New York Film Critics Circle Announces Winners; Picks THE ARTIST As Best Film

On Tuesday, members of the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) held their annual vote and ‎Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Jessica Chastain, Albert Brooks, and THE ARTIST were among the 2011 winners. Having heard from The Gotham Independent Film Awards, The Film Independent Spirit Awards and the NYFCC, Oscar pundit Dave Karger wrote on EW,

“…the dominating performance by The Artist with the New York critics and the Spirits committee certainly cements its status as the frontrunner. But since the Spirit Award nominees are only voted on by a small number of people, we shouldn’t suddenly count out George Clooney for The Descendants or Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs just because they didn’t make the cut.”

By the by, the 84th Academy Awards are Sunday, February 26, 2012.

2011 Awards

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

Special Award: Raoul Ruiz