'The Artist' Named Best Picture by Boston Film Critics

Peter Iovino/The Weinstein Co.

The Artist got a big shout-out from the Boston Society of Film Critics, which named the silent movie its best picture of the year on Sunday.

Brad Pitt and Michelle Williams took the group's top acting honors for two portraits of real-life people. Pitt was voted best actor for playing Oakland A's manager Billy Beane in Moneyball, and Williams was named best actress for portraying Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn.

Albert Brooks was hailed as best supporting actor for Drive, while Melissa McCarthy claimed supporting actress honors for Bridesmaids.

The ensemble award went to the four-character, living-room drama Carnage.

Martin Scorsese was chosen best director for his 3D movie Hugo.

The Moneyball team of Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin picked up the screenwriting award.

The Boston critics also voted: Best cinematography, Emmanuel Lubeski, The Tree of Life; best documentary, James Marsh's Project Nim; best foreign-language film, Dennis Villeneuve's Incendies; best animated film, Rango; best filming editing, Christian Marclay, The Clock; best new filmmaker, Sean Durkin, Martha Marcy May Marlene; best use of music in a film, Drive and The Artist.