We complain and complain about how critic's groups can't step out of the routine and reward a slightly different film-- give Slumdog Millionaire a break, guys! But then one group, the National Society of Film Critics, breaks the mold, and all I can say is... huh?
The group, which consists of 49 critics based all over the country, awarded Waltz With Bashir their best picture prize, beating out runners-up Happy-Go-Lucky and Wall-E, according to Variety. You've probably seen Bashir mentioned most frequently as the animated film that will lose its category to Wall-E at the Oscars. It's an Israeli documentary that follows filmmaker Ari Folman's attempts to come to terms with his memories from the Israel-Lebanon war in the 1980s, and it's touching and beautifully animated, though nothing I ever would have thought of as the best of the year.
The NSFC went somewhat more traditional with the rest of their picks, rewarding Milk's Sean Penn and Happy-Go-Lucky's Sally Hawkins with the lead acting prizes, and giving Happy-Go-Lucky the directing and screenplay awards as well. That movie has gotten an immense amount of critical support over the last few weeks, which might indicate bigger Oscar hopes than anyone would have expected. I don't think anything can keep Waltz WIth Bashir from losing the animated category to Wall-E, but Happy-Go-Lucky's fate may have just dramatically improved.
