“Slumdog Millionaire” is the best picture of 2008, according to the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle, which announced its winners in multiple film categories.
The story of a Mumbai teen from the slums seeking his destiny and winning big on the India version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” also received honors from state film critics for director Danny Boyle and for Simon Beaufoy, who adapted Vikas Swarup’s novel for the big screen.
The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle recognized Mickey Rourke as best actor for his portrayal of a professional wrestler well past his prime in “The Wrestler,” while awarding best actress to Sally Hawkins, the eternal optimist who faces the slings and arrows of life in director Mike Leigh’s “Happy-Go-Lucky.”
The OFCC recognized the late Heath Ledger as best supporting actor for his turn as the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” the Batman film that became the year’s biggest hit, while Marisa Tomei was named best supporting actress for her work in “The Wrestler.”
The OFCC also released its top 10 films of 2008: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “Doubt,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Happy-Go-Lucky,” “Milk,” “Rachel Getting Married,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Wall-E” and “The Wrestler.”
The group also noted films that didn’t work, naming “The Love Guru” as worst film of the year and awarding the “not-so-obviously worst film” tag to “Mamma Mia!” (perhaps largely for Pierce Brosnan’s singing).
The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle includes 18 voting members who write for publications and online outlets in the state, including Michael Smith, Kim Brown and James Vance of the Tulsa World. The Oklahoma Gazette, The Oklahoman, Urban Tulsa Weekly, Tulsa Today and other outlets also have voting members.
The awards are listed on the OFCC Web site, tulsaworld.com/ofcc, which also includes postings on film-related items and links to members’ reviews.
Not all of 2008’s films opened in Oklahoma before voting took place, said OFCC president Phil Bacharach, adding that studios arranged press screenings of several pictures for OFCC members to consider.
Other awards voted on by Oklahoma Film Critics Circle include:
Best first film by a director: Charlie Kaufman, “Synecdoche, New York”
Best Documentary: “Man on Wire”
Best Foreign Film: “Let the Right One In”
Best Animated Film: “Wall-E”
Obviously Worst Film: “The Love Guru”
Not-So-Obviously Worst Film: “Mamma Mia!”
Best original screenplay: Robert D. Siegel, “The Wrestler”
