Critics Circle names top films, new president Critics Circle names top films, new president (December 16, 2005)

Weekly critic chosen to head group

by Rebecca Wallace

It's been a busy time for the San Francisco Film Critics Circle. Besides electing Palo Alto Weekly film critic Jeanne Aufmuth president, the group has also announced its annual best picture, best director and other awards.

The organization, which was founded in 2002, encompasses critics from newspapers, radio and television stations and online publications in the Bay Area. Its members elected Aufmuth president at an annual meeting last Thursday.

Meanwhile, the group also doled out honors to the film "Brokeback Mountain," which traces a long romance between two cowboys who meet in Wyoming in the 1960s. The movie, directed by Ang Lee, won best picture and best director awards. The group also chose Heath Ledger as best actor for his "heartbreaking range" in the role of Ennis Del Mar, one of the cowboys.

The critics named Reese Witherspoon best actress for her "sharp and sure" work as June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line," a film about Johnny Cash.

Honors for supporting roles went to Kevin Costner for "The Upside of Anger" and Amy Adams for "Junebug." "Grizzly Man" was chosen best documentary, and "Cache" was picked as best foreign film.

Aufmuth, who writes reviews and features as the Weekly's lead film critic, also regularly holds film classes with Palo Alto High School and local elementary schools. A member of the Online Film Critics Society, she was instrumental in creating "The Reel Review," a film-review talk show on local cable television.

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