‘Wrestler,’ ‘Slumdog’ win big in London!
02.5.2009 | By Mack Chico |
Helmer Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler” body-slammed the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards on Wednesday, winning best film and actor for Mickey Rourke.
However, helmer Danny Boyle’s awards season darling “Slumdog Millionaire” took the most awards on the night. The Mumbai-set thriller won honors for British film, British director and screenwriter (Simon Beaufoy).
Kate Winslet, also a firm favorite on the awards circuit, landed the actress prize for her perfs in “Revolutionary Road” and “The Reader.”
Kristin Scott Thomas was feted as best British actress for the Gallic film “I’ve Loved You So Long.” British actor nod went to Michael Fassbender (“Hunger”).
David Fincher took the director prize for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” with that pic’s Tilda Swinton drawing supporting actress kudos.
Eddie Marsan was named supporting actor for his turn as a crazed driving instructor in Mike Leigh’s “Happy-Go-Lucky.”
Fast-rising thesp Thomas Turgoose, who came to the fore in Shane Meadows’ “This Is England,” scooped the inaugural young British performer nod for his roles in “Eden Lake” and “Somers Town.”
In other prizes, artist-turned-filmmaker Steve McQueen won breakthrough British filmmaker for “Hunger,” and “Waltz With Bashir” took foreign-language film.
The Dilys Powell Award for outstanding contribution to cinema was dished out to previously announced recipient Judi Dench.
The London Critics’ Circle, the film section of the Critics’ Circle, has more than 100 members who write for newspapers and magazines published across the U.K.
The awards were held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel as a fund-raiser for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Winners for the 29th Critics’ Circle Film Awards
FILM OF THE YEAR
“The Wrestler” – Darren Aronofsky
ATTENBOROUGH FILM OF THE YEAR
“Slumdog Millionaire” – Danny Boyle
DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
David Fincher – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
BRITISH DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Danny Boyle – “Slumdog Millionaire”
ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Mickey Rourke – “The Wrestler”
ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Kate Winslet – “The Reader” / “Revolutionary Road”
BRITISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Michael Fassbender – “Hunger”
BRITISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Kristin Scott-Thomas – “I’ve Loved You So Long”
BRITISH ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Eddie Marsan – “Happy-Go-Lucky”
BRITISH ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Tilda Swinton – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
Simon Beaufoy – “Slumdog Millionaire”
THE NSPCC AWARD: YOUNG BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Thomas Turgoose – “Somers Town” / “Eden Lake”
BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH FILM-MAKER
Steve McQueen – “Hunger
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
“Waltz With Bashir – Ari Folman
THE DILYS POWELL AWARD
Dame Judi Dench
