Tomorrow’s 40th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards (LCCFA) ceremony at the May Fair Hotel in London features sixteen prizes, including those for 2019’s best actor, actress, documentary, foreign film, and film. Check out the full list of nominations here!
Having looked at the list ourselves, we want to add three that we think should have been on it too:
The Lion King
Over the course of 2019 Disney released several impressive remakes, but our favourite was The Lion King. Many dismiss this as simply a CGI replica of the original film released in the early nineties. But on The Insider website they list 44 small but significant changes that to our mind make this a contender, as does the ‘live action’ treatment of the pride of lions this time round. We had our doubts about whether this more realistic approach would be able to convey the same level of emotion as the original, but we definitely did cry during Mufasa’s death!
Frozen II
Our second suggestion is another sequel. Olaf the snowman’s irresistible personality made us want to try out Frozen II, and the rollercoaster of emotions – from laughter to tears – was one that we did not want to get off. We don’t want to spoil too much, but Elsa’s and Anna’s sisterly bond is just as strong as in the first movie.
Five Feet Apart
This tragic love story is everything you would want from a romantic drama, so why isn’t it on the LCCFA shortlist? The actors who play Stella (Hayley Lu Richardson) and Will (Cole Sprouse) are familiar faces from popular shows such as Riverdale and Jane the Virgin. This moving film about two Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients teaches us not only about the realities of CF, but also about how to appreciate the smaller moments in life and the people who surround us.
So, those are three films we think should have appeared on the LCCFA list of nominations. As for the eleven films that do appear on the list, for best film our favourites are as follows:
Joker
Joker makes it to the top of our list is because of the psychological insights it offers into this previously mysterious DC villain. Joaquin Phoenix is also the perfect fit for the role of Joker because of his ability to convey the psychological effects of what his character has gone through. If you’re a fan of the darker Batman movies then you will definitely like this.
Marriage Story
This dark divorce comedy is about the need to let go of your significant other, however overwhelmed you are by the feelings of betrayal that so often go together with the end of a marriage. Scarlett Johansson’s and Adam River’s portrayal of a couple forced to make heartbreaking and difficult decisions is realistic and therefore relatable. If you, like us, are fans of the work of Nicolas Sparks, then you will be hooked by this movie too.
