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Film Mon Jan 09 2012
Chicago Film Critics Announce Award Winners
The Chicago Film Critics Association announced the winners of its annual awards this weekend.
Best Picture: The Tree of Life
Best Director: Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Best Actor: Michael Shannon, Take Shelter
Best Actress: Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Best Supporting Actor: Albert Brooks, Drive
Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain, The Tree of Life
Best Original Screenplay: The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius
Best Adapted Screenplay: Moneyball, Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin
Best Cinematography: The Tree of Life Emmanuel Lubezki
Best Original Score: Drive, Cliff Martinez
Best Animated Feature: Rango
Best Documentary: The Interrupters
Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation
Promising Performer: Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Promising Filmmaker: Sean Durkin, Martha Marcy May Marlene
This was the first awards ceremony the association has held in several years. Steve Prokopy, Gapers Block's resident critic and a member of the CFCA, said, "After a long hiatus from an actual awards ceremony, I have to say I was truly impressed with how everything came together for the nearly packed house, especially with many of the winners either being on hand or sending acceptance videos. Naturally there were a few hiccups and technical glitches, but considering how long it's been for us to put on such a show, it was especially gratifying to see it all go so well."
In addition to the competitive awards, the CFCA handed out several honorary awards. Legendary actress Shirley MacLaine received the Commitment to the Craft Award, James Earl Jones receoved the Oscar Michaeux Award, and Jason Segel received the newly created Commedia Extraordinaire Award, acknowledging work "the often over-looked field of screen comedy." Two Chicago-related awards were also presented: the Commitment to Chicago went to actor Dennis Farina, who recently starred in The Last Rights of Joe May, and the Big Shoulders Award was given to the Second City.