What a nice surprise. The Los Angeles Film Critics have named WALL•E their Best Picture of the year. I'm over the moon. Pun intended. I love it when critics organizations stake their claim boldy on "Best" rather than try and guess what 6,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences might be thinking. Why else should critics organizations exist? We have pundits and journalists for "predictions"Pic: WALL•E (runner up The Dark Knight here and in Best Director)
Dir: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
Actress: Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Good for Sally after that painful snub this morning at the BFCA. My interview with Sally here if you missed it. Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Elegy
Screenplay: Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
Foreign Language film: Still Life
Documentary: Man on Wire
Animation: Waltz With Bashir
Cinematography: Yu Lik Wai, Still Life
Music/Score: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
New Generation Award: Steve McQueen, Hunger
Production Design: Mark Friedberg, Synecdoche, New York
I've no time for real notes but on that last award: great call. Friedberg has never been nominated by the Academy despite outstanding and memorable work in this category. He also did the honors for The Ice Storm, Far From Heaven and the Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
How are you feeling about the Los Angeles honors...
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