best Stunt Coordination Team
Deadpool & Wolverine
Dune: Part Two
The Fall Guy
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Gladiator II
Best Ensemble Cast
Anora
The Brutalist
Conclave
Saturday Night
Sing Sing
Wicked
Texas Independent Film Award
Deliveries from Eva
The Ego Death of Queen Cecilia
Lost Soulz
Runaway Radio
When Houston Had the Blues
MEDIA CONTACT:
Travis Leamons, President
Houston Film Critics Society
thedvdlounge@yahoo.com
