The Boston Society of Film Critics

U.S. FILM CRITICS' GROUPS CONDEMN VIOLENCE AGAINST HAMDAN BALLAL We, the members of the National Society of Film Critics, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and the Boston Society of Film Critics, express our support for the Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal and condemn, in the strongest terms, the brutal and unlawful attack he suffered this week at the hands of Israeli settlers, as well as his detainment by Israeli authorities. We are gravely concerned for Mr. Ballal's health and safety, as well as the safety of his loved ones, and, now that he has been released, extend our hopes for his full recovery from his injuries. Mr. Ballal was assaulted near his home in Khirbet Susya, a village in the Masafer Yatta region of the occupied West Bank. Attacks on the residents of Masafer Yatta are nothing new, as we have seen from "No Other Land," the Academy Award-winning documentary that Mr. Ballal co-directed with Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor. As critics representing four of the numerous organizations that honored "No Other Land" as the best documentary of 2024, we are infuriated that a filmmaker's brave and principled advocacy has made him even more of a target in a community where Palestinians already exist under continual threat of displacement and violence. One of the most powerful aspects of "No Other Land" — and the reason so many have tried, in vain, to limit its reach and silence its message — is that it is itself a rare feat of collaboration between Palestinian and Israeli journalists, activists, and artists, united by their belief in dignity and equality for all. By the very nature of its form and creation, the film represents, and dares to imagine, a more peaceful future. We applaud Mr. Ballal and his colleagues for the courage and artistry with which they have advanced that vision and affirm that it will never be forgotten.

We join our colleagues in @nsfc.bsky.social, @nyfcc.bsky.social and @lafilmcritics.bsky.social in condemning the attack on NO OTHER LAND co-director Hamdan Ballal.

Robyn Bahr’s Top 10 Films of 2024 Following The Film Stage's collective top 50 films of 2024, as part of our year-end coverage, our contributors are sharing their personal top 10 lists. 2024 was my year of big, blustering cinema. The ...

At @thefilmstage.bsky.social, Robyn Bahr counted down her top ten films of 2024.

Film Review: "The Damned" -- Horror on Ice - The Arts Fuse "The Damned" is a perfect little ice-cold January horror gem blending historical, psychological, and folk chills into a bleak midwinter’s tale to keep you up through the longest nights of the year.

At @theartsfuse.bsky.social, Ezra Haber Glenn called THE DAMNED “a perfect little ice-cold January horror gem.”

Reviewed: 'Seed of the Sacred Fig,' ‘Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat’ and ‘Room Next Door’ in theaters - Cambridge Day In theaters in the coming week are the Iranian “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” documentary “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” and Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door.”

At @cambridgeday.bsky.social, @tbmeek3.bsky.social reviewed THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG, THE ROOM NEXT DOOR, and SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D’ETAT (the latter of which screens this weekend at @brattletheatre.bsky.social).

At @bostonhassle.bsky.social, @annahoang.bsky.social reviewed Sandhya Suri’s SANTOSH. bostonhassle.com/review-santo...

Putin - Reeling Reviews It is 2026 and as a world leader, clad only in a diaper, shakes on the floor, a general gives him the type of news he likes to hear - that it is the West who should be called authoritarian, that…

At Reeling Reviews, @laurareeling.bsky.social didn’t much care for the AI-enhanced biopic PUTIN.

The Best Movies of 2024 - InBetweenDrafts From the epic adventure of 'Dune: Part Two' to the subversive romp of 'The People's Joker,' we've found the best movies of 2024.

In Between Drafts counted down their 15 favorite movies of 2024, with contributions from BSFC members @vincensg.bsky.social and @allysonaj.bsky.social!

‘The Brutalist’: Epic at 3.5 hours but a 4-star film that must be seen on the biggest screen available - Cambridge Day The word “masterpiece” tends to be thrown around a lot in the weeks and months leading up to the Academy Awards, but in this case, it’s justified.

At @cambridgeday.bsky.social, @theoscargoff.bsky.social reviewed the epic THE BRUTALIST, which opens on 70mm this weekend at the Coolidge and the Somerville.

The Trend This Oscar Season: Women Reclaiming Their Sexuality From ‘Babygirl’ to ‘Nightbitch,’ a once-neglected topic is on the table.

At @throffical.bsky.social, Robyn Bahr looked at how women are reclaiming their sexuality this Oscar season.

At Reeling Reviews, @laurareeling.bsky.social called SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D’ETAT “one of 2024's very best documentaries.” Catch it this weekend at @brattletheatre.bsky.social!

MOVIE: A COMPLETE UNKNOWN I know this about A COMPLETE UNKNOWN: Timothee Chalamet nails it. The new biopic charts poet, musician, Nobel Prize-winner Bob Dylan’s subterranean landing in the middle of the last century, like a…

At Joyce’s Choices, Joyce Kulhawik praises the performances and impact of the Bob Dylan biopic A COMPLETE UNKNOWN.

