"the hurt locker" wins at san francisco film critics awards

Report lifted from the San Francisco Chronicle

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Regional film critics laud 'Hurt Locker'
Chronicle Staff Report
Thursday, December 17, 2009

"The Hurt Locker," a drama about a U.S. Army bomb disposal unit in Iraq, won the best picture and best director awards from the San Francisco Film Critics Circle.

The group, which held its annual voting meeting Monday night, also chose Colin Firth as best actor, honoring his work as a depressed college professor who recently lost his longtime male lover in "A Single Man." Meryl Streep won the best actress award for her portrayal of Julia Child in "Julie & Julia."

The rest of the group's awards were an eclectic mix, including three animated films and a documentary about an aging heavy metal band. Mo'Nique won the best supporting actress award for her role as an abusive mother in "Precious."

Christian McKay received the best supporting actor for his memorable work as Orson Welles in "Me and Orson Welles." Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach won best adapted screenplay for "Fantastic Mr. Fox," while Quentin Tarantino was the best original screenplay winner for "Inglourious Basterds."

Kathryn Bigelow won best director for "The Hurt Locker," Roger Deakins won best cinematography for the Coen Brothers film "A Serious Man," the best foreign language picture was "You, the Living" and the best documentary was "Anvil! The Story of Anvil."
The group also introduced its first-ever award for best animated feature, choosing Henry Selick's "Coraline."

Local filmmakers Frazer Bradshaw ("Everything Strange and New") and Barry Jenkins ("Medicine and Melancholy") won the Marlon Riggs award, which recognizes a Bay Area filmmaker or individual who brings courage and innovation to the world of cinema. The animated "Sita Sings the Blues" received a special citation and San Francisco screenwriter Rose Kaufman ("Henry & June," "The Wanderers") was honored in memoriam.

The San Francisco Film Critics Circle is composed of more than 20 critics from Northern California print and online publications and broadcast outlets. Representing The Chronicle in the organization are movie critic Mick La Salle and pop culture critic Peter Hartlaub. Also in the group are Chronicle correspondent Ruthe Stein and former Chronicle critic Carla Meyer, now with the Sacramento Bee.