Virgin Radio 99.9 Toronto

By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK - The National Society of Film Critics has chosen "Waltz With Bashir" as the best picture of 2008.

The group names Sean Penn as best actor for his performance in the biopic "Milk" and Sally Hawkins as best actress for her turn in the comedy "Happy-Go-Lucky."

"Waltz With Bashir" is an intense animated documentary about Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon.

It follows Israeli director Ari Folman's efforts to recover his own lost memories about a massacre during the war.

"Happy-Go-Lucky" director Mike Leigh won both best director and best screenplay.

Forty-nine of the society's 63 members voted in a meeting in New York.

The group's selections often differ from those of Oscar voters.