L.A. CRITICS CROWN FILM 'SIDEWAYS' BEST PICTURE, DIRECTOR.Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Writer The Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Film Critics Association went silly for ``Sideways'' on Saturday, giving Alexander Payne's wry comedy five awards including best picture, director and screenplay, as well as recognizing supporting actress supporting actress n → attrice f non protagonista Virginia Madsen and supporting actor Thomas Haden Church. The multiple accolades were somewhat unusual in that the Los Angeles critics group, voting in its 30th year, typically spreads the wealth a bit more. ``Sideways,'' though, has achieved an exalted status among critics nationwide this year. The movie, which follows two old friends on a wine tasting trip to Santa Barbara County, has received uniformly rave reviews for its funny, observant and supremely hopeful look into the human heart. Other major awards given Saturday include Liam Neeson taking best actor honors for his work in ``Kinsey,'' Bill Condon's biopic bi·o·pic n. A film or television biography, often with fictionalized episodes. biopic Noun Informal a film based on the life of a famous person [bio(graphical) + pic(ture)] of the controversial sex researcher, and Imelda Staunton winning best actress for her portrayal of a cheerful British cleaning lady who secretly performs abortions in ``Vera Drake.'' Pixar Animation's ``The Incredibles'' was named best animated feature and its composer, Michael Giacchino, won in the music/score category. The arty kung-fu epic, ``House of Flying Daggers,'' took foreign film honors, while ``Born Into Brothels BROTHELS, crim. law. Bawdy-houses, the common habitations of prostitutes; such places have always been deemed common nuisances in the United States, and the keepers of them may be fined and imprisoned. 2. ,'' a look at the children born to prostitutes in Calcutta's red-light district, won best documentary. ``Brothels,'' which screened for a week at Hollywood's ArcLight in August, will open in January for a wider, Los Angeles-area engagement. The Los Angeles critics group was the second domino to fall in the run-up to the announcement of Oscar nominations on Jan. 25. The quasi- critics group National Board of Review, voting earlier this month, named ``Finding Neverland,'' the tearjerker tear·jerk·er n. Slang A grossly sentimental story, drama, or performance. tear  -jerk biopic of ``Peter Pan'' creator J.M. Barrie, as its best picture. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association will announce its Golden Globe nominees Monday. The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Film Critics Circle also votes that day. Rounding out the awards, Dante Ferretti won for his production design work on the upcoming Howard Hughes biopic, ``The Aviator.'' Cinematographers Dion Beebe and Paul Cameron took top honors for ``Collateral,'' Michael Mann's crackling crime drama, most of which was shot on high-definition video. The group gave its new generation award to writer-director Joshua Marston and actress Catalina Sandino Moreno Catalina Sandino Moreno (born April 19 1981) is an Academy Award-nominated Colombian actress. Sandino was born in Bogotá, Colombia to a pathologist mother. Before becoming an actress, she studied advertising at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. for their work on the drug mule drama ``Maria Full of Grace.'' The last time a filmmaker and his young protege were so honored in this category was in 1976 when Martin Scorsese and Jodie Foster won for ``Taxi Driver.'' Ken Jacobs' seven-hour ``Star Spangled span·gle n. 1. A small, often circular piece of sparkling metal or plastic sewn especially on garments for decoration. 2. A small sparkling object, drop, or spot: spangles of sunlight. To Death'' was cited in the experimental/indie category. Runners-up included: Clint Eastwood's dark boxing drama ``Million Dollar Baby'' (picture); Paul Giamatti, the sad sack wine connoisseur in ``Sideways'' (actor); Julie Delpy, one of the star-crossed lovers in ``Before Sunset'' (actress); Martin Scorsese (director, ``The Aviator''); Cate Blanchett, for her work in ``The Aviator'' and ``Coffee and Cigarettes'' (supporting actress); Morgan Freeman, playing an aging former boxer in ``Million Dollar Baby'' (supporting actor); and ``Fahrenheit 9/11'' (documentary). In its October meeting, LAFCA LAFCA Los Angeles Film Critics Association gave its lifetime achievement award to Jerry Lewis, the 78-year-old comic institution and filmmaker best known for his muscular dystrophy muscular dystrophy (dĭs`trōfē), any of several inherited diseases characterized by progressive wasting of the skeletal muscles. There are five main forms of the disease. telethons and for playing an idiot opposite Dean Martin in a string of movies made in the 1950s. LAFCA's membership includes 46 Los Angeles-based professional film critics. This year's awards will be presented at a dinner Jan. 13 at the St. Regis Hotel in Century City. Daily News film critics Bob Strauss and Glenn Whipp were among those who voted Saturday. Glenn Whipp, (818) 713-3672 glenn.whipp(at)dailynews.com |
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