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The New York Film Critics Circle is gathering in Manhattan this morning to select the best films and performances of 2025.

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Because I believe it should be preserved for posterity. The transcript to the second half of Timmy’s NYFCC acceptance speech.

This is an amazing speech and everyone should listen to it, but if you can’t, at least you can read what he says here. I was moved to tears by the domino-effect of all the stars aligning so many years ago in order for them to all find themselves here in this moment to make this film.

You know, this award means the world to me, cause as you know Luca alluded to, I’m a fourth generation New Yorker. My grandmother was born on 163rd Street in Grand Concourse in the Bronx on January 22, 1927. Had a long Broadway dance career that included shows like Kiss Me Kate and It’s a Wonderful Town. When my mom- and Enid’s daughter- was seven years old, she was enlisted into the School of American Ballet before attending the Performing Arts High School on 48th Street and Broadway. Some thirty years later, when my sister was born- who’s right there- she too (laughs) Yes. She too was enlisted in the American School of Ballet and later attended Performing Arts High School as well, which is now called LaGuardia and where I went, too, for high school.

(Applause) Yeah, okay. LaGuardia in the house. Okay. 

I spent the ages of 8-12 back stage at the New York State Theatre (I refuse to call it the Koch Theatre) (applause and laughter and yeah’s all around) As my sister performed in The Nutcracker. I would roam the backstage hallways, a bit aimless, but with no shortage of costumes or rehearsal studios to entertain myself in.

When I was twelve years old, after attending one of my sister Pauline’s performances, I petitioned my mom and grandma to see Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight with me. We went to AMC Empire 25 in Times Square for a 7:30 screening. And I left that theatre a changed man. I’m serious about that.

Heath Ledger’s performance in that film was visceral and viral to me, and I now had the acting bug.

I didn’t know that around that time that Mr Ledger was accepting the award for best actor at the New York Film Critics Circle for Brokeback Mountain.  I didn’t know that a brilliant director halfway across the world named Luca Guadagnino was beginning pre-production on a film called I Am Love. I didn’t know that Michael Stuhlbarg was wowing audiences in The Pillow Man on Broadway. I didn’t know that a nervous Armie Hammer was getting prepared to audition for David Fincher in The Social Network. (crowd intensifies) I did not know that a genius author named Andre Aciman was in a small apartment on the Upper West Side, putting the finishing touches on a book called Call Me By Your Name. And there was certainly no idea that I would get to collaborate with all these incredible artists some eight years later in Northern Italy for three months. An immersive acting experience I will use as a model to prepare for all my future roles. And I mean that, Luca.

I accept this award with all the gratitude I am capable of. Thank you to the New York Film Critics Circle. Thank you to New York. And thank you to Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan as well for letting me tag along in Lady Bird. Greta, I was in a bar, I was in a bar last week and someone said, “Hey, isn’t that the douchebag from Lady Bird?” (laughter) So yeah yeah. Anyway, thank you, peace and love. Thank you.

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