The Oscars might have a better red carpet, but the Houston Film Critics Society's Award Ceremony is a lot closer (and actually lets noncelebs in on the fun). Critics from around the Gulf Coast have cast their votes for all the usual categories: There's Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and so on, with a few extras. (Last year's Best Picture was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, while Andrea Grover and the Aurora Picture Show took home Outstanding Achievement in Cinema, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Film Curator Marian Luntz got the nod for Outstanding Achievement in Film Programming.) Like all award ceremonies, there will be guest stars (The Closer's G.W. Bailey), clips of the nominated films, award presentations (a posthumous lifetime achievement award for Patrick Swayze), acceptance speeches and a schmooze-or-lose reception afterwards. 4 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-639-7515 or visit www.houstonfilmcritics.com. Free.
Sat., Dec. 19, 4 p.m., 2009