'Ratatouille', Miramax's 'No Country' & 'Gone' winners with Boston critics

[ALIASd]

'No Country' tops with Boston critics


'Diving Bell' nabs best director, foreign film

By Daniel M. Kimmel
Variety
Posted: Sun., Dec. 9, 2007, 1:56pm PT

The Boston Society of Film Critics dealt out their own hand of winners at this year's annual meting with kudos going across the board to favorites like "No Country for Old Men," "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," and "Gone Baby Gone" but also to several sleepers as well.

This year the Boston crix refused to be stampeded with eight different films being selected in the current 12 categories. Best picture went to the Coen Brothers' "No Country for Old Men," which battled throughout the meeting with "Diving Bell," winning some categories and losing others. In fact, for best picture "No Country" edged out "Diving Bell" by a single vote on the third ballot. The film also garnered an award for Javier Bardem for supporting actor.

Local favorite "Gone Baby Gone" picked up two awards. Amy Ryan was named supporting actress for her turn as a drug abusing mother whose child is kidnapped, while hometown actor-turned-director Ben Affleck was honored with the David Brudnoy New Filmmaker Award, named for the one of the founding members of the BSFC who died in 2004.

In other categories the Boston scribes seemed determined to surprise. Brad Bird won the screenplay category for his animated "Ratatouille" while "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" was cited for its ensemble cast.

In addition to the awards, the organization voted on two significant changes for 2008. First, they will hold their first ever award ceremony on Jan. 27 at the historic Brattle Theatre in Cambridge. It will include the screening of one of the award-winning films and the appearance by one or more winners to be announced. Local recipients (for film festivals and production) will also be honored at that time.

Second, beginning in 2008, the critics will vote on two new categories for the first time: Animated Feature and Film Editing.

http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_...ryid=1983&cs=1

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D.C. critics choose 'Country'

'Men' named best picture, Clooney takes actor

By Variety Staff
Posted: Sun., Dec. 9, 2007, 6:07pm PT

'No Country for Old Men'

On Sunday, the Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Assn. announced its selection of "No Country for Old Men" as best film of 2007.

The Miramax/Paramount Vantage film won four awards including director for Joel and Ethan Coen, acting ensemble and supporting actor for Javier Bardem.

George Clooney took the actor prize for his portrayal of an ethically challenged lawyer in Warner Bros.' "Michael Clayton," while Julie Christie was garnered the actress prize for her turn as an Alzheimer's patient in Lionsgate's "Away From Her."

Amy Ryan walked away with supporting actress kudos for "Gone Baby Gone" and Ellen Page was awarded breakthrough performance for her portrayal of a pregnant teen in "Juno."

The writing awards went to Aaron Sorkin for his adaptation of "Charlie Wilson's War" and Diablo Cody for her original screenplay for "Juno."

Miramax's "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" was named best foreign film; Disney/Pixar's "Ratatouille" was named best animated feature; and Michael Moore's "Sicko" from the Weinstein Co. was voted best documentary feature.

Paramount's "Sweeney Todd" was honored for art direction.

The Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Assn. is comprised of 39 D.C.-based film critics from television, radio, print and the Internet.

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?lay...d=VR1117977408

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London critics love 'Control,' 'Atonement'


'Atonement'

By Adam Dawtrey
Variety
Posted: Thurs., Dec. 13, 2007, 10:00pm PT

LONDON -- The London Critics Circle has handed out eight nominations apiece to two British movies, "Control" and "Atonement," although neither are in the running for best film.

The contenders for film of the year are "No Country for Old Men" which has four nominations, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (two), "There Will Be Blood" (four), "Zodiac" (two) and "The Bourne Ultimatum" (two).

"Control" and "Atonement" have to make do with nominations for British film of the year, along with John Carney's "Once" (actually Irish), David Cronenberg's "Eastern Promises" and Shane Meadows' "This Is England."

The London Critics Circle hands out prizes in 14 categories, and has spread this year's nominations thinly around 36 movies, of which 23 receive just a single nod apiece.

The award ceremony takes place Feb. 8, two days before the British Academy Film Awards, at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

FULL LIST OF NOMINATIONS:
http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_...ryid=1983&cs=1