15th Annual Critics Choice Awards: Best & Worst

Smart awards show hosts kick off the show with a few jokes, maybe some gentle ribbing, maybe some singing. Kristin Chenoweth performed an “Inglourious Basterds” homage by appearing on a screen and telling the assembled critics that they would all die. (Just like the Nazis in Quentin Tarantino‘s movie). She did a little singing after that, but the uncomfortable damage was done.

-- Patrick Kevin Day, latimes.com

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--Winners --Arrivals (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

March 6, 2014 12:33 PM PT

At the Critics Choice Awards, Nick Jonas seemed to know all the words to Stevie Wonder‘s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.” Unlike at the 2009 Grammys, when he mumbled his way through “Superstition” while Stevie was on stage with him. Good job, Nick!

-- Andrea Reiher, Zap2It.com (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

The John Hughes tribute was a delightful series of clips from his greatest films. Then Death Cab for Cutie had to go and ruin it by warbling its way through “Don’t You Forget About Me.” Simple Minds was at home wondering why the Critics Choice Awards couldn’t have just asked them to perform.

-- Andrea Reiher, Zap2It.com (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Sarah Silverman was paired with Adam Lambert to present the best comedy award, giving her a chance to defend her hetero-ness by telling us “I love penises. What can I say? I love the shape-shifting aspect.” Don’t we all, Sarah. Don’t we all.

-- Andrea Reiher, Zap2It.com (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

The bad jokes weren’t the only thing being thrown around Friday night. Kristin Chenoweth nearly lobbed an audience member with a hammer during a spoof on “Orphan” and “Lovely Bones.” After hovering menacingly over “Bones” star Saoirse Ronan, she tossed a hammer behind her, causing one woman to flinch. Let’s just hope that was a prop. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Kevin Bacon, who’s been in a million great films but has never been an awards circuit mainstay, received the Joel Siegel award with graciousness and panache. He praised Siegel, snuck in a dig at film critics and revealed something personal (they eat Newman’s Own pasta sauce in the Bacon household). Maybe, with a little luck, he’ll be up there again soon.

-- Patrick Kevin Day, latimes.com (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

When it comes to awards shows, the directing prizes have almost always gone to the guys. But with Kathryn Bigelow‘s win for “The Hurt Locker,” she has a real shot at breaking the guys’ streak in March at the Oscars. And to do it with a war picture (traditionally the most masculine of guy movies), makes her victory all the more sweet. The Oscars just got a bit more exciting.

-- Patrick Kevin Day, latimes.com (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

During his acceptance speech for best actor in “Crazy Heart,” Jeff Bridges made a point of thanking writer-director Chris Cooper. The only problem was that the writer-director on “Crazy Heart” was Scott Cooper. When alerted to his mistake, Bridges took a moment to praise Chris Cooper for being a fine actor before moving on to Scott. As the Dude would say, “Why does everybody have to be named Cooper, man?”

-- Patrick Kevin Day, latimes.com (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Sandra Bullock was so mad to share the best actress award with Meryl Streep that she swore on air. Then to show how not mad she actually was, Bullock laid a big fat wet one on Meryl. Woo hoo. And both women assured us how much they enjoy sex. We want to have a beer with Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock.

--Andrea Reiher, Zap2It.com (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)