The Favourite – director Yorgos Lanthimos’ irreverent look at the life of Britain’s Queen Anne in the 18th century – won top honors at the Houston Film Critics Society’s 12th Annual Movie Awards presented January 3rd at a ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH).
The Houston Film Critics Society (HFCS), also recognized Rachel Weisz as Best Supporting Actress for the film as well as Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara for its screenplay.
“We are thrilled to honor such a creative and entertaining film,” says Joshua Starnes, President of the organization. “The Favourite uses a broad visual approach, and a deep appreciation for its characters, to rethink the costume drama. Who would have thought a movie about royals could be so fun?”
A near capacity crowd in the MFAH’s Brown Auditorium Theatre braved unseasonably cold weather to enjoy an evening that included a live performance of the five nominated songs and a dramatic presentation of the HFCS’s Award for Best Foreign Film.
Consuls general, representing each of the five countries whose films were nominated in this category, were on hand to deliver greetings in the language of their respective nations to an audience that included movie fans, local filmmakers, studio representatives and HFCS members.
Other highlights of the evening included a passionate acceptance speech by Outstanding Local Cinematic Achievement honoree Damir Catic and expressions of gratitude to the prestigious body of film journalists received from award winners Toni Collette (HFCS Best Actress winner for Hereditary) and Paul Lambert (HFCS Best Visual Effects winner for First Man).
Roma also received three awards from the Society including Best Foreign Language Film and two honors for Alfonso Cuarón, Best Director and Best Cinematography, a rare double distinction for a movie maker.
The Society named Christian Bale Best Actor for his memorable interpretation of Vice President Dick Cheney in Vice, Toni Collette as Best Actress for her striking turn in the thriller Hereditary and Mahershala Ali as Best Supporting Actor for his rich portrayal of a pianist touring the South in Green Book. Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs was named Best Animated Film and Won’t You Be My Neighbor won Best Documentary.
“For the Houston Film Critics Society, the annual awards presentation culminates our year-long commitment to interpret and review achievements we experience on the screen,” continues Starnes. “This year’s Oscar-style awards presentation celebrated the achievements of the year in the manner those honors deserve. The evening was Houston at its best.”
Included in the awards each year are honors for films shot in Texas, with The Standoff at Sparrow Creek receiving the Texas Independent Film Award (TIFA) as the best feature made in the state and filmmaker Andrew Bujalski receiving the TIFA Visionary Award for Support the Girls.
The critics also poked fun at the year’s lesser achievements by naming The Happytime Murders as the “best worst film” of 2018. Actress Dona Speir, a fixture in a series of 1990 action movies produced by Andy and Arlene Sidaris, traveled to Houston at the invitation of the HFCS to participate in this playful “non-salute”.
Following the awards ceremony, HFCS members and industry notables toasted the evening’s winners at reception in the Monarch Terrace at the Hotel ZaZa.
All HFCS winners are selected by working film journalists on television, radio, online and in print who reach millions of people each week across the United States with their commentaries on film.
2018 Houston Film Critics Society Award Winners
TIFA Feature Award: The Standoff at Sparrow Creek
TIFA Visionary Award: Andrew Bujalski, Support the Girls
Best Picture: The Favourite
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Best Actor: Christian Bale, Vice
Best Actress: Toni Collette, Hereditary
Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz, The Favourite
Best Screenplay: Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, The Favourite
Best Cinematography: Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Best Animated Film: Isle of Dogs
Best Documentary: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Best Foreign Language Film: Roma
Best Score: Nicholas Britell, If Beal Street Could Talk
Best Song: Shallow, A Star Is Born
Best Poster: BlacKkKlansman (Hood and Pick)
Best Visual Effects: First Man
Best Worst Film: The Happytime Murders
The consular corps members present for the announcement of the Best Foreign Film Award were:
Takeshi Sugiura, Vice Consul, Consulate-General of Japan in Houston
Ggochnim “Nim” Bak Consul of the Korean Consulate in Houston.
Imanol De la Flor, Consul General of Mexico in Houston
Robert Rusiecki, Consul General, Consulate General of the Republic of Poland
Astrid Marklund, Consul General of Sweden in Houston.
The 12th Annual Houston Film Critics Society’s Movie Awards were underwritten by The Courtright Family Companies with promotional assistance from Gow Media’s ESPN 97.5 FM and SportsMap 94.1 FM. The Texas Independent Film Award (TIFA), an HFCS exclusive, was funded in part by Balcones Distilling, the award-winning whisky distiller based in Waco, Texas.
ABOUT THE HFCS
Members of the HFCS 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 commentaries on film. The organization also actively promotes the advancement of film in the Houston community.