N.Y. Film Critics honor ‘Traffic’

Thanks to Megan and Sheila for this:

N.Y. Film Critics honor ‘Traffic’

NEW YORK (AP) – The New York Film Critics Circle named “Traffic,” Steven
Soderbergh’s indictment of the war on drugs, the best movie of 2000. The
35-member group on Wednesday also gave Soderbergh best director honors for
“Traffic” and “Erin Brockovich.” Tom Hanks was named best actor for “Cast
Away,” and Laura Linney won the best actress award for “You Can Count On
Me.” “Traffic’s” Benicio del Toro received the best supporting actor honor,
and Marcia Gay Harden won best supporting actress for “Pollock.” Founded in
1935, the New York Film Critics Circle is composed of critics from the
city’s daily and weekly publications. The group will present its awards on
Jan. 14.

Thanks to Sheila for this from People Daily:

Critics Cite ‘Traffic’

The New York Film Critics Circle named “Traffic,” an epic drama about the drug trade with an ensemble cast headed by Michael Douglas, best film of 2000 yesterday. (The film does not open to the public until Dec. 27.) Its director, Stephen Soderbergh (who also did this year’s “Erin Brockovich”) was named best director. Tom Hanks was named best actor (for “Cast Away”), and Laura Linney was picked best actress for the independent film “You Can Count on Me.” “Chicken Run” nabbed the award for best animated film, and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” took the foreign-film honors. The Critics Circle, established in 1935, has been spotty as a harbinger of the Academy Awards. In 1939, for instance, when “Gone With the Wind” won nearly everything in sight in Tinsel Town, Manhattan’s scribes went for “Wuthering Heights.” Last year the Circle named “Topsy-Turvy” as its best film. Oscar ignored that one.