LA Critics Like 'WALL-E', NY Goes with 'Milk'

So it's now the time of year where critics across the country vote for their favorite films, and the first two major groups out of the gate are Los Angeles and New York. The other day, LA critics surprised most by naming WALL-E the best picture of 2008, while NY -- who just voted this morning -- have picked Milk to be their favorite of the year. Sean Penn was named best actor by both groups, as was Man on Wire for best documentary. Noticeably absent on both lists are buzzed-about films like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Reader, Revolutionary Road, Doubt and Gran Torino.

NY gave Slumdog Millionaire the cinematography award, Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky) the directing award, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days the best foreign language award and WALL-E received the best animated flick. The biggest snub out of NY was supporting actor, which went to Josh Brolin for Milk and not Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (LA picked Ledger). Not sure what my brothers and sisters in NY were thinking there; Brolin was good, no doubt, but nowhere near Ledger. Check out the full lists for both after the jump.


Los Angeles Critics

Picture: "Wall-E"
Runner-up: "The Dark Knight"

Director: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Runner-up: Christopher Nolan, "The Dark Knight"

Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk"
Runner-up: Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

Actress: Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Runner-up: Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"

Supporting actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
Runner-up: Eddie Marsan, "Happy-Go-Lucky"

Supporting actress: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and "Elegy"
Runner-up: Viola Davis, "Doubt"

Screenplay: Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Runner-up: Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York"

Foreign-language film: "Still Life"
Runner-up: "The Class"

Documentary: "Man on Wire"
Runner-up: "Waltz With Bashir"

Animation: "Waltz With Bashir"

Cinematography: Yu Lik Wai, "Still Life"
Runner-up: Anthony Dod Mantle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Production design: Mark Friedberg, "Synecdoche, New York"
Runner-up: Nathan Crowley, "The Dark Knight"

Music/score: A.R. Rahman, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Runner-up: Alexandre Desplat, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

New Generation: Steve McQueen, "Hunger"

Douglas E. Edwards independent/experimental film/video: James Benning, "RR" and "Casting a Glance"

NY Critics Circle

Best Film: Milk

Director: Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"

Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk"

Actress: Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky"

Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, "Milk"

Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Screenplay: Jenny Lumet, "Rachel Getting Married"

First Film: Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"

Foreign Film: "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days"

Animated Film: "WALL-E

Documentary: "Man on Wire"

Cinematographer: Anthony Dod Mantle, "Slumdog Millionaire"