‘The Shape of Water’ and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Dominate 2018 Critics’ Choice Awards

Sandra Miska

The critics have spoken, and “The Shape of Water” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” dominated at the 2018 Critics’ Choice Awards. Olivia Munn hosted the ceremony that took place Thursday evening in Santa Monica, and the Time’s Up movement wasn’t far from everyone’s minds. Accepting the award for Best Comedy alongside his screenwriter wife Emily V. Gordon, “The Big Sick” star and co-writer Kumail Nanjiani called for his fellow men to “shut up, listen and amplify.”

In the television categories, just like at this past Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards, “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Big Little Lies” won big, taking Best Drama Series and Best Limited Series, respectively. In her acceptance speech for Best Actress in a Drama Series, Elisabeth Moss dedicated her award to all of the crew members who are currently working hard on season two in Toronto. Best Actress in a Movie Made for TV or Limited Series winner thanked her community and “Big Little Lies” co-stars, who include Laura Dern and Alexander Skarsgard, both of whom won awards in a the pre-show. “The Handmaid’s Tale Ann Dowd also won a supporting acting award before the broadcast.

In television comedy, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” the Amazon series that has charmed everyone in such a short period, won the top award, as did it’s star Rachel Brosnahan. Despite the rise of streaming series this year, network television was not forgotten, as Ted Danson won Best Actor in a Comedy Series for “The Good Place,” and Mayim Bialik of “Big Bang Theory” took Best Support Actress in a Comedy Series. In his acceptance speech for Best Actor in a Drama Series, Sterling K. Brown acknowledged that while “This Is Us” isn’t the most controversial or sexy series, it has heart.

When it came to film, Guillermo del Toro’s Cold War fairy tale “The Shape of Water” owned, with the auteur winning Best Director and the film itself taking Best Picture, as well as Best Art Direction and Best Score. Gary Oldman won Best Actor for transforming himself into Winston Churchill in “The Darkest Hour,” while an absent Frances McDormand took Best Actress for her biting performance in “Three Billboards.” James Franco (“The Disaster Artist”) and Margot Robbie (“I, Tonya”) took the top comedy acting awards during the pre-show, although Franco was a no-show to the event.

A highlight of the evening was definitely the presentation of the #SeeHer award to Gal Gadot from her “Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins. In her speech, the actress made a call for unity in the quest for equality and stated, “I will be never be silenced.”

The 2018 Critics Choice Awards took place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA Jan. 11 and aired on the CW.