The New York Film Critics Circle gathered 'round to award everything to American Hustle

By Sean O'Neal | December 3, 2013 | 9:05pm

Aux Features Film

Not to be outdone by their entirely fictional counterparts at the Gotham Awards, the New York Film Critics Circle undertook their annual joining of hands to form a sacred critics' ring, into which they cast stones at a virgin theater usher until the blood spelled out the names of this year’s best movies. (Or maybe they just filled out ballots.) Clearly looking to continue its long history of choosing films unlikely to win Best Picture, like critics might do in the flyover states, New York went all in for American Hustle, awarding David O. Russell’s ’70s crime drama honors for Best Feature, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress for Jennifer Lawrence’s dress. /golf swing

Other winners you can probably start to consider locks, if not for Oscar wins, then likely for Oscar nominations (and definitely the next few, endless months of Oscar conversations): Steve McQueen, Best Director for 12 Years A Slave; Cate Blanchett, Best Actress for Blue Jasmine; Robert Redford, Best Actor for All Is Lost; and Jared Leto, Best Supporting Actor for Dallas Buyers Club. Here’s the complete list of winners, arrayed in an ordinary, boring line like we do here in the Midwest.