On January 4th, the members of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) voted on 16categories to decide the winners of the 59th Annual James Loutzenhiser Awards. The categories included the Robert Altman Award for Best Director, the Vince Koehler Award For Best Sci-Fi/ Fantasy/ Horror Film, and the Tom Poe Award For Best LGBTQ Film. WhileDune: Part II received the most nominations, it found itself runner-up in multiple categories, though it didn’t win any awards. This year also saw the introduction of the Buster Keaton Award for Best Stunt Ensemble Film, with the honors fittingly going toThe Fall Guy. The biggest winner of the day wasThe Substance, managing to secure victory in 6 out of the 7 categories in which it was nominated, the lone defeat coming in Best Original Score.

The KCFCC, the second oldest professional film critic organization in the United States, was founded in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser (1931-2001) who served as the group’s president for over 30 years. Other winners of note included a tie betweenDemi Moore (The Substance) &Mikey Madison (Anora) for Best Actress. Animated featureFlow won Best Foreign Language Film. MeanwhileDavid Dastmalchian, who grew up in the Kansas City metropolitan area, picked up the award for Best Actor, for his portrayal inLATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL. Below is a complete list of the winners and runners-up from the 59th Annual James Loutzenhiser Awards:

BEST FILM

Winner:THE SUBSTANCE

Runner-Up:DUNE: PART II

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR

Winner: Coralie Fargeat –THE SUBSTANCE

Runner-Up: Sean Baker –ANORA

BEST ACTOR

Winner: David Dastmalchian –LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL

Runner-Up: Ralph Fiennes –CONCLAVE

BEST ACTRESS

Winner (TIE): Mikey Madison –ANORA

Winner (TIE): Demi Moore –THE SUBSTANCE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Winner: Kieran Culkin –A REAL PAIN

Runner Up: Yura Borisov –ANORA

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Winner: Margaret Qualley –THE SUBSTANCE

Runner-Up: Danielle Deadwyler –THE PIANO LESSON

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Winner:THE SUBSTANCE

Runner-Up:ANORA

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Winner:CONCLAVE

Runner-Up:NICKEL BOYS

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Winner:THE BRUTALIST

Runner-Up:CIVIL WAR

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Winner:CHALLENGERS

Runner-Up:CONCLAVE

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Winner:THE WILD ROBOT

Runner-Up:FLOW

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Winner:FLOW

Runner-Up:EMILIA PÉREZ

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Winner:WILL & HARPER

Runner-Up:SEEKING MAVIS BEACON        

VINCE KOEHLER AWARD FOR BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/HORROR

Winner:THE SUBSTANCE

Runner-Up:DUNE: PART TWO

TOM POE AWARD FOR BEST LGBTQ FILM

Winner:I SAW THE TV GLOW

Runner-Up:EMILIA PÉREZ

BUSTER KEATON AWARD FOR THE BEST STUNT ENSEMBLE FILM

Winner:THE FALL GUY

Runner-Up (TIE):FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA/ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Christopher Nolan’sOppenheimer, nominated in seven categories, received six awards at the 58^th Annual James Loutzenhiser Awards voted on by the 26 members of theKansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC). These included Best Film, the Robert Altman Award for Best Director and Best Supporting Actor forRobert Downey, Jr. WhileMartin Scorsese’sKillers of the Flower Moon was runner-up in multiple categories, it’s lone win was for Best Actress in recognition of Lily Gladstone’s breakout performance.

The KCFCC, the second oldest professional film critic organization in the United States, was founded in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser (1931-2001) who served as the group’s president for over 30 years. Other winners of note included a tie betweenPaul Giamatti (The Holdovers) &Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) for Best Actor. Marvel was recognized again this year withSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse winning for Best Animated Feature.
 
