OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Ethan Hawke as Toller in “FIRST REFORMED”

Stephan James as Alonzo "Fonny" Hunt in "IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK"

Charlie Plummer as Charley in “LEAN ON PETE”

John David Washington as Ron Stallworth in “BLACKKKLANSMAN”

Ah-in Yoo as Lee Jong-su in “BURNING”

AND THE WINNER IS:

ETHAN HAWKE AS TOLLER IN “FIRST REFORMED”

This is the first win and fifth nomination for Ethan Hawke. He was previously nominated for Boyhood (2014), writing: Before Sunset (2004), Before Midnight (2013) and with the ensemble of Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007). He wins for his performance as Toller in First Reformed. The non critics awards snubbing of Hawke this awards season has been the weirdest and most surprising in the modern film awards race. Hawke won basically every critics prize given for his performance but when it came to none critics he was no where to be seen. This is upsetting as Hawke is tremendous and in my opinion better than any of the nominated performances in the leading actor category. Hawke as an actor has usually had a relaxed and effortless charm to his work playing usually loveable charmers but with his work as Toller he had to go further and explore the darkness he can portray as an actor. Just thinking about the deeply dark ending of the film and how Hawke's punishing performance fully sells the ending and completes this truly great work by Hawke. I guess having the performance go unrecognized is greater as people will talk about it more had he been greatly remembered.