So, as The Metro Times' intrepid film critics Corey and I are part of the illustrious DFCS (Detroit Film Critic's Society), which, like film critic societies across the country is far too male and far too white for my tastes.

Nevertheless, as one of those said white males, I am loathe to give up my post. Which probably  makes me more a part of the problem than the solution, huh?

Anyway, since 2007 we've been joining our film reviewing brethren in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco etc.  each year to watch, vote and award those films and artists we think are deserving of being called the best of the year. What I particularly like about Detroit's society is that while we often nominate many of the same films others are singing praises to, we have a defiantly indie streak - frequently  sprinkling in unlikely nominees and, occasionally picking one for top honors.

Last Monday the Detroit critic's crew hunkered down in Novi to watch nearly 15 hours of films in order to picks our winners. In less than a 36 hour time period we saw The Impossible, Django Unchained, Les Misérables, Rust & Bone, Zero Dark Thirty, and The Hobbit.  Many ran between 2 1/2 and 3 hours. On top of those were piled last minute DVD screeners of documentaries, independents, and a few of the big studio releases. For cineastes like us, it was a smorgasbord of movie-watching. Of course, it helps that so many of the films were excellent.

Today, the DFCS released its list of 2012 nominees, and true to our go-against-the-grain personalities we once again made some selections that the other societies overlooked or ignored. Silver Linings Playbook led the pack with 7 nominations. Personally, I am thrilled that the society saw fit to nominate Sarah Polley's very indie Take This Waltz in so many categories (4). It was probably my favorite film of the year.

Friday we'll announce our final winners. Look for the announcement in the Metro Times.

NOTE: The one major film the DFCS was unable to see (which L.A. selected as Best Film of 2012) was Michael Haneke's Amour. Otherwise, we were able to consider much of what the other societies considered.

THE DFCS NOMINEES FOR 2012 (in alphabetical order)

BEST PICTURE

• ARGO
• THE IMPOSSIBLE
• SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
• TAKE THIS WALTZ
• ZERO DARK THIRTY

BEST DIRECTOR

• BEN AFFLECK - ARGO
• JUAN ANTONIO BAYONA – THE IMPOSSIBLE
• KATHERINE BIGELOW – ZERO DARK THIRTY
• SARAH POLLEY – TAKE THIS WALTZ
• DAVID O. RUSSELL – SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

BEST ACTOR

• BRADLEY COOPER – SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
• JOHN HAWKES – THE SESSIONS
• DANIEL DAY-LEWIS - LINCOLN
• BILL MURRAY – HYDE PARK ON HUDSON
• JOAQUIN PHOENIX – THE MASTER

BEST ACTRESS

• JESSICA CHASTAIN – ZERO DARK THIRTY
• GRETA GERWIG – DAMSELS IN DISTRESS
• JENNIFER LAWRENCE – SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
• NAOMI WATTS – THE IMPOSSIBLE
• MICHELLE WILLIAMS – TAKE THIS WALTZ

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• ROBERT DENIRO – SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
• PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – THE MASTER
• TOMMY LEE JONES – LINCOLN
• MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY – MAGIC MIKE
• EWAN MCGREGOR – THE IMPOSSIBLE
• EZRA  MILLER – THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• AMY ADAMS – THE MASTER
• ANN DOWD - COMPLIANCE
• SALLY FIELD - LINCOLN
• ANNE HATHAWAY – LES MISÉRABLES
• HELEN HUNT – THE SESSIONS

BEST ENSEMBLE

• ARGO
• MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS
• LINCOLN
• MOONRISE KINGDOM
• SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

BREAKTHROUGH

• STEPHEN CHBOSKY – THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
• ZOE KAZAN – RUBY SPARKS
• REBEL WILSON – PITCH PERFECT
• BENH ZEITLIN – BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
• CRAIG ZOBEL - COMPLIANCE

BEST SCREENPLAY

• STEPHEN CHBOSKY – THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
• DREW GODDARD & JOSS WHEDON – THE CABIN IN THE WOODS
• TONY KUSHNER - LINCOLN
• SARAH POLLEY – TAKE THIS WALTZ
• DAVID O. RUSSELL – SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

BEST DOCUMENTARY

• THE HOUSE I LIVE IN
• THE IMPOSTER
• JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI
• THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES
• SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN