Critics name 'Network' Best Picture

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- "The Social Network" was named Best Picture at the 16th annual Critics' Choice Awards ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles Friday.

Aaron Sorkin took home the trophy for Best Adapted Screenplay for "The Social Network," while David Fincher won the Best Director prize for helming the movie about the origins of the Facebook social networking system.

The cast of "The Fighter" won the Best Acting Ensemble prize.

"This is just bitching!" actor Jack McGee declared as he took the stage with his co-stars Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo.

Bale won the Best Supporting Actor honor for his portrayal of former real-life boxer Dicky Eklund, a crack addict who tried to help his younger half-brother, Micky Ward, played by Mark Wahlberg, achieve the fighting career he wished he had.

"Thank you so much. This is so great because I feel like Dicky's winning this as well," Bale said. "I love him so much. We became such great friends during this."

Leo won the award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Alice, the boxing brothers' mother/manager.

"What a thrill and an honor... Thank you so much to the Broadcast Film Critics," Leo said. "Critics have been amazing to me for 30 years. ... And I thank you so much."

The Best Actor gong went to Colin Firth for "The King's Speech," for which David Seidler earned Best Original Screenplay prize.

"Knowing that tomorrow this is going to be open season again, I appreciate this moment of love," Firth said. "I will be wearing this (award) around my neck as a talisman to give me magical powers as we all enter the fray again."

Natalie Portman was declared Best Actress for her work in "Black Swan."

"Wow, this is such an honor," Portman said. Gesturing to her fellow nominees, she added, "You all inspire me so much."

"True Grit" star Hailee Steinfeld won the award for Best Young Actor/Actress.

"This is amazing," the 14-year-old actress said. "I first and foremost want to thank (filmmakers) Joel and Ethan Coen, (producer) Scott Rudin and everyone at Paramount ... My parents, my mom and dad, my brother, Griffin. My God, this is amazing. Thank you so much."

The Broadcast Film Critics Association's presentation opened with a pre-taped spoof featuring the cast of "Jackass" sending up 2010's celebrated cerebral thriller "Inception," which won the Critics' Choice Awards for Best Action Movie, Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects and Best Editing.

The comic version of "Inception" was followed by a live greeting from action-film icon and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who joked that he is now just an employed actor begging for work.

"I know you're thinking, 'Is this the year Arnold opens with a big song and dance number?' No, I'm not going to do that for you," he said. "Good evening. I'm very happy and honored to welcome all of you to the Critics' Choice Movie Awards, which, of course, makes history because it is the first time the words 'Arnold Schwarzenegger' and 'Critics' Choice' have been used in the same sentence. I told you 'I'll be back.' And it's nice to be here after all those years in Sacramento."

"Easy A" earned the title of Best Comedy, "Toy Story 3" picked up the prize for Best Animated Movie, "Waiting for Superman" was named Best Documentary and "The Pacific" won the award for Best Picture Made for Television.

The ballet drama "Black Swan" went into the competition with a leading 12 nominations, including Best Picture. "True Grit" and "The King's Speech" followed close behind with 11 nominations each.

"Inception" received 10 nominations and "The Social Network" garnered nine.