While the Terrance Malick-directed drama wins four prizes, including the coveted Best Picture award, Michelle Williams and Michael Shannon are named the Best Actress and Actor respectively.
- December 20, 2011
AceShowbiz -
Terrance Malick's drama "The Tree of Life" became the biggest winner of the 2011 Chicago Film Critics Awards. In an announcement on ABC 7 Chicago's "News This Morning" on Monday, December 19, it was unveiled that the movie collected four awards, including the coveted prize of Best Picture.
"Tree of Life" led Malick to win the Best Director award. Its star Jessica Chastain was also named the Best Supporting Actress. Emmanuel Lubezki, meanwhile, was awarded with Best Cinematography prize for his artistic work in the film.
Veteran actor Michael Shannon grabbed the Best Actor award for his role as Curtis LaForche in "Take Shelter", while Michelle Williams bagged the Best Actress award for playing Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn". As for the Best Supporting Actor, Albert Brooks won the award for his role in action drama "Drive".
Other winners of the annual awards included "Rango" for Best Animated Film, "The Interrupters" for Best Documentary, and "A Separation" for Best Foreign Language Film. "The Artist" won a prize for Best Original Screenplay, while Elizabeth Olsen was named the Most Promising Performer through her performance in "Martha Marcy May Marlene".
The kudos will be handed to the winners during a ceremony that is set to be held at the Chicago Broadway Playhouse on January 7, 2012. Shirley MacLaine, James Earl Jones, Jason Segel and Dennis Farina will additionally be presented with special awards at the event.
The 2011 Chicago Film Critics Awards winners:
- Best Picture: "The Tree of Life"
- Best Director: Terrence Malick - "The Tree of Life"
- Best Actor: Michael Shannon - "Take Shelter"
- Best Actress: Michelle Williams - "My Week with Marilyn"
- Best Supporting Actor: Albert Brooks - "Drive"
- Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain - "The Tree of Life"
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Steve Zaillian - "Moneyball"
- Best Original Screenplay: Michel Hazanavicius- "The Artist"
- Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki - "The Tree of Life"
- Best Original Score: Cliff Martinez - "Drive"
- Best Animated Film: "Rango"
- Best Documentary: "The Interrupters"
- Best Foreign Language Film: "A Separation"
- Most Promising Performer: Elizabeth Olsen - "Martha Marcy May Marlene"
- Most Promising Filmmaker: Sean Durkin - "Martha Marcy May Marlene"
- Commitment to the Craft Award: Shirley MacLaine
- Oscar Micheaux Award: James Earl Jones
- Commedia Extra Ordinaire Award: Jason Segel
- Commitment to Chicago Award: Dennis Farina
- Big Shoulders Award: "The Second City"
