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    Critics pick 'Melancholia' as best film of 2011

    NEW YORK (AP) — The National Society of Film Critics selected Lars von Trier's drama "Melancholia" as the best picture of 2011 during its annual meeting Saturday.

    The society also named the movie's star, Kirsten Dunst, as 2011's best actress. The film ponders the end of the world.

    The group, comprised of 58 prominent movie critics from around the country, met Saturday at Sardi's Restaurant in New York City to make its picks.

    Society members chose Brad Pitt as best actor for his performances in "Moneyball" and "The Tree of Life." Albert Brooks, in "Drive," and Jessica Chastain, in "The Tree of Life" and two other movies, received nods for supporting roles.

    Terrance Malick was picked as best director, also for "The Tree of Life," and Werner Herzog's "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" was selected as best nonfiction film.

    The society, founded in 1966, also works to promote film preservation and historically important movies.

    This year, it recognized Brooklyn's BAMcinematek for its retrospective of films by Vincente Minnelli, known for musicals and dramas; and the Criterion Collection for its DVD package of "The Complete Jean Vigo."

    The group's picks can help galvanize interest in films ahead of the Academy Awards in February, but are not known to heavily influence who gets picked for the Oscars.

     
    • RY33  •  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  •  4 mths ago
      Why do the movies that get picked for "best of" or for Oscar nominations only play in one small art house theater for two weeks but vampires having sex with werewolves plays on 3500 screens nation wide? Every theater has 15-25 screens. Why can't they make a little room for some of these films.
      • Layla 4 mths ago
        Amen!
      • Joe 4 mths ago
        Seriously, RY33? Do you understand marketing and economics? That's like asking why 7-11 doesn't carry Dom Perignon or Kobe beef.
        Google "supply and demand." You'll figure it all out.
      • JM 4 mths ago
        I am glad they don't but to answer your question, because they know they suck and most of them won't make a cent. That's why, unlike a lot of art house films that begin to win awards like this, it didn't go into major theaters even under limited engagement terms.
    • Marilyn  •  Cleveland, Ohio  •  4 mths ago
      How can so many of you judge a film you've never seen? It is certainly the best depiction of clinical depression I've ever seen on film, and as someone with major depression, I am happy to see it depicted, and done so very well by Kirsten Dunst. The film's ending is the most horrifying, majestic, mind-blowing ending I've ever seen. The last 5 minutes are worth the price of admission. The courage of the women and child are so inspiring. This movie, Melancholia, played for a short time here in Cleveland, I don't understand why it wasn't distributed more widely. Bravo for these awards for the movie and Ms. Dunst!!!
      • spor 4 mths ago
        "..and as someone with major depression, I am happy to see it depicted.." - Ironic choice of words.
      • Rogosh 4 mths ago
        I saw it on hdnet movies , it was god awful. Basically the first 30 minutes... scratch that the whole movie makes you want the life you spent back from watching this.
      • bball queen 4 mths ago
        Agreed. It sucked. I wanted a refund.
    • citizenval  •  4 mths ago
      I have not read where any theater is playing Melancholia, nor did I see any trailors of the film on TV. What gives Hollywood? I would like to see this film before Oscar night.
      • barry g 4 mths ago
        on demand time warner cable
      • Rogosh 4 mths ago
        Trust me you dont want to see it.
    • Politically Correctional  •  4 mths ago
      Death to homogenized film.
      • Chris 4 mths ago
        Ok Cecil
      • Alfred 4 mths ago
        And death to homogenized milk as well.
    • Mr. Muligan  •  4 mths ago
      If you do not understand depression, or want to understand it, and / or don't like depressing films do not watch the movie. It is very deep. If you are someone who has experienced depression, you will appreciate it's great artistry.
      • astro 4 mths ago
        Do they blow up anything?
      • brian 4 mths ago
        Yes, they blow up the earth.
      • Mr. Muligan 4 mths ago
        Michael the reason you are so rude and delusional is you are sick in the head. So you should get on medication.
    • Stefan  •  Belgrade, Serbia  •  4 mths ago
      Its a sad thing people are generally more into popcorn idiotic movies like Transformers and Twilight, since, God forbid, they cannot use their little brains for anything but acting like zombies!
    • Texas Woodwrx  •  San Antonio, Texas  •  4 mths ago
      I thought the movie was amazing. Beautiful camera work and exceptionally moving at the end. Kirstan did a fine job.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  4 mths ago
      Shocking. This movie had great acting and unique artistic scenery but so much depressing emotional drama - shows what it's like to be a person with severe depression. The director made some comments about Jews that caused an uproar so I'm suprised a NYC organization chose the film.
    • disconnected  •  4 mths ago
      this movie dragged on so long i thought i would have to slit my wrists. and kirsten is butt ugly with little acting talent.
    • JOANNE  •  4 mths ago
      biggest pile of cak ive ever watched! who rates these things?
    • Paul S.  •  Jamestown, New York  •  4 mths ago
      I've never heard of it. I have got to get out more.
    • John  •  San Francisco, California  •  4 mths ago
      I really enjoyed Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Gary Oldman deserves Oscar this year.
    • mavsmaniac  •  Greenville, Texas  •  4 mths ago
      The Tree of Life was TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!
    • iconico62  •  4 mths ago
      This again shows the exclusivity of film critics and their choices. Perhaps apart from their friends, nobody in the rest of America have seen some of these films they judge. Why can't they wait until after the national release of these films so that we know what they are taklking aout?
    • Fred  •  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  •  4 mths ago
      My "best Picture" for 2011 was THE GUARD.
    • A Yahoo! user  •  Houston, Texas  •  4 mths ago
      Never heard of the film, but it sounds interesting. I think it's pretty cool that Dunst goes from playing Mary Jane in Spiderman to being a contendar for an Oscar; shows that she is more than just a fly by night actress. Good for her. Congrats!
    • wade4profit  •  Norfolk, Virginia  •  4 mths ago
      The "Tree of Life" was voted all of these awards. I turned it off after about 20 minutes of nothing at all happening that made any sense. If the critics liked this, then I have no interest in their opinion
    • Thinlad  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  4 mths ago
      Best film picks are always more a reflection of who's doing the picking than of the actual quality/worthiness of the films themselves.

      That being said, "Melancholia" was certainly my favorite film of 2011. Character-driven, elegant, intimate, stoic in its depiction of humans in deep psychological crisis.

      Oh, and visually gorgeous.

      Saw it twice and considering seeing it a third time in the theater (the best way to see this one).
    • William  •  Omaha, Nebraska  •  4 mths ago
      As a rule. I make Judgements for myself. I could careless what Critics think of what i watch
    • A Yahoo! user  •  Houston, Texas  •  4 mths ago
      These "critics" always seem to pick some obscure, unheard of film as best picture. Why can't they choose something everyday people flock to the theaters to see? Something the majority of us have heard of. It's almost as if they feel that it's their duty to make us well-rounded individuals by exposing us to "art."
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