SOUTHEASTERN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCE

Best Picture

1.    The Descendants

2.       The Artist

3.       Hugo

4.       Moneyball

5.       The Tree of Life

6.       Drive

7.       Midnight in Paris

8.       Win Win

9.       War Horse

10.    The Help

Best Director

1.    Martin Scorsese (Hugo)

2.       Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

1.    George Clooney (The Descendants)

2.       Michael Fassbender (Shame)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

1.    Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)

2.       Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

1.    Christopher Plummer (Beginners)

2.       Albert Brooks (Drive)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

1.    Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs)

2.       Shailene Woodley (The Descendants)

Best Original Screenplay

1.    Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)

2.       Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)

Best Adapted Screenplay

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

2.       Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian (Moneyball)

Best Cinematography

1.    Emmanuel Lubezki (The Tree of Life)

2.       Robert Richardson (Hugo)

Best Ensemble Cast

1.    The Help

2.       The Descendants

Best Animated Film

1.    Rango

2.       The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Best Documentary

1.    Project Nim

2.       Tabloid

Best Foreign Language Film

1.    A Separation

2.       The Skin I Live In

The Gene Wyatt Award

1.    The Help

2.       Undefeated

The Southeastern Film Critics Association usually makes choices which ought to be considered, either helping to support films not currently standing strong in the race, or demonstrating the level of support which some of the frontrunners may possess. Once again, The Descendants has come up tops, taking three main awards and finishing in second for Supporting Actress. Yet, it continues to fail to be much of a presence in Best Director, with neither first nor second place slots occupied by Alexander Payne. Overall, this list is pretty much business as usual, with the exception of only Meryl Streep's third win of the season thus far, and her first from outside of New York. That said, her Oscar chances remain strong, and this win is proof of that.