THE ARTIST Wins Best Picture at New York Film Critics Circle Awards

The New York Film Critics Circle has announced its 2011 winners.  THE ARTIST, which opened in theaters on November 23rd has taken top prize for Best Picture.  The comedy drama stars Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, Malcolm McDowell, Missi Pyle, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller, Bitsie Tulloch, Ed Lauter, Joel Murray, Beth Grant and Beau Nelson.  It takes place in 1927 as Hollywood silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion. He sparks with Peppy Miller, a young dancer set for a big break. The film is itself a silent film and in black and white.

Among the other Film Critic Circle awards were:

Best Cinematography Emmanuel Lubezki, The Tree of Life
Best Screenplay Steven Zaillian & Aaron Sorkin, Moneyball
Best Director Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Best Foreign Language Film A Separation
Best Actor Brad Pitt, Moneyball & The Tree of Life
Best Actress Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Best Supporting Actor Albert Brooks, Drive
Best Supporting Actress Jessica Chastain, The Tree of Life, The Help, and Take Shelter
Best First Feature Margin Call
Best Non-Fiction Film Cave of Forgotten Dreams