Below is a complete list of the winners and runners-up from the 58th Annual James Loutzenhiser Awards:
 
BEST FILM:Oppenheimer
Runner-up:Killers of the Flower Moon
 
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR:Christopher Nolan,Oppenheimer
Runner-up: Greta Gerwig,Barbie
 
BEST ACTOR: Paul Giamatti,The Holdovers and Cillian Murphy,Oppenheimer (Tie)
 
BEST ACTRESS: Lily Gladstone,Killers of the Flower Moon
Runner-up: Sandra Huller,Anatomy of a Fall
 
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Robert Downey, Jr.,Oppenheimer
Runner-up: Ryan Gosling,Barbie
 
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Runner-up: Rachel McAdams,Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
 
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:Anatomy of a Fall andPast Lives (Tie)
 
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Runner-up:Killers of the Flower Moon
 
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:Oppenheimer
Runner-up:Killers of the Flower Moon
 
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:Oppenheimer
Runner-up:Killers of the Flower Moon
 
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Runner-up:Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
 
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:Anatomy of a Fall (France)
Runner-ups:The Zone of Interest (United Kingdom)
 
BEST DOCUMENTARY:20 Days in Mariupol andTaylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Tie)
 
VINCE KOEHLER AWARD FOR THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/HORROR FILM:Godzilla Minus One
Runner-up:Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
 
TOM POE AWARD FOR THE BEST LGBTQ FILM:All of Us Strangers
Runner-up:Maestro

On Sunday, January 22nd, theKansas City Film Critics Circle held their 57th annual James Loutzenhiser Awards and this year’s sci-fi mind bender, Everything Everywhere All at Once was the big winner of the day winning an incredible six awards from the KCFCC: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, the Tom Poe Award for Best LGBTQ Film, and the Vince Koehler Award for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Film.

Here’s a look at all the winners:

Best Film
Everything Everywhere All at Once

Robert Altman Award for Best Director
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert,Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Actor
Colin Farrell,The Banshees of Inisherin

Best Actress
Michelle Yeoh,Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Supporting Actor
Ke Huy Quan –Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Supporting Actress
Janelle Monáe,Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Best Original Screenplay
Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Adapted Screenplay
Sarah Polley,Women Talking

Best Cinematography
NOPE

Best Original Score (TIE)
RRR
NOPE

Best Animated Feature
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Best Foreign Language Film
RRR

Best Documentary
Jackass Forever

Vince Koehler Award for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Film
Everything Everywhere All at Once

Tom Poe Award for Best LGBTQ Film
Everything Everywhere All at Once

Members of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle met virtually to vote on Sunday January 16th for the 56^th Annual James Loutzenhiser Awards and “The Power of the Dog” led by Benedict Cumberbatch and director Jane Campion led the pack of winners.

Adapted to screen from the novel by Thomas Savage, “The Power of the Dog” took home three of the top awards from the KCFCC, including Best Film, the Robert Altman Award for Best Director (Jane Campion), and Best Actor (Benedict Cumberbatch).

“The Power of the Dog” was the only film to win multiple awards from the Kansas City Film Critics.

Below is a complete list of the winners of the 56th Annual James Loutzenhiser Awards: 

BEST FILM: “The Power of the Dog”(Runner-up: “West Side Story”) 

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR: Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”(Runner-up: Steven Spielberg, “West Side Story”) 

BEST ACTOR: Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog”(Runner-up: Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick…BOOM!”) 

BEST ACTRESS: Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter”(Runner-up: Kristen Stewart, “Spencer”) 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Ciaran Hinds, “Belfast”(Runner-up: Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog”) 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Ann Dowd, “Mass”(Runner-up: Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”) 

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: “Licorice Pizza”(Runner-up: “The French Dispatch”) 

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: “West Side Story”(Runner-up: “Drive My Car”) 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: “The Tragedy of MacBeth”(Runner-up: “Dune”) 

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: “The Mitchells vs the Machines”(Runner-up: “Flee”) 

BEST FOREIGN FILM: “Drive My Car” – Japan(Runner-ups: “The Worst Person in the World” – Norway) 

BEST DOCUMENTARY: “Summer of Soul”(Runner-up: “Procession”) 

VINCE KOEHLER AWARD FOR THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/HORROR FILM: “The Green Knight”(Runner-up: “Dune”) 

TOM POE AWARD FOR THE BEST LGBT FILM: “Flee”(Runner-up: “The Power of the Dog”)

Benedict Cumberbatch stars in THE COURIER. Zack Snyder finally unleashes his JUSTICE LEAGUE on HBOMAX subscribers. Lonita Cook and Katey Stoetzel are on the scene to set you straight.

