NYC Film Critic

The New York Film Critics Online, of which I am a member, met today to single out the best 2010 had to offer.  To no one’s great surprise, The Social Network took home the big three awards–Screenplay, Director and Picture.  But we did spread the wealth around a little, handing Actor to James Franco for his terrific turn in 127 Hours, Actress to Natalie Portman for her poised work in Black Swan (although, to be honest, I was pulling for Blue Valentine‘s Michelle Williams or Another Year‘s Lesley Manville) and Breakthrough Performer to Noomi Rapace, the best thing about the film versions of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy.  The win I was most thrilled about?  Exit Through the Gift Shop‘s squeaker victory in the Documentary category.  The win I was least thrilled about?  John Wells as Debut Director for his solid, but unremarkable drama The Company Men.  Read the full list of winners–as well as NYFCO’s collective Top 10 of 2010 list (not to be confused with my own list, which I hope to post here within the next two weeks)–after the jump.

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The New York Film Critics Online, the critics organization of which I am a part, met today to hand out our 2009 awards.  The results are below…believe me, I’m still surprised (in a good way) by our Best Picture choice.  Look for my review of this film early this week.

BEST PICTURE
Avatar (20th Century Fox)

DIRECTOR
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)

ACTOR
Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)

ACTRESS
Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Mo’Nique (Precious)

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Inglourious Basterds – Robert Richardson

SCREENPLAY
Inglourious Basterds – Quentin Tarantino

FOREIGN LANGUAGE PICTURE
The White Ribbon (Sony Classics)

DOCUMENTARY
The Cove (Roadside Attractions)

ANIMATED FEATURE
Up (Disney/Pixar)

FILM MUSIC OR SCORE
Crazy Heart – Steve Bruton & T. Bone Burnett, music supervisor, Jeffrey Pollack

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

DEBUT AS DIRECTOR
Marc Webb [(500) Days of Summer]

ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
In the Loop (IFC Films)

BEST 11 PICTURES (Alphabetical)
Adventureland (Miramax Films)
Avatar (20th Century Fox)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (Fox Searchlight)
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment)
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company)
The Messenger (Oscilloscope)
Precious (Lionsgate)
A Serious Man (Focus Features)
Two Lovers (Magnolia
Up (Disney/Pixar)
Up in the Air (Paramount)