Justice Smith in I SAW THE TV GLOW

For @bostonhassle.bsky.social, @theoscargoff.bsky.social counted down his top ten films of 2024. https://buff.ly/4gThTvt https://buff.ly/4gThTvt%0A

Film Review: Go with the "Flow" - The Arts Fuse This film puts "cat" back in catastrophe

For @theartsfuse.bsky.social, @pkeough1.bsky.social reviewed the “mind boggling” animated epic FLOW.

‘Day of the Fight’: Sparring with ghosts Michael C. Pitt stars in a black-and-white boxing drama where the past looms large on the eve of a fighter’s comeback.

For Boston Movie News, @filmcriticjames7.bsky.social reviewed Jack Huston’s “poetic, fairytale-like” boxing drama THE DAY OF THE FIGHT.

Thrilled to reveal my top ten films of 2024 at @bostonhassle.bsky.social! Excellent movie year, even though (or perhaps because) Hollywood was in shambles. bostonhassle.com/year-ender-o...

ACTOR 1. Adrien Brody, THE BRUTALIST 2. Hugh Grant, HERETIC 3.Justice Smith, I SAW THE TV GLOW ENSEMBLE 1.KINDS OF KINDNESS 2. LOVE LIES BLEEDING 3. THE LAST SHOWGIRL ACTRESS 1. Lea Seydoux, THE BEAST 2. Lily Rose Depp, NOSFERATU 3. Ilinca Manolache, DO NOT EXPECT TOOMUCH. SUP. ACTOR 1. Adan Pearson, A DIFFERENT MAN 2. Chris Hemsworth, FURIOSA 3. Nicolas Cage, LONGLEGS DIRECTOR 1. Jane Schoenbrun, I SAW THE TV GLOW 2. Brady Corbet, THE BRUTALIST 3. Oz Perkins, LONGLEGS AD. SCREENPLAY 1. THE BEAST 2. CONCLAVE 3. THE PEOPLE'S JOKER SUP ACTRESS 1. Tilda Swinton, PROBLEMISTA 2. Katy Obrian, LOVE LIES BLEEDING 3. Kathryn Hunter, THE FRONT ROOM OG. SCREENPLAY I.A DIFFERENT MAN 2. I SAW THE TV GLOW 3, KINDS OF KINDNESS CINEMATOGRAPHY 1. NICKEL BOYS 2, THE BRUTALIST 3. AGGRO DRIFT EDITING 1. CHALLENGERS 2. PICTURES OF GHOSTS 3. ANORA SCORE 1. CHALLENGERS 2. THE BRUTALIST 3. SATURDY NIGHT DOCUMENTARY 1. PICTURES OF GHOSTS 2, SEEKING MAVIS BEACON 3. MADE IN ENGLAND ANIMATED 1. FLOW 2. CHICKEN FOR LINDA! 3. WALLACE & GROMIT: VENGEANCE MOST FOWL FOREIGN I, THE BEAST 2. DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD 3, HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON NEW FILMMAKER 1. Weston Razooli, RIDDLE OF FIRE 2. Vera Drew, THE PEOPLE'S JOKER 3. Julio Torres, PROBLEMISTA

Here are my first-round picks from today’s @bsfc.bsky.social vote (apart from Best Picture— keep an eye on @bostonhassle.bsky.social for my complete Top Ten soon!)

Dispatches From the Room Where It Happens (2024 Edition) As you’re reading this, I’ve recently spent (probably) 8 or so hours in a room at MIT with the other members of the Boston Society of Film Critics, where we voted on our annual awards. This comes as t...

The Boston Society of Film Critics (@bsfc.bsky.social) just wrapped up our yearly meeting, where we voted on our 2024 award winners. Here's my report, in which I justify my own choices, and ruminate on the results: between-art-and-life.ghost.io/dispatches-f...

BSFC Names ‘Anora’ Best Film of 2024 ‘Anora’ wins four awards from the Boston Society of Film Critics, including Best Film.

Our complete list of winners is now live on our website! Thanks to everyone who followed along— we’ll see you at the movies! 🍿

Bobita and Uwe Boll in DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLd

BEST NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE FILM:

DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD

Mark Eydelshteyn and Mikey Madison in ANORA

BEST PICTURE

ANORA

Sean Baker on the set of ANORA

BEST DIRECTOR

Sean Baker, ANORA

The cast of SING SING

BEST ENSEMBLE

SING SING

Timothée Chalamet, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN

BEST ACTOR

Timothée Chalamet, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN

Mikey Madison, ANORA

BEST ACTRESS

Mikey Madison, ANORA

Edward Norton, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Edward Norton, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN

Danielle Deadwyler, THE PIANO LESSON

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Danielle Deadwyler, THE PIANO LESSON

Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson, NICKEL BOYS

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

NICKEL BOYS (RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes, based on the book by Colson Whitehead)

Mark Eydelshteyn and Mikey Madison in ANORA

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

ANORA (Sean Baker)

Annie Baker, JANET PLANET

BEST NEW FILMMAKER

Annie Baker, JANET PLANET

NO OTHER LAND

BEST DOCUMENTARY

NO OTHER LAND