National Society of Film Critics: the winners

The National Society of Film Critics, of which I am a member, had a choice between "Life" and death today, and they chose death. That is to say, Lars Von Trier's doomsday celebration "Melancholia" beat out Terence Malick's cheerier "Tree of Life" for Best Picture by one vote. "Tree of Life" would make a comeback with Best Director and Best Cinematography somewhat later in the four-and-a-half meeting, but not before "Melancholia' scored again with Best Actress with Kirsten Dunst.

Here are the complete results:

BEST ACTOR

Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"

BEST ACTRESS

Kirsten Dunst, "Melancholia"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Albert Brooks, "Drive."

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Jessica Chastain, "Tree of Life," "Take Shelter," and "The Help"

BEST PICTURE

"Melancholia," directed by Lars Von Trier

BEST DIRECTOR

Terrence Malick, "Tree of Life"

BEST NON-FICTION FILM

"Cave of Forgotten Dreams," Werner Herzog

BEST SCREENPLAY

Asghar Farhad, "A Separation"

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

"A Separation," written and directed by Asghar Farhadi

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Emanuel Lubezki, "Tree of Life"