Critics’ Choice Award Nominations Recognize ‘Furious 7’ and ‘Mad Max’

The 21^st Annual Critics Choice Awards nominations were announced on Monday – and by tradition both film and television are represented accordingly.

Mad Max: Fury Road managed to garner the most nominations with 13 total while FX’s hit show Fargo walked away with an impressive 8 noms.

Other notables include Carol, The Martian and The Revenant with all three films securing 9 nominations each.

Despite Idris Elba’s Golden Globe nomination for his work in Beasts of No Nation – he was missing from the roster of actors vying for the Best Actor honors. However Johnny Depp who was noticeably absent from the Golden Globe nominations may have taken Elba’s slot. Depp received a Best Actor nod for his work in Black Mass.

Veteran actress, Charlotte Rampling is experiencing a career resurgence with her affecting role in 45 Years which earned her a Best Actress nod – while former ingénue, Saoirse Ronan who is stunningly luminous in the critics darling Brooklyn is also a competitor in that category.

The surprise summer hit Straight Outta Compton also got a nod in the Acting Ensemble category along with Quentin Tarantino’s soon to be released – The Hateful Eight.

But even more striking was the inclusion of Furious 7 in the Best Action Film slot which is particularly poignant considering the emotional rollercoaster that besieged the cast and crew due to the tragic loss of beloved star – Paul Walker. Walker who played the role of Brian O’Connor – died in a car crash during Thanksgiving break back in 2013. Most of his scenes for Furious 7 had been completed and when it was confirmed after months of intense deliberation that filming would resume – the late actor’s younger brothers, Caleb and Cody were recruited to act as body doubles while CGI took care of the rest.

The stirringly infectious theme ballad, See You Again by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, was composed in honor of Walker. The hit single is deservedly up for best song and it is hard to imagine Khalifa and Puth walking away empty handed.

The 21^st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards will take place on Jan. 17 in Santa Monica, California. You can catch it live on A&E, Lifetime and LMN.

For a complete list of nominees, click here.