Lynch Thriller Takes Critics' Prize

By C. Young

12/14/2001 at 10:40 AM EST

It's too soon to guess if it is foreshadowing for the Oscars in February, but the New York Film Critics Circle has announced its awards for the year, with "Mulholland Drive" claiming the best picture prize, Reuters reported. The David Lynch thriller is the story of a woman who loses her memory in a car accident and becomes embroiled in a series of bizarre incidents. Sissy Spacek won best actress and Tom Wilkinson best actor for "In the Bedroom," the story of a young man who becomes involved with an older woman who is being abused by her estranged husband. Robert Altman won best director for "Gosford Park," which also took best screenplay (by Julian Fellowes) and best supporting actress, for Helen Mirren. "There was certainly no great phenomenon this year," Newsday critic Gene Seymour told Reuters. "But the fact that both David Lynch and Robert Altman came back stronger than ever this year was gratifying." Other winners included Steve Buscemi for best supporting actor for "Ghost World" and "Waking Life" for best animated film.