One win after another: Paul Thomas Anderson film dominates London Critics’ Circle awards

Paul Thomas Anderson’s counterculture comedy One Battle After Another continued its march to Oscars glory at the London Critics’ Circle film awards on Sunday evening, taking four awards, including best picture, director, screenplay and supporting actor for Sean Penn.

In his speech to pick up the screenplay award, Anderson said he wanted to share the award with the Guardian’s Xan Brooks for his review of Brett Ratner’s Melania, which was published on Friday. “It was one of the best pieces of writing,” said Anderson. “Pretty damn good.”

Elsewhere, category frontrunners Timothée Chalamet and Jessie Buckley won the leading actor and actress prizes for Marty Supreme and Hamnet, while Amy Madigan took best supporting actress for Weapons.

The supporting acting gongs were the slight upsets in an evening which – where applicable – adhered to the awards narrative already mapped out this year.

Cynthia Erivo received the Derek Malcolm award for Innovation for her career overall, while director Guillermo del Toro won the Dilys Powell award for Excellence in Film.

BDSM biker romance Pillion was named British/Irish film of the year and its writer Harry Lighton British/Irish breakthrough of the year, while Josh O’Connor took British/Irish performer of the year.

Sentimental Value was named foreign language film of the year, while The Perfect Neighbor took best documentary.