NEW YORK FILM CRITICS ONLINE ANNOUNCE

Best Picture

                The Artist

Best Director

                Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

1.    Michael Shannon (Take Shelter)

2.       Michael Fassbender (Shame)

Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

1.    Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)

2.       Viola Davis (The Help)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

                Albert Brooks (Drive)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

                Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids)

Best Screenplay

                Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne and Jim Rash (The Descendants)

Best Cinematography

                Emmanuel Lubezki (The Tree of Life)

Best Use of Music

                Ludovic Bource (The Artist)

Best Ensemble Cast

                Bridesmaids

Best Animated Feature

                The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Best Documentary

                Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Best Foreign Language Film

                A Separation

Best Breakthrough Performer

Jessica Chastain (Coriolanus / The Debt / The Help / Take Shelter / Texas Killing Field / The Tree of Life)

Best Debut Director

                Joe Cornish (Attack the Block)

Once again, The Artist leads the way. The NYFCO aren't perhaps the most influential critics' group, not even in New York, but their opinions do matter. For example, now Melissa McCarthy has not just one but two Supporting Actress wins in one day, and becomes a major contender. Emmanuel Lubezki has another win, and The Artist asserts its prominence. Meanwhile, that Best Actor slate is the best I've seen all season thus far.