23rd
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Announces Second Annual Awards
The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle has announced its second annual list of awards for achievement in film, paying tribute to the best in film for 2007 and naming those films that disappointed.
“The 17 Oklahoma film critics belonging to OFCC agree 2007 has been the strongest year in several for really fine films and strong performances,” said Kathryn Jenson White, founding president of the critics’ organization that came into being in early 2006.
“Major studios and independent film units surprised and delighted us; of course, some of the products from those same studios were pretty disappointing. These awards represent our consensus.”
Members of OFCC write for print and online outlets in Oklahoma that consistently publish or post developed critical responses to current film releases: The Oklahoman, the Tulsa World, the Oklahoma Gazette, Urban Tulsa Weekly, AOL Cinematical, Distinctly Oklahoma and hnokc.com.
“The honorees this year were pretty decided in all categories, but those who came in second were the favorites of many” Jenson White said. “Our voting system led to strong leads for ‘Juno’’s Ellen Page as both Best Actress and Breakout Performance. However, Julie Christie in ‘Away From Her’ had passionate support from several. While George Clooney’s performance in ‘Michael Clayton’ was excellent, members pushed, too, for Philip Seymour Hoffman in ‘Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead’ and Viggo Mortensen in ‘Eastern Promises.’ In Best Picture and Best Director categories, the voting was extremely strong for Ethan Coen and Joel Coen and their film, ‘No Country for Old Men.’ Also in the OFCC Top 10 films were ‘Juno,’ ‘Zodiac,’ ‘Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead’ and ‘The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters,’ the film that won the group’s Best Documentary award.
“While 2007 ended as a strong year for fine films and outstanding performances, OFCC member critics also found many films ranging from disappointing to infuriating. As Obvious Worst Film of the Year, they named ‘Norbit’ but came up with another 38 contenders. In the Not-So-Obviously Worst Film of the Year they named ‘Youth Without Youth,’ Francis Ford Coppola’s long-awaited return from his vineyards to the screen and, in a tie, ‘Bee Movie.’
“As professional moviegoers, we see many more unsuccessful films than successful ones,” Jenson White said. “The Not-So-Obviously Worst Film category contains films that, as this year’s choices show, have great talent behind them but contain some sort of fatal flaw.”
Not all of 2007’s films opened in Oklahoma before voting took place. Studios arranged press screenings and provided DVDs of many of their films so OFCC members could assess and consider them for year-end awards.
“Studios are beginning to understand that while Oklahoma might not be a major market, it is a state of many dedicated to film, from production to study to viewing,” Jenson White said. “Our goal as a group is to continue to make that point in as many ways as we can.”
OFCC promotes film in Oklahoma and strives to increase the visibility of the state’s film- viewing and filmmaking communities. The film critics of Oklahoma see the majority of the studio and independent films of any given year and write hundreds of reviews of them as individuals. They also choose their personal best-of-the-year films for their individual media outlets.
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle 2007 Film Awards
Top Ten Films
No Country For Old Men
Juno
Zodiac
Atonement
Michael Clayton
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
Gone Baby Gone
Once
Eastern Promises
Best Film of 2007
No Country for Old Men
Best Director(s)
Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, No Country for Old Men
Best First Feature
Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone
Best Actress
Ellen Page, Juno
Best Actor
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Breakout Performance
Ellen Page, Juno
Best Documentary
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
Best Foreign Film
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Best Animated Film
Ratatouille
Obviously Worst Film
Norbit
Not-So-Obviously Worst Film
Youth Without Youth/Bee Movie (Tie)
