Critics crazy for WALL-E, Dark Knight

The awards and nominations just keep on comin' - and it's only early December.

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association named "WALL-E" best picture, a first for an animated movie. But what a movie, right? Runner-up was another spectacular choice, "The Dark Knight."

Founded in 1975, the LAFCA is comprised of Los Angeles-based, professional film critics working in the Los Angeles print and electronic media. Other winners:

DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire."

Runner-up: Christopher Nolan, "The Dark Knight."

ACTRESS: Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky."

Runner-up: Melissa Leo, "Frozen River."

ACTOR: Sean Penn, "Milk."

Runner-up: Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler."

SCREENPLAY: Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky."

Runner-up: Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York."

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and "Elegy.

Runner-up: Viola Davis, "Doubt"

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight" (pictured above).

Runner-up: Eddie Marsan, "Happy-Go-Lucky."

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: "Still Life" directed by Jia Zhangke.

Runner-up: "The Class" directed by Laurent Cantet.

DOCUMENTARY/NON-FICTION FILM: "Man on Wire" directed by James Marsh.

Runner-up: "Waltz with Bashir" directed by Ari Folman.

PRODUCTION DESIGN: Mark Friedberg, "Synecdoche, New York.

Runner-up: Nathan Crowley, "The Dark Knight."

ANIMATION: "Waltz with Bashir."

MUSIC/SCORE: A.R. Rahman, "Slumdog Millionaire."

Runner-up: Alexandre Desplat, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Yu Lik Wai, "Still Life."

Runner-up: Anthony Dod Mantle, "Slumdog Millionaire."

NEW GENERATION: Steve McQueen, "Hunger."

The awards ceremony will be Jan. 12 at the InterContinental Los Angeles. Winners receive plaques of recognition.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association, meanwhile, gave eight nominations each to "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Milk."

Also in contention for best picture: "Changeling," "The Dark Knight," "Doubt," "Frost/Nixon," "The Reader," "Slumdog Millionaire," "WALL-E" and "The Wrestler."

Best actor nominees: Brad Pitt, "Benjamin Button"; Penn, "Milk"; Clint Eastwood, "Gran Torino"; Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"; Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"; and Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler."

Best actress contenders; Kate Beckinsale, "Nothing But the Truth"; Cate Blanchett, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"; Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"; Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"; and Meryl Streep, "Doubt."

The Critics' Choice Awards will be handed out Jan. 8. For a full list, see http://www.bfca.org/