Per Matt
Everything Everywhere All at Once rules the multiverse at the Music City Film Critics’ Association’s 2022 Film Awards! The sci-fi dramedy won six awards, including Best Picture, Best Director – The Daniels, Best Actress – Michelle Yeoh, Best Supporting Actor – Ke Huy Quan, Best Screenplay and Best Editing.
“It’s fantastic to see that a film as creative, entertaining and well-acted as Everything Everywhere All at Once get the recognition that it deserves,” MCFCA board member Dominique Fisher said. “We have a diverse group of critics with diverse tastes, so for it to dominate like it did speaks to its cinematic excellence.”
The films with the second-most awards for this year’s MCFCA awards include Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Top Gun: Maverick each receiving three awards.
“For me, 2022 was as much about the return of the event films and nothing encapsulated that more than Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Top Gun: Maverick. It’s great to see their inclusion as winners in multiple categories this year,” Vice President Micheal Compton added.
Each year the MCFCA gives out The Jim Ridley Award, a special award named after one of Nashville’s most beloved film critics, who died at age 50 in 2016. It is given to the film or the person that best represents Nashville and Tennessee. This year’s recipient is Nicole Kidman for her performance in Robert Eggers’ The Northman.
“Nicole Kidman has become one of Nashville’s biggest advocates for its film community, and we’re thrilled to be able to recognize her superb performance in The Northman,” MCFCA board member Cory Woodroof said. “Our Jim Ridley Award honors the spirit of film in our community city, and Kidman has done admirable work to help lift the community up.”
**Personal Commentary **
As movie theaters eventually relaxed their COVID-19 restrictions in 2022, a backlog of movies finally released to the public that were previously held back. Crowds were initially hesitant, as many kid’s movies opted for streaming services and the older-skewing releases were practically nonexistent, but superheroes and sequels were all the rage as only a handful of films single-handedly kept the film industry afloat. Marvel releases, Tom Cruise’s sequel 20 years in the making and King of the World James Cameron took no hostages as their films dominated. In the process, many smaller releases were overlooked by the masses.
I’m especially thankful for a couple of releases this year. Everything Everywhere All at Once was incredibly creative and original, both aspects that are hard to find nowadays. It’s a good thing Marvel Studios hasn’t copyrighted the multiverse (yet). The Daniels absolutely deserve all the kudos they receive throughout the awards season, and I hope they receive much recognition.
The other film I cannot stop raving about is Good Night Oppy. If you’ve never gotten emotional while watching a movie featuring twin Mars rovers, then you’ve never watched this documentary! I’ve always been a sci-fi fan, but it’s truly shocking how much I really geek out about science fact. Good Night has all the makings of a disaster film… but it’s one with a happy ending. And it’s all true!
I look forward to discovering more hidden gems throughout the upcoming year. I’ll see you at the theater!
The 2023 Music City Film Critics’ Association Film Award Winners:
Best Picture
Everything Everywhere All at Once
The Jim Ridley Award
Nicole Kidman – The Northman
Best Director
The Daniels – Everything Everywhere All at Once
Best Actor
Brendan Fraser – The Whale
Best Actress
Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once
Best Supporting Actor
Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once
Best Supporting Actress
Janelle Monáe – Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Best Young Actor
Gabriel LaBelle – The Fabelmans
Best Young Actress
Frankie Corio – Aftersun
Best Acting Ensemble
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Best Music Film
Elvis
Best Animated Film
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Best Documentary
Good Night Oppy
Best International Film
RRR
Best Screenplay
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Best Original Song
“Naatu Naatu” – RRR
Best Score
Babylon
Best Sound
Top Gun: Maverick
Best Cinematography
Avatar: The Way of Water
Best Production Design
Avatar: The Way of Water
Best Editing
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Best Comedy Film
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Best Horror Film
Nope
Best Action Film
Top Gun: Maverick
Best Stunt Work
Top Gun: Maverick