Predictable choices at Critic's Awards

Sandra Bullock accepts the award for best actress in an action movie for Gravity.

HARROWING HISTORICAL DRAMA 12 Years a Slave won best picture at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards late on Thursday, while 3D space spectacular Gravity took seven prizes.

American Hustle — which earlier in the day shared top Oscar nominations with Gravity — won four prizes, including best comedy and best actress in a comedy for Amy Adams.

12 Years a Slave, about a free black man sold into slavery in 1840s America, won best supporting actress for Lupita Nyong’o and best adapted screenplay for John Ridley.

The record seven prizes for Gravity included best director for Mexico’s Alfonso Cuaron and best actress in an action movie for Sandra Bullock, who plays an astronaut stranded in space with George Clooney.

Its haul topped six Critic’s Movie Award gongs won by 2010’s Inception and 2009’s Avatar.

The awards, sponsored by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, were presented at a show in Santa Monica, west of Los Angeles where the Golden Globes were held on Sunday and the Oscars will be held on March 2. AFP

Winners in the main categories:

Best picture:

12 Years a Slave

Best actor:

Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

Best actress:

Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Best supporting actor:

Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Best supporting actress:

Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave

Best young actor/actress:

Adele Exarchopoulos, Blue Is the Warmest Color

Best director:

Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity

Best foreign language film:

Blue is the Warmest colour