Coen brothers win big at Critics Choice Awards

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The Coen Brothers dark, brooding film, No Country For Old Men, was the big winner at last night’s Critics Choice Awards, scooping up three top gongs, including Best Film.



Spanish actor, Javier Bardem, picked up Best Supporting Actor for his role in the violent Western based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, while Joel and Ethan Coen shared the Best Director trophy.



Another sombre epic, Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood, was honoured with two awards, including Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis for his portrayal of a ruthless oil tycoon, and Best Soundtrack for our own Radiohead.



In lighter entertainment, the musical Hairspray went down a storm, winning Best Ensemble, while lead star, Nikki Blonsky, scooped the prize for Best Young Actress. The teenage pregnancy flick, Juno, picked up Best Comedy and a Best Writer gong for Diablo Cody.



The effects of the writers strike was never far from the actors’ thoughts. George Clooney, nominated for his role in political drama, Michael Clayton, commented: ‘This is a one-industry town. And when a strike happens, it's not just writers or actors (affected), it's restaurants and hotels and agencies. And our hope is that all of the players involved will lock themselves in a room and not come out until they finish. We want this to be done. That's the most important thing. It matters to all of us.’



The Critics Choice ceremony, presented by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, was able to go ahead as it is not covered by the contracts the Writers Guild of America is disputing.



Don Cheadle received the Joel Siegel Award for his work on and off screen highlighting the unrest in Darfur, including his film Darfur Now. He roped in Clooney, a friend and fellow activist, to present the award, and joked: ‘George charged the cheapest, only $1,500. Matt (Damon) wanted $2,500, and Brad (Pitt), forget it. There's no way I could afford him.’



As for Brad, he and Angelina Jolie, a nominee for A Mighty Heart, were late arriving and weren't allowed in the ceremony until the commercial break.



To see all the celebs turn out for the awards click here

Tuesday 8 January 2008

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