National Society of Films Critics honors 'Melancholia,' 'The Tree of Life'

The National Society of Film Critics has announced its annual awards, naming controversial director Lars von Trier's "Melancholia" the top film of 2011 although "The Tree of Life" took home the most awards.

The film picked up two awards.

They also awarded Kirsten Dunst for her work in the film as well as Brad Pitt, for his roles in "Moneyball" and "The Tree of Life."

Albert Brooks was named best supporting actor while actress Jessica Chastain was similarly recognized for her busy year, with roles in "The Tree of Life," "Take Shelter" and "The Help."

"The Tree of Life" also picked up best director for Terrance Malick and best cinematography for Emmanual Lubezski.

"A Separation" meanwhile was named best foreign-language film and best screenplay for writer Asghar Farhadi.



The complete list of winners and runners-up are as follows:


 BEST ACTOR
*1. Brad Pitt – 35  (Moneyball, The Tree of Life)
2. Gary Oldman – 22 (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
3. Jean Dujardin – 19 (The Artist)

BEST ACTRESS
*1. Kirsten Dunst – 39 (Melancholia)
2. Yun Jung-hee – 25 (Poetry)
3. Meryl Streep – 20 (The Iron Lady)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
*1.  Albert Brooks - 38 (Drive)
2. Christopher Plummer – 24 (Beginners)
3. Patton Oswalt – 19 (Young Adult)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
*1. Jessica Chastain – 30 (The Tree of Life, Take Shelter, The Help)
2. Jeannie Berlin – 19 (Margaret)
3. Shailene Woodley – 17 (The Descendants)

BEST PICTURE
*1. Melancholia  - 29 (Lars von Trier)
2. The Tree of Life – 28 (Terrence Malick)
3.  A Separation  - 20 (Asghar Farhadi)

BEST DIRECTOR
*1. Terrence Malick – 31 (The Tree of Life)
2. Martin Scorsese – 29 (Hugo)
3. Lars von Trier – 23 (Melancholia)

BEST NONFICTION
*1. Cave of Forgotten Dreams – 35 (Werner Herzog)
2. The Interrupters – 26 (Steve James)
3. Into the Abyss – 18 (Werner Herzog)

BEST SCREENPLAY
*1. A Separation – 39  (Asghar Farhadi)
2. Moneyball – 22 (Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin)
3. Midnight in Paris – 16 (Woody Allen)

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
*1. A Separation – 67 (Asghar Farhadi)
2. Mysteries of Lisbon – 28 (Raoul Ruiz)
3. Le Havre – 22 (Aki Kaurismäki)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
*1. The Tree of Life – 76 (Emmanuel Lubezki)
2. Melancholia – 41 (Manuel Alberto Claro)
3.  Hugo – 33 (Robert Richardson)

EXPERIMENTAL
Ken Jacobs, for “Seeking the Monkey King.”