and the winner is...

Houston Film Critics Society unveils 'favourites' for upcoming movie awards

The Favourite is a Houston critics' favorite.

Photo by Yorgos Lanthimos

It appears the film critics of Houston have a thing for movies about 18th-century English royalty being bitchy to one another.

That would explain why the period piece The Favourite, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Olivia Colman and Oscar winners Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, has a whopping seven nominations in the 12th Annual Houston Film Critics Society Movie Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress.

The monster Marvel hit Black Panther and If Beale Street Could Talk, the James Baldwin-adapted latest from Moonlight director Barry Jenkins, are both tied with six nominations, while the Bradley Cooper-directed remake of A Star is Born and the Dick Cheney biopic Vice each have five. All these films are nominated for best picture, along with BlacKkKlansman, Eighth Grade, First Reformed, Green Book, Hereditary, and Roma.

“Once again, the HFCS nominations tell the story of the year in film,” Joshua Starnes, president of the organization (which this writer is a member), said in a statement. “By celebrating popular blockbusters as well as acclaimed independent films, the nominations remind us why we love to go to the movies.”

The winners will be announced on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at a free "Oscar-style" ceremony (with promotional assistance from ESPN 97.5 FM and SportsMap 94.1 FM, which is owned by Gow Media, which also owns CultureMap) at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, starting at 7 pm.

There will also be awards given out the Best Poster (BlacKkKlansman and Suspiria both have two nominations) as well as Worst Picture (yes, Venom is in there). A silent auction benefitting the HFCS will include movie industry collectables and will be staged at the after-party at Hotel ZaZa, located in the Houston Museum District. Tickets are required to ensure a manageable level of attendance.

Here is a full list of the nominees:

Best Picture

A Star is Born

Black Panther

BlackKklansman

Eighth Grade

If Beale Street Could Talk

The Favourite

First Reformed

Green Book

Hereditary

Roma

Vice

Best Director

Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born

Alfonso Cuaron, Roma

Barry Jenkins, If Beale Street Could Talk

Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite

Adam McKay, Vice

Best Actor

Christian Bale, Vice

Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born

Ethan Hawke, First Reformed

Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody

Viggo Mortensen, Green Book

Best Actress

Glenn Close, The Wife

Toni Collette, Hereditary

Olivia Colman, The Favourite

Lady Gaga, A Star is Born

Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Best Supporting Actor

Mahershala Ali, Green Book

Timothee Chalamet, Beautiful Boy

Adam Driver, BlackKklansman

Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, Vice

Claire Foy, First Man

Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk

Emma Stone, The Favourite

Rachel Weisz, The Favourite

Best Screenplay

Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade

Deborah Davis & Tony McNamara, The Favourite

Paul Schrader, First Reformed

Barry Jenkins, If Beale Street Could Talk

Adam McKay, Vice

Best Cinematography

Rachel Morrison, Black Panther

Linus Sandgren, First Man

Robbie Ryan, The Favourite

James Laxton, If Beale Street Could Talk

Alfonso Cuaron, Roma

Best Animated Film

Incredibles 2

Isle of Dogs

Mirai

Ralph Breaks the Internet

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Best Original Score

Ludwig Göransson, Black Panther

Justin Hurwitz, First Man

Nicholas Britell, If Beale Street Could Talk

Alexandre Desplat, Isle of Dogs

Thom Yorke, Suspiria

Best Original Song

All the Stars from Black Panther

Ashes from Deadpool 2

Hearts Beat Loudfrom Hearts Beat Loud

Revelation from Boy Erased

Shallow from A Star is Born

Best Foreign Language Film

Burning

Border

Cold War

Roma

Shoplifters

Best Documentary Feature

Free Solo

Minding the Gap

RBG

Three Identical Strangers

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Texas Independent Film Award

1985

An American in Texas

The Standoff at Sparrow Creek

Support the Girls

Tejano

Visual Effects

Black Panther

First Man

Mission: Impossible – Fallout

Best Poster

BlacKkKlansman (two different posters)

Mandy

Suspiria (two different posters)

Best Worst Film of the Year

The 15:17 to Paris

The Happytime Murders

Life Itself

Peppermint

Venom

awards movies

hustle hard, H-town

Oprah's TV network spotlights Houston women in new reality series

Courtesy of OWN Network

Rosea Pichardo.

It looks like Houston will be home to a new reality series about successful women living their best life and trying not to get into huge fights with each other during brunch.

Next month, Oprah Winfrey’s OWN channel will premiere Heart & Hustle: Houston, where a quintet of upwardly mobile, African American women thrive in Texas’ largest city.

“Heart & Hustle: Houston brings a fresh, dynamic perspective — one that centers Black women not just in conflict, but in community, healing, and growth,” OWN President Tina Perry said in a press release. “It’s a powerful look at ambition, resilience, and the bonds that hold friendships together, even through life’s toughest moments.”

Let’s break down the ladies who’ll be giving us the heart and the hustle:

Alaina Saulsberry, 38
“H-Town’s Glam Girl”
Known for her beauty brand Color du Jour, Saulsberry is touted as a mentor who balances work with family commitments. After 15 years of marriage, the relationship is in a rough patch. Will she choose personal happiness or preserving stability for her two children?

Courtesy of OWN Network

Rosea Pichardo.

Chloe Cook, 44
“The Straight Shooter”
Known as “THE premiere event planner of Houston,” Cook took a step back from the event business to take care of her young daughters after the tragic loss of her husband. However, the gal is getting her groove back thanks to her recent relationship with much younger man Jordan. Unfortunately, her eldest son Neiko (who is only three years younger than Jordan) isn’t feeling the whole May-December thing. Can Chloe balance being a mother and a MILF?

La’Torria Lemon, 36
“The Hopeless Romantic”
The head of Lemon-Lime Light Media, entrepreneur/philanthropist Lemon has been called “a force in the entertainment, hospitality, and PR industry.” She’s a charming personality, but don’t get it twisted: She’s ready to bring the claws out whenever someone comes for her. After losing her father, Lemon is on the hunt for the love of her life, so she can settle down and have some kids. Can she find a good man just like dear old dad?

LeBrina Jackson, 35
“The Southern Belle”
Full of “passion, drive, and compassion,” elite spa owner Jackson is one of the few Black women in the spa and wellness game. The resident caregiver of the group, Jackson is there for her family, friends, customers, etc. She uses her past (specifically, her family’s history) to break generational curses and build a better tomorrow for her peoples. Can she still take care of others, while also finding some time to take care of herself?

Muneera Page, 43
“Mrs. Perfect”
Meet the big, bad momma of the crew: a devout wife, mother of four daughters (including a set of twins), and career woman whose journey “embodies the power of faith, resilience, and boundless ambition.” With a two-decade career as an electrical engineer in the oil and gas industry, Page has taken a career 180 and pivoted to content creation. Can she live a life of meaning, purpose and transformative impact, while also inspiring folks around the world?

Roe Pichardo, 39
“Nightlife Queen”
Finally, we have the party girl. Pichardo is an entrepreneur, hospitality innovator, and cultural curator who’s “redefining the art of connection.” She’s got a rep as a major player in the restaurant and nightlife world (Editor’s note: She appeared on CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast during her time as the general manager of James Harden’s restaurant Thirteen). Despite staying tough in a male-dominated industry, those close to her know she’s a sweet, loving soul. Can she still take her businesses to the next level, while also learning to be more vulnerable around her loved ones?

These questions and more will be answered when Heart & Hustle: Houston premieres on OWN on Saturday, August 2, at 8 pm.