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L.A. Critics Name 'Sideways' Best Film

.c The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) - ``Sideways,'' a quirky comedy about two friends on a road trip through California's wine country, was picked as 2004's best film by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the group announced Saturday.

The movie won four other awards: best director for Alexander Payne; best supporting actor for Thomas Haden Church; best supporting actress for Virginia Madsen; and best screenplay, which was written by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor.

Top acting honors went to Imelda Staunton of the abortion drama ``Vera Drake'' and Liam Neeson of the sex-researcher biopic ``Kinsey.''

``Sideways'' co-star Paul Giamatti was runner-up for best actor. He also starred in ``American Splendor,'' which was the critics association's choice for best movie last year.

The best film runner-up was ``Million Dollar Baby,'' directed by Clint Eastwood, who also starred as a gym owner who trains a female boxer.

The best director runner-up was Martin Scorsese for ``The Aviator.''

The runner-up for best actress was Julie Delpy of ``Before Sunset,'' a sequel to the 1995 cult hit ``Before Sunrise.''

Runners-ups for supporting actress and actor were Cate Blanchett of ``The Aviator'' and ``Coffee & Cigarettes'' and Morgan Freeman of ``Million Dollar Baby.''

The runner-up for best screenplay was ``Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'' by Charlie Kaufman.

The awards ceremony was scheduled for Jan. 13 in Los Angeles.

Last year, the critics group initially canceled its awards to protest a ban on special video copies of competing films that studios traditionally sent to Academy Awards voters and other groups that bestow movie honors, including critics. Studios implemented the ban in fall 2002 over worries that bootleggers might use the videos to make counterfeit copies.

The Los Angeles critics rescheduled their awards after a judge lifted the ban in a lawsuit brought by independent producers, who said the awards videos helped their lower-budgeted movies compete against big studio films.

Other 2004 picks:

Foreign-language film: ``House of Flying Daggers.''

Documentary/nonfiction film: ``Born into Brothels.''

Production design: Dante Ferretti, ``The Aviator.''

Animation: Brad Bird, ``The Incredibles.''

Music-score: Michael Giacchino, ``The Incredibles.''

Cinematography: Dion Beebe and Paul Cameron, ``Collateral.''

Career achievement: Jerry Lewis.

New generation: Joshua Marston, writer and director of ``Maria Full of Grace.''

Douglas Edwards experimental/independent film/video: ``Star-Spangled to Death'' by Ken Jacobs.