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Story by: Jack Foley
RUSSELL Crowe’s naval epic, Master
and Commander: The Far Side of the World, has been named as
best film, ahead of Peter Jackson’s Lord
of the Rings: The Return of the King, by the London Film Critics’
Circle Awards.
The surprise award, which was announced on Wednesday, February
11, was one of three that Peter Weir’s movie won, while Jackson’s
epic, seen by many as the Oscar favourite, failed to pick up a
single accolade.
The critics put their selections down to the fact that ‘the
British are an island race, which is probably why Master and Commander
swept the board’.
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William Russell, chairman of the critics' circle, said: "You
can almost taste the salt in the air. Director, Peter Weir, as
well as handling spectacular scenes of storms at sea, also secured
memorable performances from a huge cast, headed by Russell Crowe
and Paul Bettany."
Needless to say, the hugely-impressive Bettany was named best
British actor, while Weir and John Collee jointly took the prize
for best screenwriter.
Of the other notable winners, Clint Eastwood was named best director,
for Mystic River, while Sean
Penn took best actor, and Bill Nighy and Emma Thompson picked
up supporting honours for Richard Curtis’ Love
Actually.
Anne Reid was named best British actress for The Mother, while
Peter Mullan was named best British director for controversial
Catholic drama, The Magdalene
Sisters, which also won the Attenborough Award for best British
film.
The London Film Critics' Circle is comprised of 100 reviewers,
who write for newspapers and magazines published all over the
UK.
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