The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) announced its 16th annual slate of award winners, with Licorice Pizza the runaway winner for Best Film of 2021. The film was also recognized in the Best Actress category for Alana Haim and the Best Original Screenplay category for Paul Thomas Anderson.
“Despite being another challenging year for traditional theatrical releases, 2021 remained an incredible year for artistic achievements in film, both in physical theaters and streaming at home,” OFCC Vice President Caleb Masters said. “Our pick for the Best Film of 2021, Licorice Pizza, continued to demonstrate the exciting opportunities the world’s most prominent storytellers still have to share on the big screen.”
In addition to Licorice Pizza, the Top 10 Films of 2021 recognized by the OFCC are The Power of the Dog, West Side Story, The Green Knight, Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), The French Dispatch, Tick, Tick…Boom!, C’mon C’mon, and Dune. Three films, Nightmare Alley, Pig, and Red Rocket, tied for the tenth place spot on the list.
“It was striking to see how second-place Best Film finisher The Power of the Dog dominated our individual awards,” OFCC President Jeff Huston said. “Netflix’s commitment to respected auteur filmmakers continues to pay off, with Jane Campion’s slow-burn Western winning in six different categories and finishing as runner-up in two more.”
The slate selected by OFCC members honors a range of films, from accessible works of art like Tick, Tick…Boom! and the stirring documentary Summer of Soul to more personal films ranging from C’Mon C’Mon to Pig. Grand scale efforts like West Side Story and Dune are also cited, as well as more polarizing entries like The Green Knight and Red Rocket. The films represent what the cinematic landscape of 2021 had to offer audiences at home or in the theatre.
Below is the complete list OFCC award winners for 2021:
Best Film: Licorice Pizza
Top 10 Films
Licorice Pizza
The Power of the Dog
West Side Story
The Green Knight
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
The French Dispatch
Tick, Tick…Boom!
C’mon C’mon
Dune
(TIE) Nightmare Alley, Pig, Red Rocket
Best Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power Of The Dog
Runner-Up: Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick…Boom!
Best Actress: Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza
Runner-Up: Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Best Supporting Actor: Kodi Smit-Mcphee, The Power Of The Dog
Runner-Up: Ciaran Hinds, Belfast
Best Supporting Actress: Kirsten Dunst, The Power Of The Dog
Runner-Up: Arian DeBose, West Side Story
Best Original Screenplay: Licorice Pizza, Paul Thomas Anderson
Runner-Up: The French Dispatch, Wes Anderson
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Power Of The Dog, Jane Campion
Runner-Up: Dune, Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve & Eric Roth
Best Director: Jane Campion, The Power Of The Dog
Runner-Up: Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
Best Documentary: Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Runner-Up: The First Wave
Best Animated Film: The Mitchells Vs The Machines
Runner-Up: Encanto
Best Foreign-Language Film: Drive My Car (Japan)
Runner-Up: The Worst Person in the World (Norway)
Best Cinematography: Dune, Greig Fraser
Runner-Up: The Power of the Dog, Ari Wegner
Best Score: The Power Of The Dog, Jonny Greenwood
Runner-Up: Dune, Hans Zimmer
Best Ensemble: The French Dispatch
Runners-Up (TIE): Licorice Pizza and The Power of the Dog
Best First Feature: The Lost Daughter, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Runner-Up: Tick, Tick…Boom!, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Best Body Of Work: Lin-Manuel Miranda (Tick, Tick…Boom!, Encanto, In The Heights, Vivo)
Runner-Up: Andrew Garfield (Tick, Tick…Boom!, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Spider-Man: No Way Home)
Most Disappointing Film: Don’t Look Up
Runners-Up (TIE): Halloween Kills and Spencer
Additionally, the Critic’s Circle memorialized late member, Michael Smith.
“Michael Smith, lead film critic, and writer for the Tulsa World died suddenly this year due to an unexpected medical crisis. He was 57. A beloved colleague and valued member of the OFCC, Michael was not only a champion for Oklahoma’s film industry and culture (and Tulsa’s in particular) but, on a personal level, he was generous in offering help to emerging peers while engaging everyone with a warm, welcoming spirit. A true mensch.”
The full list of voting members can be found here: http://www.oklahomafilmcritics.com.
