This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The noir drama "Drive," starring Ryan Gosling as a professional stunt driver caught up with gangsters, has been chosen the best movie of 2011 by the Utah Film Critics Association.
The film also won a supporting-actor nod for Albert Brooks, who played a quietly vicious mob boss, and for its cinematography.
Runner-up for best film was "The Artist," writer-director Michel Hazanavicius' charming comedy — a silent black-and-white film — about a matinee idol (Jean Dujardin) coming to grips with the arrival of the talkies.
Hazanavicius was named best director by the Utah critics, while "Drive" director Nicholas Winding Refn was runner-up.
Lead-acting honors went to Michelle Williams for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in "My Week With Marilyn," and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who played a man fighting cancer in "50/50." Runners-up in those categories were Rooney Mara for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and Dujardin for "The Artist."
Amy Ryan was voted best supporting actress for her role as a tough-but-tender mom in "Win Win," with Vanessa Redgrave taking runner-up for "Coriolanus." Runner-up behind Brooks for supporting actor was Christopher Plummer for "Beginners."
Winners in other categories were:
Original screenplay • "50/50," written by Will Reiser; runner-up: "Beginners," Mike Mills.
Adapted screenplay • "The Descendants," screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings; runner-up: "The Muppets," screenplay by Jason Segel & Nicholas Stoller, based on characters created by Jim Henson.
Cinematography • "Drive," Newton Thomas Sigel; runner-up: "The Tree of Life," Emmanuel Lubezki.
Documentary • "Senna," directed by Asif Kapadia; runner-up: "Project Nim," directed by James Marsh.
Non-English Language Feature • "A Separation" (Iran), directed by Asghar Farhadi; runner-up: "13 Assassins" (Japan), directed by Takashi Miike.
Animated Feature • "Rango," directed by Gore Verbinski; runners-up (tie): "The Adventures of Tintin," directed by Steven Spielberg; and "Kung Fu Panda 2," directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson.
Thirteen members of the UFCA voted Tuesday night at the home of The Salt Lake Tribune's movie critic, Sean P. Means.