Film Critics Play 'Pianist' as Top Picture

"The Pianist," Roman Polanski's drama based on the true story of a Polish musician surviving the Holocaust, was the choice of the National Society of Film Critics as Best Picture. The group is the last of the major critics' organizations to make their awards. The 55-member Society voted on Jan. 4 at Sardi's in New York City. Adrien Brody in the title role won as Best Actor, Polanski was hailed as Best Director, and the screenplay by British playwright Ronald Harwood was the pick for best in its field. The film was previously the Best Picture winner from critics' groups in Boston and San Francisco, making it a strong contender for the upcoming Oscar nominations. However, Best Picture picks from regional and online reviewers' clans that made their choices during the past two weeks were all over the map. So this is still a wide-open race for the Oscar gold.

Key: Chic=Chicago Film Critics Association; DC=Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association; DFW=Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association; FL=Florida Film Critics Circle; KC=Kansas City Film Critics Circle; LV=Las Vegas Film Critics Society; NSFC=National Society of Film Critics; Online=Online Film Critics Society.

Picture: "About Schmidt" (KC); "Adaptation" (FL); "Chicago" (DFW); "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" (LV); "Far from Heaven" (Chic); "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" (Online); "The Pianist" (NSFC); "Road to Perdition" (DC).

Actor: Adrien Brody, "The Pianist" (NSFC); Daniel Day-Lewis, "Gangs of New York" (Chic, FL, KC, LV, Online); Jack Nicholson, "About Schmidt" (DC, DFW).

Actress: Diane Lane, "Unfaithful" (NSFC); Nicole Kidman, "The Hours" (LV); Julianne Moore, "Far from Heaven" (Chic, DC, DFW, FL, KC, Online).

Supporting Actor: Chris Cooper, "Adaptation" (DC—tie, DFW, FL, KC); Dennis Haysbert, "Far from Heaven" (DC—tie); Dennis Quaid, "Far from Heaven" (Chic, Online); John C. Reilly, "Chicago," "Gangs of New York," and "The Hours" (LV); Christopher Walken, "Catch Me If You Can" (NSFC).

Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates, "About Schmidt" (DC, DFW); Patricia Clarkson, "Far from Heaven" (NSFC); Samantha Morton, "Minority Report" (Online); Michelle Pfeiffer, "White Oleander" (KC); Susan Sarandon, "Igby Goes Down" and "Moonlight Mile" (LV); Meryl Streep, "Adaptation" (Chic, FL).

Director: Todd Haynes, "Far from Heaven" (Chic); Peter Jackson, "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" (DFW, KC, LV, Online); Sam Mendes, "Road to Perdition" (DC—tie); Roman Polanski, "The Pianist" (NSFC); Martin Scorsese, "Gangs of New York" (FL); Denzel Washington, "Antwone Fisher" (DC—tie).

Screenplay: Ronald Harwood, "The Pianist" (NSFC); Todd Haynes, "Far from Heaven" (Online—Original); Charlie Kaufman, "Adaptation" (Chic, DC, FL, Online—Adapted); Burr Steers, "Igby Goes Down" (LV); Nia Vardalos, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (DC—Original). No screenplay award from DFW or KC.