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Best of 2008: East coast vs. West coast crix

A few weeks ago, the Hollywood trades were observing (or complaining) that, because of the 2008 presidential election, all the big studio Oscar-bait films had been pushed back into December. I mean, how are mere movies going to compete with that cast? "Obama. Biden. McCain. And Sarah Palin as Jaws."

Last year's Oscar-winner, "No Country for Old Men," played the Toronto Film Festival in early September, the New York Film Festival in early October, and began opening around the country November 9. The critics groups split between "NCFOM" (NY) and "There Will Be Blood" (LA, National Society), which was a 2008 release in much of the country.

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This year, it's anybody's guess. "Slumdog Millionaire"? "Milk"? "Wall-E"? Something that hasn't won a critical consensus honor yet? (Right now my hunch is that the National Society of Film Critics will wind up going for either "The Wrestler" or "Wendy and Lucy." Just a hunch.)

UPDATE: The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, bestower of the Golden Globules, has announced its nominations... and even with a total of ten best picture slots (in Drama and Comedy/Musical categories) it overlooked "Milk," "The Wrestler" and "The Dark Knight," all of which seem to me like fairly obvious Globuley-Oscary pictures. Sean Penn, Mickey Rourke and Heath Ledger all got acting nods, though. Go fig.

There will be lots to see between now and New Year's Eve -- and I still haven't caught up with "Milk," "Happy-Go-Lucky," "I've Loved You So Long," "Ballast," "Rachel Getting Married," "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" -- all of which have already opened theatrically. Still to come: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Frost/Nixon," "Revolutionary Road," "The Reader," "The Wrestler," "Doubt," "Seven Pounds"... none of which, however, have made much of an impact with critics groups.

The East Coast and West Coast critics have agreed on a few things here and there: Sean Penn in "Milk," Sally Hawkins in "Happy-Go-Lucky," Penelope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," "Man on Wire" for documentary, but... well, see for yourself:

Los Angeles Film Critics Association

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

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

Documentary film: "Man on Wire" Runner-up: "Waltz with Bashir"

Animated film: "Waltz with Bashir"

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

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

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"

Cinematography: Yu Lik Wai, "Still Life"

New Generation Award: Steve McQueen, "Hunger"

(Full list of LAFCA awards here.)

New York Film Critics Circle

Picture: "Milk"

Foreign language film: "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" (considered a 2007 release by many critics last year, including the National Society)

Non-fiction film: "Man on Wire"

Animated film: "Wall-E"

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

Screenplay: Jenny Lumet, "Rachel Getting Married"

Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk"

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

Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, "Milk"

Supporting Actress: Penelopy Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Best first film: Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"

(Full list of NYCC awards here.)

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