KANSAS CITY FILM CRITICS CIRCLE ANNOUNCES

Best Picture

                The Descendants

The Robert Altman Award for Best Director

                Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

                George Clooney (The Descendants)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

                Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

                Christopher Plummer (Beginners)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

                Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life)

Best Original Screenplay

                Mike Mills (Beginners)

Best Adapted Screenplay

                Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian (Moneyball)

Best Animated Film

                Rango

Best Documentary

                Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Best Foreign Language Film

                A Separation

The Vince Koehler Award for Best Science-Fiction, Fantasy or Horror Film

                Hugo

The Kansas City Film Critics Circle is one the oldest critics' groups in existence, yet it's far from being one of the most influential. Nevertheless, some of its choices here represent significant boosts for its recipients. The Descendants may need support such as this, as it has been slipping in recent weeks. Beginners is also in shaky condition, having missed out on a WGA nomination, so this is a positive development for the film, and the fact that Moneyball has beaten Best Picture winner The Descendants for Adapted Screenplay may hold some weight too. And now, having not won a single award all season, Kirsten Dunst takes both the NSFC and KCFCC.