National Society of Film Critics: the winners
The National Society of Film Critics, of which I am a member, had a choice between "Life" and death today, and they chose death. That is to say, Lars Von Trier's doomsday celebration "Melancholia" beat out Terence Malick's cheerier "Tree of Life" for Best Picture by one vote. "Tree of Life" would make a comeback with Best Director and Best Cinematography somewhat later in the four-and-a-half meeting, but not before "Melancholia' scored again with Best Actress with Kirsten Dunst.
Here are the complete results:
BEST ACTOR
Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"
BEST ACTRESS
Kirsten Dunst, "Melancholia"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Albert Brooks, "Drive."
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jessica Chastain, "Tree of Life," "Take Shelter," and "The Help"
BEST PICTURE
"Melancholia," directed by Lars Von Trier
BEST DIRECTOR
Terrence Malick, "Tree of Life"
BEST NON-FICTION FILM
"Cave of Forgotten Dreams," Werner Herzog
BEST SCREENPLAY
Asghar Farhad, "A Separation"
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"A Separation," written and directed by Asghar Farhadi
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Emanuel Lubezki, "Tree of Life"