By John H. Foote

For the second consecutive year, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFC) honoured a film not in English as their Best Film of the year.

Parasite, an acclaimed film since winning the top prize at Cannes last May, took Best Picture honours as well as Best Director for  Bong Joon Ho. Martin Scorsese was runner up for Best Director, and his film, the masterful The Irishman was Runner up. The Irishman is hugely touted as the years very best and seems on track to win Best Picture and Director at the Academy Awards.

Antonio Banderas won Best Actor in Pain and Glory, while Mary Kay Place took Best Actress in the criminally underseen Diane. I am surprised enough critics even screened Diane, it flew so low under the radar. Incredibly Lupita Nyong’o was Runner up for Us, likely the most overrated performance of the year.

Song Kang Ho was a huge surprise as Best Supporting Actor in Parasite, edging out Joe Pesci in The Irishman.

Jennifer Lopez took Best Supporting Actress in Hustlers, confirming she is in the Oscar race for real.

Marriage Story was named outstanding screenplay, surprising no one.

Strangely Parasite voted Best Film was not named Best Foreign Language Film, which instead went to Pain and Glory. It makes no sense.

The LA critics, while prestigious, lack the clout of the New York critics awards and always have. They went their own way this year and might have displayed their credibility. Being different to be different is not cool. It is stupid. 

For me Parasite was average and I do not understand or agree with the adulation. Scorsese’s accomplishment is one for the ages, Parasite is not.

Leave a comment