The black-and-white ode to the silent-film era directed by Michel Hazanavicius led winners with four honors at Thursday’s 17th annual Critics’ Choice Awards, which are presented by the 250 members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
“The Artist” took the evening’s top prize, best picture, as well honors for best score, costume design and director.
“I made a silent movie,” French director Hazanavicius joked in English while accepting the award for best picture. “I don’t like to speak so much.”
“The Help,” the adaptation of Kathryn Stockett‘s best-selling novel about black maids speaking out about their white employers during the civil-rights movement, followed behind “The Artist” with three wins in the ceremony’s acting categories: Viola Davis as best actress, Octavia Spencer as best supporting actress and the film’s cast as best acting ensemble.
