LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- The New York Film Critics Circle has named "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" the best movie of 2003.
However, the organization snubbed "Rings" director Peter Jackson, giving its top directing award to Sofia Coppola for "Lost in Translation" -- whose star, Bill Murray, won for best actor. Hope Davis was named best actress for her performances in two of the year's most highly-regarded independent movies, "American Splendor" and "The Secret Lives of Dentists."
Eugene Levy was named best supporting actor for "A Mighty Wind" and veteran Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo won for best supporting actress for "House of Sand of Fog."
The New York critics tended to favor independent productions over big studio movies with their choices this year. For example, the French film "The Triplets of Belleville" won for best animated feature over "Finding Nemo" -- a Disney-Pixar production that has grossed nearly $340 million at the U.S. box office.
