News of the World | The Oscars: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘La La Land’, ‘Manchester by the Sea’ separate from award season pack

Moonlight

In Hollywood’s early but rapidly solidifying awards season, two films — radically different in tone and tune — have separated themselves from the pack: “Moonlight” and “La La Land.”

“Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins’ lyrical coming-of-age tale, added to its already hefty haul on Sunday, taking best picture from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association . The group also gave best director to Jenkins, best supporting actor to Mahershala Ali and best cinematography to James Laxton.

Those three awards mirrored the picks last week by the LAFAA’s East Coast corollary, the New York Film Critics Circle. But the New York critics ultimately chose Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” as the year’s best film, whereas the LA critics had “La La Land” — a colorful ode to the group’s hometown — as runner-up for best picture and best director.

Which film will have the edge in the coming weeks — when the more crucial industry groups begin ringing in with their awards — is an open question. “Moonlight,” which also triumphed at the Gotham Awards, is perhaps the year’s most critically celebrated film. Across three chapters, it follows a boy growing up black, gay and poor in Miami.

La La Land

But “La La Land,” starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, is only just hitting theaters (it opens this weekend). It has widely been seen as the best-picture front-runner since winning the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival. While “Moonlight” is bracingly intimate, the song-and-dance “La La Land” is a starry, show-stopping crowd-pleaser.

“La La Land” is also likely to dominate in sheer number of nomination, thanks to its lead performances, high-level of craft and original songs. It was honored by the LA critics for the musical work of Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

The only film that has rivaled either in the early awards is Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester by the Sea.” The National Board of Review bestowed its top award on the New England drama, and the film’s star, Casey Affleck, has been the most common pick so far. (The LA critics, however, went with Adam Driver for Jim Jarmusch’s “Paterson.”)

And despite a crowded best-actress field, including Stone for “La La Land” and Natalie Portman for “Jackie,” the early favorite has been French actress Isabelle Huppert, star of both “Elle” and “Things to Come.” She was the choice of the LA and New York critics, as well as the Gotham Independent Film Awards.

Other films have been singled out elsewhere. The British Film Independent Awards on Sunday gave four awards to Andrea Arnold’s road-trip odyssey “American Honey,” including best film. (It also chose “Moonlight” as its best international independent film.)

Next week, the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations will be announced, likely giving the current favorites additional momentum.

But a lot could still change, but the Feb. 26 Oscars are increasingly coming into view.

This year’s Oscar favorites don’t appear to feature the kind of big, popular films that can drive audiences to watch the awards. The top contenders — “Moonlight,” ‘’La La Land” and “Manchester by the Sea” — have together totaled less than USD15 million at the box office, though “La La Land” is yet to open.

In Hollywood’s early but rapidly solidifying awards season, two films — radically different in tone and tune — have separated themselves from the pack: “Moonlight” and “La La Land.”

“Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins’ lyrical coming-of-age tale, added to its already hefty haul on Sunday, taking best picture from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association . The group also gave best director to Jenkins, best supporting actor to Mahershala Ali and best cinematography to James Laxton.

Those three awards mirrored the picks last week by the LAFAA’s East Coast corollary, the New York Film Critics Circle. But the New York critics ultimately chose Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” as the year’s best film, whereas the LA critics had “La La Land” — a colorful ode to the group’s hometown — as runner-up for best picture and best director.

Which film will have the edge in the coming weeks — when the more crucial industry groups begin ringing in with their awards — is an open question. “Moonlight,” which also triumphed at the Gotham Awards, is perhaps the year’s most critically celebrated film. Across three chapters, it follows a boy growing up black, gay and poor in Miami.

But “La La Land,” starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, is only just hitting theaters (it opens this weekend). It has widely been seen as the best-picture front-runner since winning the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival. While “Moonlight” is bracingly intimate, the song-and-dance “La La Land” is a starry, show-stopping crowd-pleaser.

“La La Land” is also likely to dominate in sheer number of nomination, thanks to its lead performances, high-level of craft and original songs. It was honored by the LA critics for the musical work of Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

The only film that has rivaled either in the early awards is Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester by the Sea.” The National Board of Review bestowed its top award on the New England drama, and the film’s star, Casey Affleck, has been the most common pick so far. (The LA critics, however, went with Adam Driver for Jim Jarmusch’s “Paterson.”)

And despite a crowded best-actress field, including Stone for “La La Land” and Natalie Portman for “Jackie,” the early favorite has been French actress Isabelle Huppert, star of both “Elle” and “Things to Come.” She was the choice of the LA and New York critics, as well as the Gotham Independent Film Awards.

Other films have been singled out elsewhere. The British Film Independent Awards on Sunday gave four awards to Andrea Arnold’s road-trip odyssey “American Honey,” including best film. (It also chose “Moonlight” as its best international independent film.)

Next week, the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations will be announced, likely giving the current favorites additional momentum.

But a lot could still change, but the Feb. 26 Oscars are increasingly coming into view.

This year’s Oscar favorites don’t appear to feature the kind of big, popular films that can drive audiences to watch the awards. The top contenders — “Moonlight,” ‘’La La Land” and “Manchester by the Sea” — have together totaled less than USD15 million at the box office, though “La La Land” is yet to open. Jake Coyle, AP Film Writer

Jimmy Kimmel to host Academy Awards

Jimmy Kimmel and wife Molly McNearney

The Oscars finally have a host: Jimmy Kimmel will emcee the 89th Academy Awards.

The late-night host will be presiding over the ceremony for the first time. Kimmel has been a regular awards host, having twice previously hosted the Emmy Awards (including its broadcast in September) and once led ESPN’s ESPY Awards.

The selection of Kimmel gives ABC, home of the Oscars telecast, the choice the network had long sought. His “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has previously followed ABC’s Oscar broadcast. The network also has new muscle to flex; it signed a deal with the Academy of Motion Pictures in August to remain the Oscar broadcast home until 2028.

“Yes, I am hosting the Oscars,” Kimmel said on Twitter. “This is not a prank. And if it is, my revenge on the academy will be terrible and sweet.”

The academy waited much later than usual to name a host for the Feb. 26 ceremony. This year’s show is being produced by veteran producer Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd, president of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company, Pearl Street Films. This is also their first time producing the Oscars.

The lengthy search has perhaps been a product of increasing pressure on the broadcast. Last year’s show was hosted by Chris Rock and was dominated by backlash over its second straight year of all-white acting nominees. Its 34.3 million viewers marked an 11-year low for the telecast.

Whether Kimmel can spark a comeback will be a considerable test for the 49-year-old comedian. His Emmy Awards broadcast on ABC drew a mere 11.3 million viewers, a new low.

But ABC Television Group chief Ben Sherwood publicly lobbied for Kimmel. In September he said the network was “very hopeful that Jimmy will get” the Oscar hosting gig and that he had “elevated” the Emmys.