It's Begun

A bit earlier than usual, the New York Film Critics Circle has announced its awards for 2011.  This is the first drop of what will become a torrent.

Here are the choices:

Best Picture -- The Artist
Best Director -- Michel Hazanavicius The Artist
Best Screenplay -- Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin Moneyball
Best Actress -- Meryl Streep The Iron Lady
Best Actor -- Brad Pitt Moneyball, The Tree of Life
Best Supporting Actress -- Jessica Chastain The Tree of Life, The Help, Take Shelter
Best Supporting Actor -- Albert Brooks Drive
Best Cinematographer -- Emmanuel Lubezki The Tree of Life
Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary) -- Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Best Foreign Film -- A Separation
Best First Film -- J.C. Chandor Margin Call

I've seen most of these films, but not all.  Still, I won't comment because my take will come out January in my eagerly awaited annual film round-up and I don't want to steal my thunder.  But let me note that naming The Artist the film of the year is absurd.

Next day, The National Board Of Review:

Best Film: Hugo
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Best Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Actress: Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress: Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay: Will Reiser, 50/50
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, The Descendants
Best Animated Feature: Rango
Breakthrough Performance: Felicity Jones, Like Crazy
Breakthrough Performance: Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Debut Director: J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
Best Ensemble: The Help
Spotlight Award: Michael Fassbender (A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame, X-Men: First Class)
Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation
Best Documentary: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Special Achievement in Filmmaking: The Harry Potter Franchise - A Distinguished Translation from Book to Film

Interesting, in that Hugo is, like The Artist, a tribute to the early days of film.  Still, a lot of nutty choices here.