Oscars: Critics’ Picks
Awards Wrap
Every year critics from across North America anoint a handful of films and performances as the year’s best and, increasingly, the critics’ picks are lining up with Oscar’s picks.
Toronto Film Critics Association
Best Picture: Wendy and Lucy
Best Director: Jonathan Demme (Rachel Getting Married)
Best Actor: Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Best Actress: Michelle Williams (Wendy and Lucy)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Supporting Actress: Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married)
New York Film Critics Circle
Best Picture: Milk
Best Director: Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Actor: Sean Penn (Milk)
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin (Milk)
Best Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Best Picture: WALL•E
Best Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Actor: Sean Penn (Milk)
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Elegy)
National Board of Review
Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director: David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Best Actor: Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino)
Best Actress: Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)
Best Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin (Milk)
Best Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Boston Society of Film Critics
Best Director: Gus Van Sant (Milk and Paranoid Park)
Best Actor (tie): Sean Penn (Milk) and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
San Francisco Film Critics Circle
Best Picture: Milk
Best Director: Gus Van Sant (Milk)
Best Actor (tie): Sean Penn (Milk) and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Supporting Actress: Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler)
Chicago Film Critics Association
Best Picture: WALL•E
Best Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Actor: Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Best Actress: Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association
Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Actor: Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Best Actress: Meryl Streep (Doubt)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Supporting Actress: Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married)
National Society of Film Critics
Best Picture: Waltz with Bashir
Best Director: Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Actor: Sean Penn (Milk)
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Marsan (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Supporting Actress: Hanna Schygulla (The Edge of Heaven)
The GOLDEN GLOBES
Awards season kicked off with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association handing out its annual Golden Globe Awards. The Association, comprised of 95 journalists from 55 nations, has been accused of pandering to the Hollywood studios and stars, but make no mistake, GG winners carry clout with Academy members, and the public.
This year’s winners:
Best Picture (Drama): Slumdog Millionaire
Best Picture (Comedy or Musical): Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Actor (Drama): Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Best Actor (Comedy or Musical): Colin Farrell (In Bruges)
Best Actress (Drama): Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road)
Best Actress (Comedy or Musical): Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet (The Reader)