NY Film Critics Vote United 93 Best Picture
The New York Film Critics Circle selected Universal Pictures' "United 93," Paul Greengrass's documentary-style recreation of the doomed September 11 flight, as the Best Film of 2006 during their annual voting Monday.
They chose Forest Whitaker as Best Actor for Fox Searchlight's "The Last King of Scotland." Helen Mirren continued her sweep as Best Actress in Miramax Films' "The Queen," directed by Stephen Frears. The group awarded New York director Martin Scorsese the Best Director prize for Warner Bros.' Boston gangster remake, "The Departed."
Other winners include Best Supporting Actor Jackie Earle Haley, for his role as sex offender in New Line Cinema's "Little Children," directed by Todd Field; Best Supporting Actress Jennifer Hudson, for her role as a Detroit soul singer in DreamWorks' "Dreamgirls," written and directed by Bill Condon; Warners' "Happy Feet," directed by George Miller, for Best Animated Feature; and Lionsgate's expose of a pedophile Catholic priest, "Deliver Us from Evil," directed by Amy Berg, for Best Feature Documentary. The critics turned to a vintage 1969 French World War II film, Jean-Pierre Melville's "Army of Shadows," for their Best Foreign Film winner.
British scribe Peter Morgan won Best Screenplay for "The Queen." And Guillermo Navarro won Best Cinematographer for Picturehouse "Pan's Labyrinth," directed by Guillermo del Toro. Thinkfilm's "Half Nelson" continues to gain momentum with its win for Best First feature. The annual awards presentation will take place on January 7, 2007, at The Supper Club, a new venue.
The complete list of winners follows:
Best Film -United 93 (Universal Pictures)
Best Director - Martin Scorsese, "The Departed" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Best Screenplay - Peter Morgan, "The Queen" (Miramax Films)
Best Actress - Helen Mirren "The Queen" (Miramax Films)
Best Actor - Forest Whitaker "The Last King of Scotland" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Hudson "Dreamgirls" (Paramount Pictures)
Best Supporting Actor - Jackie Earle Haley "Little Children" (New Line Cinema)
Best Cinematography - Guillermo Navarro, "Pan's Labyrinth" (Picturehouse)
Best Animated Film - "Happy Feet" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Best Non-fiction Film - "Deliver Us From Evil" (Lionsgate Films)
Best Foreign Language Film - "Army of Shadows" (Rialto Pictures)
Best First Feature - "Half Nelson" (ThinkFilm)
Am I the only one who is baffled by all the attention that THE QUEEN is getting? Nothing wrong with the film, per se, but what is there about it that makes critics believe it to be anything but an especially well-acted telefilm? Even the editing and camerawork suggest something that would premiere on HBO or Showtime.
Posted by: Chris | December 11, 2006 at 10:35 AM
Given the fact that Casino Royale has nearly unaninomous approval from critics (an astounding 96 percent from rottentomatoes.com -- of 130 critics give it a positive review) and the fact that it is just jaw droppingly superior to all action movies this year -- why is it totally unheard of for this movie to be considered for Best picture of the year????
I know action movies and certainly it being a sequel are reasons why it shouldn't be even considered but the fact that it is a beyond excellent movie should move it to consideration. Academy voters should start thinking outside the box.
Posted by: Folrsi30 | December 11, 2006 at 12:13 PM
The Melville vote is wonderful. Perhaps the Academy should consider dropping the "official selection" requirement and casting a slightly wider net?
Posted by: David | December 11, 2006 at 12:33 PM