SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — The 29th annual Critics Choice Awards kicked off in Santa Monica with Chelsea Handler returning as the host for the second consecutive year. Handler began her opening monologue by playfully referring to herself as “microdose Barbie.” She took a jab at studio executives who had a six-month vacation due to writers’ and actors’ strikes and celebrated the achievements of women in the past year.
During her monologue, Handler acknowledged the success of women in various domains. She mentioned the triumph of movies like “Barbie” at the box office, Taylor Swift and Beyonce with their successful tours, and Gwyneth Paltrow with her ski trial. Handler humorously remarked that women dominated culture in the past year and joked, “Women could say that. Bill Maher would say, ‘Is she still talking?'”
Throughout the evening, the awards were presented in various categories. Da’Vine Joy Randolph won the award for Best Supporting Actress in a movie for her performance in “The Holdovers.” Robert Downey Jr. won Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Oppenheimer.” Angela Bassett presented the awards for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, which went to Jonathan Bailey for “Fellow Travelers” and Maria Bello for “Beef” respectively.
The SeeHer Award, which recognizes the accurate portrayal of women in the media, was given to America Ferrera by her “Barbie” co-star Margot Robbie. Ferrera expressed how meaningful the award was to her, as she grew up yearning to see people on screen who looked like her. Ferrera also credited “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig for showcasing women’s stories with cinematic greatness and box office success.
Notably, Harrison Ford received the career achievement award and was praised by his “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” director James Mangold. Emma Stone won the award for Best Actress and mentioned how she had to unlearn certain things to play her character in “Poor Things.” Paul Giamatti took home the award for Best Actor for his role in “The Holdovers,” echoing his win at the previous Golden Globes.
Throughout the night, the Critics Choice Awards honored talented individuals and celebrated the accomplishments of women in the entertainment industry. The event showcased the diversity and excellence in film and television while highlighting standout performances and powerful storytelling.