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Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Names The Social Network Best Movie of 2010
The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle has announced its fifth annual list of awards for achievement in film in 15 categories, giving top honors to The Social Network as the best motion picture of 2010.
Chronicling the creation of Facebook, The Social Network also won three other awards from OFCC members: Best Director for David Fincher, Best Actor for Jesse Eisenberg, and Best Screenplay (Adapted) for Aaron Sorkin.
Rounding out the group’s 10 Best Films of 2010 list were Inception, Black Swan, The Fighter, Winter’s Bone, True Grit, The King’s Speech, Toy Story 3, The Kids Are All Right and 127 Hours.
In the three other performance categories, Black Swan danced away with two of them, with Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress honors going to Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, respectively. The Fighter‘s Christian Bale won Best Supporting Actor.
“We’ve heard all year that 2010 had fewer great movies than usual, and the voting was so close in most every category that there may be some truth to that,” said Rod Lott, OFCC president. ”There were only two instances in which the results were landslides, and one of them was Christian Bale’s win. It’s no wonder he’s favored to win the Oscar.”
The other was Toy Story 3’s clear victory in the category of Best Animated Film.
Best Documentary went to guerilla graffiti artist Banksy’s Exit Through the Gift Shop.
“We’re not 100-percent convinced it’s a true documentary,” Lott said, “but if the Oscars consider it to be one, that’s good enough for us. Either way, it’s an excellent film.”
Not every OFCC year-end award is worth bragging about, however. The summer sequel flop Sex and the City 2 was cited as the year’s Obviously Worst Film, while Tim Burton’s massively successful 3-D adaptation of Alice in Wonderland was named the Not-So-Obviously Worst Film.
“Many critics expected Sex and the City 2 to be bad,” Lott said, “but arguably an equal number had hopes for Alice, given Tim Burton’s involvement. That it proved so disappointing even with all the talent behind it is why it ‘wins’ our award for the Not-So-Obviously Worst Film.”
Not all the films named as award winners opened in Oklahoma before voting took place; studios arranged press screenings and provided DVDs of many of their films so OFCC members could consider them for year-end honors.
“One of our goals as a critics’ group is to make people in this state aware of quality films that don’t have millions and millions of dollars to spend on advertising like the major studios,” Lott said. “Many times, an indie movie or one that’s simply under the radar may play here only a week — if that — and be gone before word of mouth has a chance to kick in. But there is an audience here for sophisticated, intelligent films that challenge and entertain. The stereotype of Oklahomans perpetuated by Hollywood films is just not true.”
OFCC promotes film in Oklahoma and strives to increase the visibility of the state’s film-viewing and filmmaking communities. Its members are Oklahoma-based movie critics who write for print and online outlets that publish or post reviews of current film releases. Among the media outlets represented are Oklahoma Gazette, The Oklahoman, Tulsa World, Edmond Life & Leisure and others.
For more information, plus past winners and links to individual reviews, visit the OFCC website at www.ofccircle.org.
Complete List of OFCC’s 2010 Awards
Top 10 Best Films
The Social Network
Inception
Black Swan
The Fighter
Winter’s Bone
True Grit
The King’s Speech
Toy Story 3
The Kids Are All Right
127 Hours
Best Film
The Social Network
Best First Feature
Chris Morris, Four Lions
Obviously Worst Movie
Sex and the City 2
Not-So-Obviously Worst Movie
Alice in Wonderland
Best Director
David Fincher, The Social Network
Best Actor
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Best Actress
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Supporting Actress
Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Best Screenplay (Original)
Christopher Nolan, Inception
Best Screenplay (Adapted)
Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
Best Documentary
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Best Foreign Language Film
A Prophet
Best Animated Film
Toy Story 3