Yay! It’s our debut episode. Twice a month, members of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle will log on and break down the latest releases. In our inaugural episode, Tim English and Lonita Cook dig in on COMING 2 AMERICA, SPONGE ON THE RUN and RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON! Enjoy!

Check out the slew of new movie reviews from your friendly neighborhood Kansas City Film Critics. Today, we’ll organize by critic so you can get to know us!

Katey Stoetzel, TheYoungFolks.com

Movie:Censor

Director Prano Bailey-Bond creates an ode to the 1980s and horror films of the era with Censor. Fans of the video nasties, as they were called, will certainly love the visual references and call outs of the genre. However, the film struggles to find its footing between the story of Enid (Niamh Algar) and the descent into the genre itself. 

Enid is a film censor, someone who monitors horror films for excessive gore, rape, and murder. Bailey-Bond, in her debut feature film,

READ KATEY’S FULL REVIEW: CENSOR

Simonie Wilson, Courier Tribune

Movie:The Little Things

When you see the cast of a cop thriller includes Denzel Washington (“Training Day,” “Fences”), Jared Leto (“Suicide Squad,” “Blade Runner 2049”) and Rami Malek (“Night at the Museum,” “24”), it makes you wonder who will be playing the bad guy in “The Little Things.”

Right from the beginning, we learn Denzel and Rami are the cops; the question of who the good guys actually are is the central theme of the film to the end.

In addition, with John Lee Hancock (“The Blind Side,” “Saving Mr. Banks”) on board as both writer and director, this star-studded event…

READ SIMONIE’S FULL REVIEW: THE LITTLE THINGS

Nathan Swank, Flix66

Movie:Promising Young Woman

There is something strangely bright and cheerful about this very dark and disturbing… Drama? Horror? Comedy? Well, it’s a revenge thriller at heart. But PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN has all these wonderful layers that overlap so many incredible genres.

Writer and director Emerald Fennell crafts a wickedly perfect, on point and thoroughly entertaining movie about male’s privileged predatory acts towards women without consequences. Without consequences as long as you don’t run into Cassandra.

READ NATHAN’S FULL REVIEW: PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN

Dan Lybarger, Arkansas Democratic Gazette

Movie:Supernova

“Supernova” is deeply affecting but its bombastic title is a misdirection.

This is Harry Macqueen’s second feature film as a director, but there is a dearth of loud “Oscar Clip” moments. With Actors as good as Oscar-winner Colin Firth and Oscar-nominee Stanley Tucci, Macqueen can make a film that concentrates on small, even mundan moments and make them engrossing. Watching either of them fumbling with sheets of paper is more involving than hearing a lot of performers bellow soliloquies.

READ DAN’S FULL REVIEW: SUPERNOVA

Alan Rapp, Razorfine.com

Movie:Vast of Night

Presented as something very similar to an episode from the original Twilight Zone, The Vast of Night offers a glimpse into a non-descript small town on a night when almost all are gathered for a high school basketball game and only a scattered few become aware of odd goings on in the night sky. The small town, set in the 1950s, focused on radio and reel-to-reel recordings…

READ ALANS FULL REVIEW: VAST OF NIGHT

Movie:Nomadland

Nomadland is a quiet, contemplative film not unlike Into the Wild or Wild in which a character leaves behind the conventions of society in search of something their former life can no longer offer. In the case of writer/director Chloé Zhao‘s tale, adapted from the book by Jessica Bruder, our character is an older widow who has lost nearly everything in the Great Recession including the home she made with her late husband when the town completely collapsed.

READ ALAN’S FULL REVIEW: NOMADLAND

For the sixth time in its esteemed 55-year history, the Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) was deadlocked in its Best Film category. At this year’s James Loutzenhiser Awards, “Nomadland” by Chloé Zao and “Promising Young Woman” by Emerald Fennell ended up sharing the group’s top honor. “Nomadland” also received awards in the Best Director and Adapted Screenplay categories, while “Promising Young Woman” won Best Actress and Original Screenplay. They were the only films to win multiple awards.

The KCFCC, the second oldest professional film critic organization in the United States, was founded in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser (1931-2001) who served as the group’s president for over 30 years. The 22-member group also selected Denmark’s “Another Round,” starring Mads Mikkelsen, as 2020’s Best Foreign Film and “Kajillionaire” receiving recognition with the Tom Poe Award for Best LGBT Film.

