‘Moonlight’ Crushes ‘La La Land’ for DFCS Movie Honors

Maybe “La La Land” isn’t a sure thing come Oscar night after all.

“Moonlight,” the tender tale of a young black man’s sexual awakening, earned Best Picture honors from the Denver Film Critics Society today.

The drama scored four awards from the Colo.-based group, including Best Director (Barry Jenkins) and Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali). The film recently won in the Golden Globes’ Best Picture, Drama category and is a lock to scoop of several Oscar nominations next week.

“La La Land” didn’t come up empty with Denver-area critics. The retro musical won for Best Score.

It’s a safe bet the musical will fare far better come Feb. 26. For now, here is the full DFCS’s awards list.

Best Picture: “Moonlight”
Best Director: Barry Jenkins, “Moonlight”
Best Actor: Casey Affleck, “Manchester By the Sea”
Best Actress: Natalie Portman, “Jackie”
Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight”
Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, “Fences”
Best Animated Film: “Zootopia”
Best Science Fiction/Horror Film: “Arrival”
Best Comedy: “Deadpool”
Best Original Screenplay: Taylor Sheridan, “Hell or High Water”
Best Adapted Screenplay: Barry Jenkins, “Moonlight” (based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue”)
Best Documentary: “O.J.: Made in America”
Best Visual Effects: “Doctor Strange”
Best Original Song: “Drive It Like You Stole It,” “Sing Street”
Best Score: Justin Hurwitz, “La La Land”
Best Foreign Language Film: “Toni Erdmann”