By Perry Balsamo, Staff Writer
The 2024 Critics’ Choice Awards took place on Jan. 14. The trophies were given to new movies receiving a high Critics Choice rating score in the weekly voting by the Critics Choice Association. The Critics Choice Association is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 600 media critics and entertainment journalists.
Going into the awards, “Barbie” had led with a record-breaking 18 nominations. At the end of the night, “Barbie” left with six trophies: Best Original Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Makeup, Best Comedy and Best Song.
“Oppenheimer,” although not receiving as many nominations, was a clear favorite for the night, sweeping the show with eight awards. These awards were Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Acting Ensemble, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects and Best Score.
Christopher Nolan, the director of “Oppenheimer,” is no stranger to the awards scene. Before his win for Best Director this year at the Critics’ Choice Awards, he also received Best Director at the Golden Globe Awards a week prior.
Some of Nolan’s other accolades include the Empire Award for Best Director for “Interstellar” in 2015 and “The Prestige” in 2007, along with the Saturn Award for Best Director for “Inception” in 2011.
Senior film major Darin Cofield said he did not watch the Critics’ Choice Awards this year.
“I didn’t watch it, but after knowing the winners, I think it makes sense especially for Best Score and Best Cinematography to go to ‘Oppenheimer,” Cofield said.
Cofield elaborated on his thoughts on “Oppenheimer.”
“I thought ‘Oppenheimer’ was great, it was just too long,” he said. “There was a lot of talking. I mainly liked it because Christopher Nolan directed it and he’s one of my favorite directors.”
“Barbie” screenwriters Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach received the award for Best Screenplay after the film received great praise. Scoring 88 percent according to Rotten Tomatoes.
This is not the first time Gerwig has been acclaimed for her writing. At the National Society of Film Critics Awards(NSFC) in 2018, Gerwig won awards for Best Screenplay and Best Director for “Lady Bird.” In 2020, she also won Best Director at the NSFC for “Little Women.”
Freshman film major Alina Danilchenko shared her thoughts on the awards “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” received at the Critics’ Choice Awards.
“I would say the only one that I really would have seen ‘Barbie’ getting [over ‘Oppenheimer’] is Best Director,” Danilchenko said. “I did hear there was a lot of groundbreaking stuff with the director, Greta Gerwig.”
Cofield shared his analysis of the importance of “Barbie.”
“I think ‘Barbie’ is a good movie for women and men, in general,” he said. “It’s one of those movies that shows women and men are just seen and not heard. It shows women need to be heard as well.”
Danilchenko echoed Cofield’s statement on “Barbie” offering more to audiences than what might appear on the surface.
“When you think of ‘Barbie’ you think of kids dolls and blonde girls, but the deeper message behind the actual movie itself and the storyline I found very interesting,” she explained. “I think the message came across very well.
Ryan Gosling, who plays Ken in “Barbie,” was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the awards but lost to Rober Downey Jr. who portrayed Lewis Strauss in “Oppenheimer.” However, a song Gosling performed in the film, “I’m Just Ken,” won the award for Best Song. Danilchenko shared her thoughts on these choices.
“I think that definitely proves the point that they were trying to get across in the movie itself,” she stated. “It’s such a silly song, I feel like it winning such a big award, in a movie that was about empowering women just shows the imbalance between men and women.”
Danilchenko elaborated on what she believes this represents about society, echoing themes explored in the movie.
“The fact that Ryan Gosling won an award for a song as a side character in the movie when the main leading actress didn’t get anything, I feel like that kinda just proved the point ‘Barbie’ was trying to get across,” she said.
Ryan Gosling discussed the matter with The Hollywood Reporter.
“There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no ‘Barbie’ movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally celebrated film,” Gosling said. “To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”
Although “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” dominated the Critics’ Choice Awards, it does not mean they are guaranteed to have the same outcome at The Oscars, which will take place on March 10, 2024.
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