Posted: Tue., Dec. 16, 2008, 1:11pm PT

Austin critics pick 'Dark Knight'

Christopher Nolan film named best of 2008

By Erin Maxwell

The Austin Film Critics Association has named "The Dark Knight" as the best picture of 2008.

The Warner Bros. film earned five awards in total, including director for Christopher Nolan, adapted screenplay, supporting actor for Heath Ledger and score.

Top acting wins went to Sean Penn for "Milk" and Anne Hathaway for "Rachel Getting Married." Taraji P. Henson won the supporting actress prize for her part in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

Danny McBride took home the breakthrough artist award for his work in "Pineapple Express," "The Foot Fist Way" and "Tropic Thunder."

Documentary "Crawford" won the prize for best Austin film, which celebrates local filmmakers and productions.

And the winners are:

Top 10 Films:

1. "The Dark Knight
   
2. "Slumdog Millionaire"
   
3. "Milk"
   
4. "Synecdoche, New York"
   
5. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
   
6. "The Wrestler"
   
7. "Wall*E"
   
8. "Frost/Nixon"
   
9. "Let the Right One In"
   
10. "Gran Torino"

Picture:
"The Dark Knight"

Director:
Christopher Nolan, "The Dark Knight"

Actor:
Sean Penn, "Milk"

Actress:
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married

Supporting Actor:
Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight

Supporting Actress:
Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Original Screenplay:
Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York

Adapted Screenplay:
"The Dark Knight," Jonthan Nolan & Christopher Nolan

Cinematography:
"The Fall," Colin Watkinson

Original Score:
"The Dark Knight," James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmerman

Foreign Language Film:
"Let the Right One In" ("Låt den rätte komma in") (Sweden)

Documentary Film:
"Man on Wire"

Animated Feature:
"Wall*E"

Breakthrough Artist Award:
Danny McBride, Pineapple Express/The Foot Fist Way/Tropic Thunder

First Film:
Nacho Vigalondo, "Timecrimes" ("Los Cronocrímenes")

Austin Film:
"Crawford"