The Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association just released its tops-o'-2009 list; it follows in full after the jump. But, first, this teaser: Dodging critical conventional wisdom that has put Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker at the top of most critics' polls, the DFWCA instead opted to follow the National Board of Review and go with Jason Reitman's adaptation of Walter Kirn's novel Up in the Air. The American Airlines informercial wouldn't have been my first choice, even though I quite liked it; my personal-faves list features only four of the DFWCA's Top 10, matter of fact, which isn't why I don't vote in this poll. (Mostly, I just get busy with year-end stuff for the paper version of Unfair Park, which runs next week, and just forget.)
The DFWCA also voted Clooney as Best Actor (sorry, but the failure to even list A Serious Man's Michael Stuhlbarg among the top four favorites is just wrong). And, surprise, the DFWCA tapped Reitman as best director. Now jump. But mind the minefield.
DALLAS-FORT WORTH FILM CRITICS NAME "UP IN THE AIR" BEST PICTURE OF 2009
The Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association voted the sophisticated comedy-drama UP IN THE AIR as the best film of 2009, according to the results of its 16th annual critics' poll released today.
Rounding out the composite list of the top 10 films of the year were THE HURT LOCKER (2), PRECIOUS (3), UP (4), AN EDUCATION (5), A SERIOUS MAN (6), INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (7), DISTRICT 9 (8), AVATAR (9) and FANTASTIC MR. FOX (10).
For Best Actor, the association named George Clooney for UP IN THE AIR. Runners-up included Jeff Bridges for CRAZY HEART (2), Jeremy Renner for THE HURT LOCKER (3), Colin Firth for A SINGLE MAN (4) and Morgan Freeman for INVICTUS (5).
Carey Mulligan was voted Best Actress for AN EDUCATION. Next in the voting were Meryl Streep for JULIE AND JULIA (2), Gabourey Sidibe for PRECIOUS (3), Emily Blunt for THE YOUNG VICTORIA (4) and Sandra Bullock for THE BLIND SIDE (5).
In the Best Supporting Actor category, the winner was Christoph Waltz for INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS. He was followed by Woody Harrelson for THE MESSENGER (2), Stanley Tucci for THE LOVELY BONES (3), Alfred Molina for AN EDUCATION (4) and Christian McKay for ME AND ORSON WELLES (5).
For Best Supporting Actress, the association named Mo'Nique for PRECIOUS. Runners-up included Anna Kendrick for UP IN THE AIR (2), Vera Farmiga for UP IN THE AIR (3), Marion Cotillard for NINE (4) and Maggie Gyllenhaal for CRAZY HEART (5).
Jason Reitman was voted Best Director for UP IN THE AIR. Next in the voting were Kathryn Bigelow for THE HURT LOCKER (2), Lee Daniels for PRECIOUS (3), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for A SERIOUS MAN (4) and Quentin Tarantino for INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (5). The association voted SIN NOMBRE as the best foreign-language film of the year.
Runners-up were BROKEN EMBRACES (2), SUMMER HOURS (3), THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX (4) and RED CLIFF (5).
THE COVE won for Best Documentary over ANVIL: THE STORY OF ANVIL (2), CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY (3), THIS IS IT (4) and a tie between BURMA VJ and THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE (5).
UP was named the best animated film of 2009, with FANTASTIC MR. FOX as runner-up. Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner won the Best Screenplay award for UP IN THE AIR over Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for A SERIOUS MAN.
The award for Best Cinematography went to Andrew Lesnie for THE LOVELY BONES, followed by Barry Ackroyd for THE HURT LOCKER.
The association voted PRECIOUS as the winner of the Russell Smith Award, named for the late Dallas Morning News film critic. The honor is given annually to the best low-budget or cutting-edge independent film.
The Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association consists of 33 broadcast, print and online journalists from throughout North Texas. For more information, visit www.dfwfilmcritics.com.
