'No Country' named best film in Critics Choice

LOS ANGELES -- "No Country for Old Men," a gritty drama about a killer who cuts a path of destruction across Texas, was named best film at the Critics Choice Awards Monday, leaving contenders such as "Into the Wild" and "Juno" by the wayside.

"No Country" also took home the directing prize for Joel and Ethan Coen, while Spanish actor Javier Bardem was honored for his supporting role as the calculating serial killer.

The Critics Choice Awards have an enviable track record as an Oscar predictor. In the past 12 years, half of the acting and best picture winners have gone on to claim Oscar glory, along with 75 percent of the directing winners.

Britain's Daniel Day-Lewis was named best actor for his role as a tough oilman in "There Will Be Blood," and compatriot Julie Christie won best actress for playing an Alzheimer's victim in "Away From Her."

Newcomer Amy Ryan was honored for her supporting role as the deadbeat mother of a missing child in "Gone Baby Gone."

Winners were unveiled during a ceremony at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The event, televised on cable channel VH1, is organized by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, a group of more than 200 television, radio and online critics in the United States and Canada.

Sean Penn's adventure saga "Into the Wild" went home empty-handed despite leading the field with seven nominations. The pregnant teen comedy "Juno," which had six nominations, had to settle for best writer (Diablo Cody) and best comedy.