Critics Go 'Topsy-Turvy'

11/24/1998 at 12:00 AM EST

"Topsy-Turvy," British director Mike Leigh's grandly entertaining film bio of composers Gilbert and Sullivan, completely captivated the New York Film Critics Circle. And so did Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny. On Thursday the group voted "Turvy" best picture of 1999 and Leigh best director. Richard Farnsworth was named best actor for "The Straight Story" and Hilary Swank, who seems to be reaping these sorts of awards coast to coast, was best actress, for her gender-bender role in "Boys Don't Cry." (The New York Film Critics prizes seldom mirror those of the Academy, harking back to 1939, when the critics named "Wuthering Heights" best picture over "Gone With the Wind.") Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor's script for the cool comedy "Election" was named best screenplay, and a special, new animation award went to the irreverent, scatological and absolutely hilarious "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut."