'The Force Awakens' Vies For Best Picture at Critics' Choice Awards

The post-apocalyptic, high-octane thriller “Mad Max: Fury Road” will carry a leading 13 nominations into Sunday’s presentation of the 21st annual Critics’ Choice Awards, while “Carol,” “The Martian” and “The Revenant” each have nine.

All four films were nominated for best picture, along with “The Big Short,” “Bridge of Spies,” “Brooklyn,” “Room,” “Sicario,” “Spotlight” and the late add “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was not originally included when nominations were announced in December, but was added after a follow-up vote by members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

Charlize Theron has two acting nods for “Mad Max,” for best actress and best actress in an action film. The film also has a best action-actor nod for Thomas Hardy, best director for George Miller and nominations for cinematography, production design, editing, costume design, hair and makeup, visual effects, best action movie and best sci-fi/horror movie.

Jennifer Lawrence is nominated for three acting awards -- best actress and best actress in a comedy for “Joy” and best actress in an action movie for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2.”

Along with Lawrence and Theron, best actress nominees are Cate Blanchett for “Carol,” Brie Larson for “Room,” Charlotte Rampling for “45 Years” and Saoirse Ronan for “Brooklyn.”

Vying for best actor are Bryan Cranston for “Trumbo,” Matt Damon for “The Martian,” Johnny Depp for “Black Mass,” Leonardo DiCaprio for “The Revenant,” Michael Fassbender for “Steve Jobs” and Eddie Redmayne for “The Danish Girl.”

For best acting ensemble, nominees are “The Big Short,” “The Hateful Eight,” “Spotlight,” “Straight Outta Compton” and “Trumbo.”

Miller will compete for best director honors with Todd Haynes of “Carol,” Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for “The Revenant,” Tom McCarthy for “Spotlight,” Ridley Scott for “The Martian” and Steven Spielberg for “Bridge of Spies.”

On the television side of the awards, the FX series “Fargo” has a leading eight nominations, including best movie made for television or limited series. Also nominated in that category are “Childhood’s End,” “Luther,” “Saints & Strangers,” “Show Me a Hero” and “The Wiz! Live.”

Up for best television drama are “Empire,” “Mr. Robot,” “Penny Dreadful,” “Rectify,” “The Knick,” “The Leftovers” and “UnREAL.” Competing for best comedy will be “Black-ish,” “Catastrophe,” “Jane the Virgin,” “Master of None,” “The Last Man on Earth,” “Transparent” and “You’re the Worst.”

The awards will be presented at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. During the ceremony, Amy Schumer will receive the Critics’ Choice MVP Award, while “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” director J.J. Abrams will present a Critics’ Choice Genius Award to Industrial Light and Magic, the special-effects house founded by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas.

--City News Service, photo courtesy of Lucasfilm