'Bashir,' Penn, Hawkins take trophies

 

This is a serious bit of awards derbying, and we know that by facts such as these: Eve, the lucite love interest from "WALL-E," and "JCVD" star Jean-Claude Van Damme were among those in the running for best performances. With actual votes!

Now, that's awesome.

The National Society of Film Critics has gotten cheeky in years past, with best actress contenders like Bianca, the differently-abled plastic gal pal in "Lars and the Real Girl," and Tom Cruise in "Vanilla Sky." (Hat tip to Gold Derby for those nuggets).

The eventual winners, named this weekend, were slightly more conventional, if you count Presumptive Oscar Nominee Sean Penn for his riveting performance in "Milk." But for the first time ever, the New York-based group dubbed an animated film -- "Waltz with Bashir" -- best picture, and gave one of our Oscar picks, the luminous Sally Hawkins, a boost in the thick of the awards season by naming her best actress for "Happy-Go-Lucky." Sorry, Eve!

"Happy-Go-Lucky" also scored for Mike Leigh (best director and best screenplay) and for the tightly-wound raw nerve that was Eddie Marsan's co-starring turn as an anal retentive, OCD driving instructor.

Go here to see more detail and here for the voting tallies, the continuation of the "Man on Wire" rampage in the best documentary category, and perhaps the only time stateside appearance of the name Hanna Schygulla instead of Penelope Cruz.