"No Country for Old Men" NY film critics` best film

Dark crime thriller "No Country for Old Men" won best film on Monday at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards -- the movie`s second such honor in the run-up to February`s Academy Awards.

Brothers Joel and Ethan Coen won best director and best screenplay for the grim tale of a mysterious killer searching for $2 million missing after a drug deal along the U.S. border goes awry. Spain`s Javier Bardem picked up best supporting actor for his portrayal of the killer.

Based on Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy`s novel, "No Country for old Men" was also named best picture last week by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, which kicked off the so-called Oscar season.

Actors Daniel Day-Lewis and Julie Christie also nabbed their second awards for the season, named best actor and best actress by the New York critics.

Day-Lewis won for his performance in "There Will Be Blood," a period drama depicting the rise and fall of a rugged prospector. The Los Angeles Film Critics Association also honored him for the role on Sunday.

Christie took out best actress for playing an Alzheimer`s disease sufferer who puts herself into a nursing facility in "Away From Her," which also won her the top prize last week from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.

Amy Ryan has so far managed a clean sweep for her role in "Gone Baby Gone" -- being honored as best supporting actress by the New York critics, the Los Angeles critics and the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.

Such critical nods are helpful for the studios` marketing campaigns as they jockey for Oscar attention for their films. Next on the awards season`s agenda are the Critics Choice nominations on Tuesday, followed by the Golden Globe nominations on Thursday.

sections: Culture