American Splendor moves up Oscar field
American Splendor, the story of a grumpy file clerk turned comic book superhero, has staked its claim for an Oscar after being voted best picture by America's prestigious National Society of Film Critics.
Starring Paul Giamatti as Harvey Pekar, the hospital clerk who turned his everyday life into a comic series, the film has already received a Golden Globe nomination and an award from the New York film critics' circle.
Both those bodies chose to honour Hope Davis for her performance as Giamatti's soulmate Joyce Brabner. The NSFC is the first major US organisation to reward Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's movie in the best film category. It also won best screenplay.
Other early contenders for the Academy Awards best film gong include The Return of the King, which won the corresponding New York film critics' circle award. Clint Eastwood's Mystic River, Anthony Minghella's Cold Mountain and horse racing drama Seabiscuit have all received Golden Globe nominations and the Bill Murray vehicle Lost in Translation is also hotly tipped after winning the San Francisco film critics' circle best film award.