Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Critics Choice Nominees Reaction, Part 3: TV Movie/Limited Series


Though the movies aren’t as much of a factor, one must give credit to critics for recognizing two  nominees that worked on the stage Jesus Christ Superstar and Anna Deavere Smith’s Notes from the Field. The category is, as per usual, dominated by HBO, but I’m glad to see The Tale getting more recognition than it did from the Emmys.

BEST LIMITED SERIES
No argument for Assassination of Gianni Versace, Escape at Dannemora, or Sharp Objects. One can hardly fault them for recognizing A Very English Scandal (which now I have to see). And given that everybody now recognizes what American Vandal was trying to do, it’s hard to ignore it. I would have preferred Patrick Melrose over Genius:Picasso, but at least they didn’t nominate The Alienist.

BEST ACTOR, MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
Darren Criss continues his hot streak. Paul Dano and Benicio Del Toro finally got the recognition the Hollywood Foreign Press denied them. And I can see the logic in nominated Hugh Grant and Antonio Banderas. But where is Benedict Cumberbatch? I have no problem with John Legend getting nominated in principal, but at the expense of Cumberbatch’s superb performance, I do have an objection. Well, this is how it works sometimes.

BEST ACTRESS IN A TV MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
Just as with the Golden Globes, I really don’t have an objection to any of the nominees in this category. Adams, Arquette, Britton and Dern were among the best performers of the years. Carrie Coon more than deserves to be her for her superb work as the cult leader in The Sinner. And considering just how all-encompassing Anna Deavere Smith’s work was in Notes From The Field, I’m glad she was honored, even if it was at the expense of Regina King.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TV MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
As always, an interested mix.  Ben Whishaw was nominated for the Golden Globes, so it makes sense he’s here. Brandon Victor Dixon received an Emmy nomination for his work as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, so that makes sense. Eric Lange is a pleasant surprise as the cuckolded, buffoon of a husband in Escape at Dannemora. And I’m glad to see Finn Wittrock here for Gianni Versace, even if they couldn’t nominate Edgar Martinez.
Peter Sarsgaard is a strange choice for The Looming Tower – one wonders why they chose to select him rather than Jeff Daniels. And if you’re going to nominate one actor for Picasso, one might as well nominate both, which is probably why Alex Rich got nominated. It would’ve been nice to see Chris Messina or Jason Ritter, but you can’t have everything, even here.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TV MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
Another interesting group. One expected to see Penelope Cruz and Patricia Clarkson here for their fine work in Giannia Versace and Sharp Objects, respectively. It’s slightly surprising to see Judith Light here for the former (though considering she got an Emmy nod, not that much of one), and more surprising to see Elizabeth Perkins for the boozy friend of the family as the latter. It’s not that she wasn’t great, just a little bit of a shock.
Ellen Burstyn more than deserved to be nominated for an Emmy for her fine work as Laura Dern’s mother in The Tale. I didn’t realize that Julia Garner had been so busy this year, even though I knew she was playing one of the daughters in Dirty John. Still, it is a little strange that of all the great actors and actress, she’s the one who double-dips. Not bad, necessarily, just strange.

I’ll be back later as I try to make my best guesses as to who will win.

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