39 Washington, DC area Film Critics (WAFCA – of which I’m one) huddled together in a small broom closet this weekend to do our annual duty of selected the best of the year. In the last three weeks we were hit with an avalanche of DVD Screeners (about 50) and had a bunch of screenings to attend (about 100) and walked away with our eventual best Picture selection. Generally, I disagree with my fellow members, but last year and this year they got everything right, with the exception of Clooney for Michael Clayton – a film I absolutely HATED. I’m still mixed on No Country for Old Men, which is why I haven’t written a review yet. The first 90 minutes I sat there thinking, I’m watching the clear Best Picture of the Year, but then that weird ass last 20 minutes just ruins the entire film for me. I left the theater really angry and wondering what the f just happened. I’m still not entirely sure if the last 20 minutes is enough to throw out the first 90 minutes of brilliance or not. Ultimately, I did cast my ballad for No Country and am glad that it won. Because the other selections where two films that I absolutely loathe (Atonement and Michael Clayton.) So we did good this year and I’m happy with the results. Without Further adieu……
BEST PICTURE
Winner: No Country for Old Men
BEST DIRECTOR
Winner: Ethan and Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men)
BEST ACTOR
Winner: George Clooney (Michael Clayton)
BEST ACTRESS
Winner: Julie Christie (Away from Her)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Winner: Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Winner: Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead)
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Winner: Aaron Sorkin (Charlie Wilson’s War)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Winner: Diablo Cody (Juno)
BEST ENSEMBLE
Winner: No Country for Old Men
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Winner: Ratatouille
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
Winner: Sicko
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Winner: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
BEST ART DIRECTION
Winner: Sweeney Todd
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Winner: Ellen Page (Juno)