Actresses, shows about women win big at Critics’ Choice
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — It was a good night for women at the Critics’ Choice Awards, which honoured women-centred stories like “Big Little Lies,” ”The Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” ”Wonder Woman” was named best action movie and star Gal Gadot accepted a special award for challenging gender stereotypes.
Yet the industry’s ongoing sexual misconduct crisis remained an element of the ceremony as James Franco won an acting award early in the evening, hours after a report detailed new misconduct allegations against “The Disaster Artist” star and director. Franco did not attend Thursday’s presentation at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, and his award was presented during a pre-telecast section broadcast only online.
Franco won a similar award at the Golden Globes earlier in the week, where most women dressed in black to protest sexual harassment. More women dressed in colour on Thursday, but their determination to end gender discrimination remained just as fierce.
“I want to share this award with all the women and men who stand for what’s right, standing for those who can’t stand or speak for themselves,” Gadot said as she accepted the second annual #SeeHer award. “My promise to you is: I will never be silenced. We will continue to band together to make strides, uniting for equality.”