LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s drama “Drive My Car” was named best film of 2021 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association on Saturday.
The three-hour film is based on a short story by Haruki Murakami and is about the relationship between an aging actor and his young chauffeur.
The critics also honored Penelope Cruz as best actress for “Parallel Mothers”, named Simon Rex best actor for “Red Rocket” and awarded Jane Campion the award for best director for “The Power of the Dog”.
The awards were announced on Twitter. All winners will be honored at a ceremony in 2022.
Here is a list of the winners announced on Saturday:
- Best picture: “Drive My Car”
- Best Actor: Simon Rex, “Red Rocket”.
- Best Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Parallel Mothers”.
- Best director: Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”.
- Best Supporting Actor: (Tie) Vincent Lindon, “Titane” and Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog”.
- Best Supporting Actress: Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”.
- Best Screenplay: Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe, “Drive My Car”.
- Best camera: Ari Wegner, “The Power of the Dog”.
- Best Editing: Joshua Pearson, “Summer of Soul”.
- Best Production Design: Steve Saklad, “Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar.”
- Best music / score: Alberto Iglesias, “Parallel Mothers”
- Best documentary / non-fiction film: “Summer of Soul”.
- Best animated film: “Flee”.
- New generation: (tie) Shatara Michelle Ford, “Test Pattern” and Tatiana Huezo, “Prayers for the Stolen”.
LAFCA also awards Mel Brooks his 2021 Career Success Award.
“Mel Brooks is a national treasure and a legend of comedy filmmakers,” said LAFCA President Claudia Puig of the 95-year-old writer, director, actor and composer, who was mainly responsible for the comedy hits “Blazing Saddles”, “Young Frankenstein “and. known is “The Producers.”
Puig added, “Not only did he make us laugh, he broke comic book barriers and paved the way and influenced generations of filmmakers after him.”
Last year LAFCA named Small Ax, a British anthology film series created and directed by Steve McQueen, as Best Picture of 2020.
LAFCA was founded in 1975 and comprises professional Los Angeles film critics working in print and electronic media.
On December 3, the New York Film Critics Circle named “Drive My Car” the best film of 2021.
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