The 2011 "Where's Whitey?" award for Best Animal Actor: the winner
After an informal poll of my fellow Boston Society of Film Critics members, the
winner of the 2011 "Where's Whitey? Award for Best Animal Actor" has been
decided.
It wasn't even close.
For a performance all the more impressive because it was
done without resorting to any dialogue, barked
or otherwise, and. by relying only on nuanced facial expressions, reminiscent of
Garbo at her most ineffable, and eloquent
physical comedy the equal of Buster Keaton, Uggie from "The Artist" takes this
year's prize.
As Norma Desmond noted, they had faces then. And some of them were hairy.
There were also some intriguing write-in candidates.
Ed Symkus put in his vote for Crystal, who plays the cigarette
smoking, drug-peddling capuchin monkey
in "The Hangover, Part II."
Brett Michel thought that the award belonged by definition to Animal, who portrays himself in "The Muppets."
And David Wildman put in a good word for Keira Knightley as Sabina
Spielrein in "A Dangerous Method."
Good choices, all. Better luck next year to those who didn't win.
Our congratulations to Uggie!
READ: The "Where's Whitey?" Award for Best Animal Performance 2010
READ: The "Where's Whitey?" Award for Best Animal Performance 2009