Last week, the New York Film Critics Circle named “Lady Bird” the best film of 2017. Anyone who’s ever attended a year-end critics group meeting knows that the process is far too unruly and arbitrary to reflect any clear agenda. I think one of the most vital things a critics group can do is expand the definition of what constitutes an awards-worthy performance. That said, given the unusually broad range of fine films and the absence of a “La La Land”- or “Moonlight”-style juggernaut, this doesn’t strike me as a year in which cut-and-dried conclusions can necessarily be drawn. Justin Chang and Glenn Whipp on what critics awards mean for the Oscars, factoring in the academy's expanding membership.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 05, 2017 11:01 UTC