Oklahoma critics name best, worst of 2006

Mirren, Whitaker continue winning ways

By ERIN MAXWELL

The season's royal duo, Forest Whitaker and Helen Mirren, were once again given the royal treatment for their roles in "The Last King of Scotland" and "The Queen" by critics at the first annual Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Awards.

The 9/11 drama "United 93" was named film of the year.

Besides Mirren and Whitaker cementing their king and queen status of critic's lists, the Oklahoma crix stood with other best-of lists by naming Martin Scorsese as top helmer for "The Departed," "An Inconvenient Truth" for best docu and "Pan's Labyrinth" as best foreign pic.

"Little Children"'s Jackie Earle Haley and "Notes on a Scandal"'s Cate Blanchett were named in the supporting categories.

In addition to best perfs and pics of the year, the Oklahoma critics also named the worst of the year. Critics gave a dubious honor to "Basic Instint 2" as the worst film of 2006, while Emilio Estevez's "Bobby" took home "honors" as the not-so-obviously worst film of the year.

The first Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Awards were given out on Dec. 27.

Winners of the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Awards

Best Film: "United 93," directed by Paul Greengrass

Best Director: Martin Scorsese, "The Departed"

Best First Film: "Little Miss Sunshine," directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

Obviously Worst Film: "Basic Instinct 2," directed by Michael Caton-Jones

Not So Obviously Worst Film: "Bobby," directed by Emilio Estevez

Best Actor: Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland"

Best Actress: Helen Mirren, "The Queen"

Best Supporting Actor: Jackie Earle Haley, "Little Children"

Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, "Notes on a Scandal"

Breakout Performance: Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"

Best Documentary: "An Inconvenient Truth," directed by Davis Guggenheim

Best Foreign Film: "El laberinto del Fauno" ("Pan's Labyrinth"), directed by Guillermo del Toro

Best Animated Feature: "Cars," directed by John Lasseter and Joe Ranft

Top 10 Movies:
"Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"
"Casino Royale"
"The Departed"
"Half Nelson"
"The Last King of Scotland"
"Little Children"
"Little Miss Sunshine"
"Pan's Labyrinth"
"The Que