L.A., NYC critics crown Hurt Locker as year's best

The acclaimed Iraq war film The Hurt Locker scooped the best film prize fromboth the Los Angeles Film Critics Associationas well as the New York Film Critics circle,while the tense and gritty drama's director, Kathryn Bigelow, was alsonamed the year's best director by both groups.

The influential critics' groups spread out theiryear-end prizes to a host of films, with no one title dominating the categories.

On the West Coast, lead acting honours went to U.S. actor Jeff Bridges for his turn in the country music drama Crazy Heart and French actress Yoland Moreau for the biopic Sraphine, about the devout, self-taught artist Sraphine Louis.

While on the East Coast, top acting accolades went to Meryl Streep for her portrayal of Julia Child in Julie & Julia and George Clooney was chosen for two projects, the Jason Reitman-directed Up in the Air and the animated feature The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

However, both groups did agree on two performers who took on villain roles nabbed trophies in the supporting categories: American comedienne Mo'Nique picked up the best supporting actress trophy for her turn as a monstrous mother in Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, while Austrian Christoph Waltz earned the corresponding actor prize for his acclaimed portrayal of a ruthless Nazi officer in Inglourious Basterds.

Both groups gave the French drama, Summer Hours by Olivier Assayas, the best foreign film prize while the New Yorkers handedTerence Davies' Of Time and the City, the prize in the documentary category. The New York Film Critics Circle, composed of 33 area reviewers, will hand out awards on Jan. 11.

Other films tapped by the L.A. critics included:

• Animated film - Fantastic Mr. Fox.
• Screenplay - Up in the Air, Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner.
• Documentary/nonfiction film - (tie) The Beaches of Agnes and The Cove.
• Music/score - Crazy Heart, T Bone Burnett and Stephen Bruton. .
• Cinematography - The White Ribbon, Christian Berger.
• New generation award - District 9, Neill Blomkamp.

The winners will be celebrated atthe 35th annual L.A. Film Critics Association awards gala in Los Angeles on Jan. 16.

Both critics' groups help paint a picture of the top films in the running for and draw attention to smaller or overlooked movies to be considered for the prestigious Academy Awards, which take place in March.