And the winners are: Boston film critics take 'Drive My Car' for a spin

The Boston Society of Film Critics honored Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s "Drive My Car," Japan’s entry to the Academy Awards’ international category, with four awards, including best picture and director, at its 42nd annual meeting, held virtually Sunday.

Hamaguchi's intimate three-hour epic tells a story of grief and loss through the eyes of a widowed actor played by Hidetoshi Nishijima, who earned a best actor nod for his performance. The movie also picked up the best screenplay prize.

"Drive My Car" opens in Boston on Jan. 14.

Actress-turned-director Maggie Gyllenhaal was named best new filmmaker for her Grecian-set psychological drama "The Lost Daughter," starring Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley as the older and younger version of a mother struggling with regret. Buckley edged out Ruth Negga ("Passing") for the best supporting actress honor. "The Lost Daughter" will be released in theaters Dec. 17 and streams on Netflix on Dec. 31.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s coming-of-age story "Licorice Pizza," about a teenage hustler and the 20-something girl he crushes on, also earned a pair of prizes, including best ensemble cast, consisting of Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman (son of Phillip Seymour Hoffman), Bradley Cooper, Sean Penn, Benny Safdie, Maya Rudolph and John C. Reilly. Haim, of the sisters band Haim, was a fourth-ballot winner for best actress, topping Olivia Colman. "Licorice Pizza" is showing in theaters in Boston and on the South Shore on Dec. 24.

The award for best supporting actor went to Troy Kotsur, the veteran deaf actor who co-starred as a father and a Gloucester fisherman in the shot-in-Massachusetts crowd-pleaser "CODA," which is available to stream on Apple TV+.

Ari Wegner was named best cinematographer for Jane Campion’s Netflix Western "The Power of the Dog." The movie also won best English language film, a category, per the group’s bylaws, that is only in play when a non-English language film wins best picture. The last time this happened was in 1985 when Akira Kurosawa’s "Ran" won best picture, and best English language film was awarded to John Huston’s "Prizzi’s Honor."

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The critics group spread its honors around in other categories. Jonny Greenwood earned best score honors for "Spencer," and Affonso Gonçalves and Adam Kurnitz nabbed the editing prize for "The Velvet Underground."

Best animated film went to the documentary "Flee" and Questlove’s cultural milestone, "Summer of Soul (or … When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)," won best documentary.

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The Boston Society of Film Critics consists of 29 local critics, including writers from The Patriot Ledger, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald and The Arts Fuse.

THE 2021 WINNERS

Best picture: "Drive My Car"

Best director: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, "Drive My Car"

Best actress: Alana Haim, "Licorice Pizza"

Best actor: Hidetoshi Nishijima, "Drive My Car"

Best supporting actor: Troy Kotsur, "CODA"

Best supporting actress: Jessie Buckley, "The Lost Daughter"

Best screenplay: Ryūsuke Hamaguchi & Takamasa Oe, "Drive My Car"

Best cinematography: Ari Wegner, "The Power of the Dog"

Best documentary: "Summer of Soul (or … When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)"

Best English language film: "The Power of the Dog"

Best animated film: "Flee"

Best film editing: Affonso Gonçalves and Adam Kurnitz, "The Velvet Underground"

Best new filmmaker: Maggie Gyllenhaal, "The Lost Daughter"

Best ensemble cast: "Licorice Pizza"

Best original score: Jonny Greenwood, "Spencer"

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Reach Dana Barbuto at dbarbuto@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Boston Society Film Critics honor Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s 'Drive My Car'