The 2011 "Where's Whitey?" award for Best Animal Actor: the winner

After an informal poll of my fellow Boston Society of Film Critics members, the winner of the 2011 "Where's Whitey? Award for Best Animal Actor" has been decided.

It wasn't even close.

For a performance all the more impressive because it was done without resorting to any dialogue, barked or otherwise, and. by relying only on nuanced facial expressions, reminiscent of Garbo at her most ineffable, and eloquent physical comedy the equal of Buster Keaton, Uggie from "The Artist" takes this year's prize.

As Norma Desmond noted, they had faces then. And some of them were hairy.

There were also some intriguing write-in candidates.

Ed Symkus put in his vote for Crystal, who plays the cigarette smoking, drug-peddling capuchin monkey in "The Hangover, Part II."

Brett Michel thought that  the award belonged by definition to  Animal, who portrays himself in "The Muppets."

And David Wildman put in a good word for Keira Knightley as Sabina Spielrein in "A Dangerous Method."

Good choices, all. Better luck next year to those who didn't win.

Our congratulations to Uggie!

READ: The "Where's Whitey?" Award for Best Animal Performance 2010

READ: The "Where's Whitey?" Award for Best Animal Performance 2009