231 critics from around the world voted in this year’s survey, and while there was a clear-cut winner, the margins were razor-thin.
By Eric Kohn and Christian Blauvelt | IndieWire
Dec 14, 2020
Anyone following the outcome of the 2020 election has grown familiar with the term “razor-thin margin.” It also applies to the outcome of IndieWire’s annual critics survey, which resembles a lot of this year in that it reflects some tough decisions. With 231 critics and journalists voting on the best films and performances in this year’s survey, Chloé Zhao’s delicate road movie “Nomadland” emerged victorious, winning Best Film, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. The list of participants included staffers from IndieWire, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter. It also included writers from local newspapers, websites, freelancers, and contributors on film from across Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. However, all participants were required to vote only for films that received theatrical or VOD releases in North America over the past calendar year.
Despite the “Nomadland” victories, the second place finisher for Best Film almost won the top spot outright. Although “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” was released in the first quarter of the year, Eliza Hittman’s suspenseful abortion drama loomed large in critics’ minds, coming in at a close second place. In fact, the movie ended up with the most number of votes as a whole, appearing on 84 ballots, while “Nomadland” appeared on 81. However, because the survey asks critics to submit ranked lists, “Nomadland” wound up with a slight edge by scoring first place on just a few more ballots — specifically, it scored that way on 24 of them, while “Never Rarely” appeared on 16. Like we said, razor-thin margins are so very 2020.
Regardless, the proximity of both films speaks to the widespread critical adoration that has surrounded them over the past few months, and together they bracket the sheer unpredictability of the past year. Hittman’s film launched at Sundance, one of the last major film festivals to take place as a physical event before the pandemic, and barely made it into theaters a month later before shutdowns forced a pivot to VOD. “Nomadland” secured a slot at one of the few major festivals to actually take place during the pandemic, winning the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival, before Searchlight Pictures qualified in theaters and a New York-only virtual release at the start of this month.
Without that choice, “Nomadland” wouldn’t have been able to win this poll, since critics were instructed to vote only for films that had received a theatrical or VOD release in North America during the 2020 calendar year. Fortunately, they found no shortage of movies to celebrate within those parameters. “Nomadland” marks the first time in this survey’s history that a film directed by a woman took first place. Beyond that, the top three titles in the Best Film category are all directed by women: “Nomadland,” “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” and “First Cow.” The Best First Film category was also topped by a woman, Emerald Fennell, for the Carey Mulligan thriller “Promising Young Woman.”
The Best Film finalists dominated a range of categories: Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” entry “Lovers Rock” came in fourth place, and McQueen was a runner-up for Best Screenplay. The winner of that category was Charlie Kaufman’s mind-bending “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” and the movie landed in fifth place for Best Film.
Best Documentary
1. “Dick Johnson Is Dead”
2. “Time”
3. “Collective”
4. “City Hall”
5. “The Painter and the Thief”
6. “Bloody Nose Empty Pockets”
7. “76 Days”
8. “The Social Dilemma”
9. “The Mole Agent”
10. “Totally Under Control”
Read the full article here.
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