'Spotlight' named best of 2015 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn.

‘Spotlight’ named best of 2015 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn.

By Susan King

Dec. 6, 2015 4:15 PM PT

“Spotlight,” the drama about the Boston Globe’s investigation into abuse by Catholic priests, was named best picture of 2015 on Sunday by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. The drama also won for best screenplay, written by the film’s director, Tom McCarthy, and Josh Singer.

Earlier in the day, “Spotlight” also won the best film honor from the Boston Film Critics.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” was the runner-up in Los Angeles in the top film category.

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Michael Fassbender received the lead actor award for “Steve Jobs” and Charlotte Rampling was named lead actress as a married woman who discovers a secret about her husband in the drama “45 Years.”

Alicia Vikander won supporting actress honors as a humanoid robot in “Ex Machina,” and Michael Shannon won the supporting actor award as a ruthless real estate operator in “99 Homes.”

George Miller was named director of 2015 by the Los Angeles critics for his reboot of his classic post-apocalyptic franchise “Mad Max: Fury Road.” John Seale also won the cinematography award, and Colin Gibson won for production design for the film.

Runners-up in the acting categories were Geza Rohrig for lead actor in “Son of Saul”; Saoirse Ronan for lead actress in “Brooklyn”; Kristen Stewart for supporting actress in “Clouds of Sils Maria,” and Mark Rylance for supporting actor in “Bridge of Spies.”

Todd Hayes was runner-up for director for “Carol.” The film’s cinematographer, Edward Lachman, and production designer, Judy Becker, were also runners-up.

Screenplay honors went to Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy for “Spotlight.” Charlie Kaufman was runner-up for “Anomalisa.”

The critics’ group named “Amy,” which chronicles the troubled life of the late singer Amy Winehouse, as the top documentary. “The Look of Silence” was the runner-up in the category.

“Anomalisa” received the animation award. “Inside Out” was the runner-up in the category.

“Son of Saul” received the award for foreign language film. “The Tribe” was named runner-up.

Hank Corwin won the top editing award for “The Big Short,” and Margaret Sixel was named runner-up for “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Carter Burwell was honored for his music scores for “Anomalisa” and “Carol.” Veteran Ennio Morricone earned runner-up honors for “The Hateful Eight.”

Ryan Coogler, the director of “Creed,” won the New Generation Award.

The L.A. critics’ association and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have rarely seen eye to eye on their top choices. Last year, the Los Angeles critics named “Boyhood” best film,but the Oscar went to “Birdman.” The last time the two agreed was on 2009’s “The Hurt Locker.”

Oscar-winning editor Anne V. Coates (“Lawrence of Arabia”) was previously announced as the recipient of the group’s career achievement award.

A special citation was given to David Shepard for his invaluable work in film preservation, particularly of films from the silent era.

The awards will be presented Jan. 9 at a ceremony at the InterContinental hotel in Century City.