Thu. January 1, 2026
By Jerry Nunn
It's movie award season again and studio companies are putting their best foot forward to promote their projects. From November through March, trophies are presented to the best in the business for their theatrical achievements.
The Critics Choice Awards kicks off the cinematic celebrations on January 4, then comes the Golden Globes on Jan. 11, building up to the Academy Awards on March 15.
F1 has raced past some of the competition in a story about an underdog team starring Brad Pitt.
Hans Zimmer is earning Best Score accolades for Formula 1 and the sound editors for F1 are hoping for Best Sound awards in the future.
F1 the Album is packed full of talent and “Drive” is delivered by English singer Ed Sheeran. He wrote the song with John Mayer and Blake Slatkin. The trio joined a special call with the press on December 17.
It was a first-time experience for the legendary musician John Mayer to hear this track on the big screen and he described his experience of making the song as being “a visitor in the film world.”
Contributors for “Drive” also include Dave Grohl on drums, Rami Jaffee on keys and Pino Palladino on bass.
GoPride suggested a tour with all of the “Drive” artists and a possible stop in Chicago if it ever happens. In 2026, F1 Arcade opens in the Windy City and Ed could drop in, similar to how he did previously at The Weiner Circle.
Sheeran stated it is his dream to play the song live onstage with these musicians. He said, “It would be a rarity to bring all of these Infinity Stones together, but hopefully one day that will happen.”
This past October, A24 released an award season contender titled If I Had Legs I'd Kick You. Rose Byrne leads the cast, portraying Linda, a woman struggling with her child's illness and the challenging situations that surround her life.
Byrne delivers a tour de force performance, grounding this heartfelt tale with extreme close-ups and powerful scenes.
Director Mary Bronstein visited the Windy City during the Chicago International Film Festival in November and she spoke on the character resonating with audiences.
Rose followed that up at a recent press conference and said, “I agree with this experience because that's what has happened to me. I was unprepared for how much of a magic trick the movie is. It really reflects so much of it from the audience and young people aren't afraid of it. They get it and they ask the best questions.”
Festival screenings created a buzz about the film before it debuted across the globe. Byrne described the experience by saying, “It's played so differently from festival to festival. The film was a sophisticated dark comedy to the people in New York and they started laughing right away. In Toronto, it was a college crowd and like a horror film to them. It's a testament to the piece of art that Mary has put together. People may expect one thing and get another. Viewers cannot predict how this movie is going to feel. It's been extraordinary to be a part of that.”
Nominations bring attention to worthy work from dedicated artists and in that aspect, they are already winners. Whether the award makes or breaks a career is determined by the future endeavors of the individual.
Stay tuned to E! or USA on Sunday, January 4, where comedian Chelsea Handler returns to host the 31st Critics Choice Awards for the fourth time, beginning at 6 p.m. central time.
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