Wall-E, the latest in the long line of huge hits for Disney/Pixar, has been named best picture of the year by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the first animated feature to take that honour in the 33 year history of the organization. In what could possibly be seen as something of a dress rehearsal for the Academy Awards, Danny Boyle picked up Best Director for Slumdog Millionaire. Sean Penn and Sally Hawkins picked up the acting gongs for their roles in Milk and Happy-Go-Lucky and Heath Ledger was posthumously awarded the Best Supporting Actor for his outstanding performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight.
