‘Milk’ Named Best Film By NY Critics

“Milk,” Gus Van Sant’s movie about gay rights leader Harvey Milk starring Sean Penn, has been named best film by the New York Film Critics Circle.

Penn was also chosen as best actor by the critics, who announced their picks Wednesday.

“Happy-Go-Lucky” also fared well, winning best director for Mike Leigh and best actress for Sally Hawkins.

The critics circle, which last year chose “No Country for Old Men” as best film, is a group of 33 New York-based critics. Its awards will be handed out Jan. 5 in New York.

Other awards handed out by the NY Film Critics Circle:

Best Actress – Sally Hawkins, “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Best Screenplay – Jenny Lumet, “Rachel Getting Married”
Best Cinematographer – Anthony Dod Mantle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Supporting Actor – Josh Brolin, “Milk “
Best Animated Film – “WALL-E”
Best Director – Mike Leigh, “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Best Supporting Actress – Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Best First Film – Courtney Hunt, “Frozen River”
Best Foreign Film – “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days”
Best Actor – Sean Penn, “Milk”