Below is a complete list of the winners of the55th Annual James Loutzenhiser Awards:

BEST FILM: “Nomadland” and “Promising Young Woman”

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR:Chloé Zao, “Nomadland”
(Runner-up: Aaron Sorkin, “The Trial of the Chicago 7”)

BEST ACTOR: Riz Ahmed, “Sound of Metal”
(Runner-up: Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”)

BEST ACTRESS: Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman”
(Runner-up: Frances McDormand, “Nomadland”)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:Leslie Odom, Jr., “One Night in Miami”
(Runner-up: Paul Raci, “Sound of Metal”)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Youn Yuh-Jung, “Minari”
(Runner-up: Maria Bakalova, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: “Promising Young Woman”
(Runner-up: “The Trial of the Chicago 7”)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: “Nomadland”
(Runner-up: “I’m Thinking of Ending Things”)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: “The Vast of Night”
(Runner-up: “Mank”)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: “Wolfwalkers”
(Runner-up: “Soul”)

BEST FOREIGN FILM: “Another Round” – Denmark
(Runner-ups: “76 Days” – China; “Bacurau” – Brazil; “The Life Ahead” – Italy)

BEST DOCUMENTARY: “The Dissident”
(Runner-up: “Crip Camp”)

VINCE KOEHLER AWARD FOR THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/HORROR FILM: “The Invisible Man”
(Runner-up: “The Vast of Night”

TOM POE AWARD FOR THE BEST LGBT FILM: “Kajillionaire”
(Runner-up: “The Prom”)

Congratulations, albeit a bit delayed, are in order forAbby Olcese was elected as the new President of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle during our annual elections over the summer. In addition,Adrian Torres was elected VP,Michael D. Smith (Secretary) andLonita Cook (Governing Board).

You can view the fullKansas City Film Critics Circle roster, including links to our reviews.

KANSAS CITY, MO,15 DECEMBER 2019

1917, Sam Mendes’ single-shot sprint through the trenches of World War I, was named the Best Film of 2019 by the Kansas City Film Critics Circle. Mendes won the Robert Altman Award for Best Director. Roger Deankin’s cinematography earned1917another win.1917andUswere the only films to receive multiple awards. The latter received the Vince Koehler Award for the Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror Film.Usstar Lupita Nyong’o was named Best Actress.

Each year, the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, the second oldest film critics organization in the United States, votes on its members’ selections for the James Loutzenhiser Awards. 2019 marks the 54th time the group has handed out honors.Parasitewas named the year’s Best Foreign Film, and the Tom Poe Award for Best LGBT Film went toPortrait of a Lady on Fire.Toy Story 4continued the franchise’s winning streak, winning Best Animated Feature. Previous installments topped the category in 1995, 1999, and 2010.

Below is a complete list of the winners of the 54th Annual James Loutzenhiser Awards.

BEST FILM:1917

Runner up:Parasite

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD

FOR BEST DIRECTORSam Mendes,1917

Runner up: Bong Joon-ho,Parasite

BEST ACTORAdam Driver,Marriage Story

Runner up: Eddie Murphy,Dolemite Is My Name

BEST ACTRESSLupita Nyong’o,Us

Runner up: Rene Zellweger,Judy

BEST SUPPORTING ACTORJoe Pesci,The Irishman

Runner up: Brad Pitt,Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESSDa’Vine Joy Randolph,Dolemite Is My Name

Runners up (tie): Laura Dern,Marriage Story;Zhao Shuzen,The Farewell

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAYRian Johnson,Knives Out

Runner up: Bong Joon-ho, Han Jin-won,Parasite

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAYGreta Gerwig,Little Women

Runner up: Steven Zaillian,The Irishman

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHYRoger Deakins,1917

BEST ANIMATED FEATUREToy Story 4

Runner up:I Lost My Body

BEST FOREIGN FILMParasite

Runner up:Portrait of a Lady on Fire

BEST DOCUMENTARY (tie)Amazing Grace;Apollo 11

VINCE KOEHLER AWARDFOR THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/HORRORFILMUs

Runner up:Midsommar

TOM POE AWARD FOR BESTLGBT FILMPortrait of a Lady on Fire

Runner up:Booksmart