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.
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More