Take Four: To celebrate films, filmmakers, and film stars of special interest to C&I readers, we’re presenting the fourth annual edition of the C&I Movie Awards. Or as we like to call them — The Cowboys.

Much like the organizers of most other movie awards during The Year of COVID-19, we’ve had to make some adjustments to our voting process. Because we traditionally limit the list of qualified films to those that receive at least limited theatrical and/or festival exposure — and to be honest, during 2020, some of that exposure was extremely limited — we have four nominations in each category instead of the usual five.

On the other hand, we have added a brand new category this year: Best Documentary. That’s where you’ll find four exceptional nonfiction features that focus on the first wife of the legendary Johnny Cash (Matt Riddlehoover’s My Darling Vivian), the creative processes of Music City tunesmiths (It All Begins with a Song: The Story of the Nashville Songwriter), the challenging lives of contemporary cowboys (Bud Force and John Langmore’s Cowboys: A Documentary Portrait) and the musical tastes of our 39th U.S. President (Mary Wharton’s Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President — which, despite its title, also includes testimonials from country artists like Willie Nelson, Larry Gatlin and Garth Brooks).

Among the dramatic features
with multiple nominations:

First Cow

A critically acclaimed period drama from Meek’s Cutoff director Kelly Reichardt, about two improbably matched partners who hit upon a novel way to milk opportunities and make their fortune in the 19th Century Oregon Territory.
Streaming now on: Hulu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, Showtime.

Let Him Go

C&I reader faves Kevin Costner and Diane Lane star to perfection in Thomas Bezucha’s slow-burn thriller as a Montana couple driven to extremes while trying to retrieve their grandchild from an off-the-grid clan in the Dakotas.
Streaming now on: Amazon Prime, On Demand, Vudu, YouTube.

News of the World

Tom Hanks reunites with Captain Phillips director Paul Greengrass for the Oscar-winning actor’s first western, the story of a Civil War veteran who signs on to return a youngster (Helena Zengel) raised by Kiowa to her biological family.
Streaming available on January 15. Click here to locate where to watch.

Nomadland 

For her follow-up to The Rider, director Chloé Zhao offers another masterful entwining of fact and fiction while focusing on a strong-willed woman (two-time Oscar winner Frances McDormand) who packs her van and begins a nomadic life in the American West.
Theatrical release on February 19, 2021.

Yellow Rose 

A Filipina teen (Eva Noblezada) in Bastrop, Texas develops a taste and talent for country music, and winds up being mentored by veteran country artist Dale Watson (played, in a bold stroke of casting, by Dale Watson) in Diane Paragas’ contemporary drama.
Streaming available on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu.

Of course, this wouldn’t be a C&I Movie Awards celebration if C&I readers didn’t have the final word in the selection process. So we’re asking you to cast your vote for your favorite in each category. The deadline for submitting your picks will be Wednesday, March 3. Winners will be announced Friday, March 5.

Terms & Conditions:
No purchases necessary. You may enter as many times as you like in your favorite category.