LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Film Critics Association Sunday named "Letters from Iwo Jima" as its top film of 2006.
The World War II film beat out runner-up "The Queen," while its director, Clint Eastwood, finished second to Paul Greengrass of "United 93" for the organization's best director honor.
"The Queen" won for best screenplay and its star, Helen Mirren, won best actress for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II. Co-star Michael Sheen was named best supporting actor for his portrayal of Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Forest Whitaker -- who has been cleaning up best actor honors so far this awards season for his performance as the late Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland -- had to share the LAFCA honor with an unlikely winner. Sacha Baron Cohen was awarded a share of the prize for his performance in "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."
"Letters from Iwo Jima" is off to a fast start in the awards season. It has already been named best picture by the National Board of Review and one of the year's 10 best by the American Film Institute.
