DREAM NIGHT IN NEW YORK

By Donna Freydkin, USA TODAYNEW YORK — While Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett held court with the Babel crowd on the West Coast Saturday, the gang from The Departed reunited on the East Coast, where director Martin Scorsese was among honorees at Sunday's New York Film Critics Circle bash.Yes, the winners were announced beforehand, but the star power and lighthearted fun at the Supper Club gala compensated for the lack of mystery.
"Who cares what Simon Cowell has to say?" joked Dreamgirls' Jennifer Hudson (and American Idol castoff) as she accepted the award for best supporting actress. Robin Williams brought down the house when he deadpanned, "I accept this on behalf of all gay penguins." Williams, who accepted the award for best animated film, Happy Feet, even poked fun at his recent stint in rehab, saying from the podium: "No wine at the table!"
Departed's Matt Damon was on hand as a presenter, and another Departed star — Leonardo DiCaprio — was a surprise attendee at the soiree. Mark Wahlberg rounded out the cast, noting from the red carpet: "If a guy like Marty calls, you show up. I hope it's his year (for the Oscar). I'm going to vote for him; he's my guy!"
The Last King of Scotland's brutal dictator and best-actor winner, Forest Whitaker, was an early arrival, long before the entrance of Half Nelson's drug-addled teacher Ryan Gosling, whose movie earned accolades as best first feature.
On her arrival, Hudson admitted her win brought tears to her eyes when she found out. "If I can make it in New York, I can make it anywhere," she said from the red carpet, where Williams was as animated as he was at the podium. Williams earned giggles when he spoke French to a Canadian TV crew, expounding on topics such as the Rosie O'Donnell/Donald Trump feud.
The New York win was especially significant for director Paul Greengrass, whose United 93 took best-film honors. The film tells the story of the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001. On the red carpet, he said, "If anyone would hold this movie to account, it's the city of New York."
Among winners:
Film: United 93
Director: Martin Scorsese, The Departed
Screenplay: Peter Morgan, The Queen
Actress: Helen Mirren, The Queen
Actor: Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland
Supporting actress: Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Supporting actor: Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children
Cinematography: Guillermo Navarro, Pan's Labyrinth
Animated film: Happy Feet

Source: USAtoday.com