Today I joined the New York Film Critics Online for the first time as we selected our picks for the best of 2008. And despite the fact that I didn't pick Slumdog Millionaire for much of anything, it practically swept the awards, nabbing Best Picture, Best Director for Danny Boyle and co-director Loveleen Tandan, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Score. OK, fine, I picked it for Best Cinematography-- at least one of my picks made it.
The acting awards went to actors who have been tapped by other critics groups as well-- Sean Penn for Best Actor (Milk), Sally Hawkins for Best Actress (Happy-Go-Lucky), Heath Ledger for Best Supporting Actor (The Dark Knight) and Penelope Cruz for Best Supporting Actress (Vicky Cristina Barcelona). While I know runners-up don't count, it's worth noting that both female categories were exceptionally close, with Michelle Williams (Wendy and Lucy) damn near winning Best Actress, and both Viola Davis (Doubt) and Vera Farmiga (Nothing But the Truth) giving Cruz a run for her money.
Below is the full list of winners, as well as NYFCO's top ten, which were the films we voted on for Best Picture.
BEST PICTURE
Slumdog Millionaire
BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle w/ Loveleen Tandan - Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ACTOR
Sean Penn - Milk
BEST ACTRESS
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz - Vicki Cristina Barcelona
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Slumdog Millionaire - Anthony Dod Mantle
BEST SCREENPLAY
Slumdog Millionaire - Simon Beaufoy
BEST FOREIGN PICTURE
4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Man on Wire
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
BEST SCORE
Slumdog Millionaire - A.R. Rahman
BEST BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
BEST DEBUT AS DIRECTOR
Martin McDonagh - In Bruges
BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
Milk
BEST PICTURES (alphabetical)
Che
A Christmas Tale
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Happy-Go-Lucky
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
The Wrestler
