L.A. Film Critics Vote Lahti, Hanks, ‘Dorrit’ Winners

The Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. on Saturday named as the best picture of 1988 “Little Dorrit,” a six-hour, two-part film based on Charles Dickens’ classic story about a 19th-Century family living in debtors prison.

The critics also named Tom Hanks as best actor for his performances in two films--the summer comedy hit “Big” and “Punchline,” a bleak look at the world of stand-up comedy. Gene Hackman was runner-up in that category for his performances in five films released since the fall. (See accompanying story.)

In the best actress category, the critics named Christine Lahti for her role as the mother in “Running on Empty,” the story of a pair of ‘60s radicals and their children on the run from the law. Diane Venora was runner-up for her performance in “Bird.”

The critics named Alec Guinness best supporting actor for his role as the pretentious father in “Little Dorrit” (Martin Landau was runner-up for “Tucker”) and Genevieve Bujold as best supporting actress for “The Moderns” and “Dead Ringers” (Miriam Margolyes was runner-up for “Little Dorrit”).

The best director of the year, according to the Los Angeles critics, was David Cronenberg for “Dead Ringers” (the film also came in second place for best picture). Runner-up was Martin Scorcese for “The Last Temptation of Christ.”

In other categories:

--Best screenplay: “Bull Durham” by Ron Shelton. “The Moderns,” written by Alan Rudolph and the late Jon Bradshaw, was runner-up.

--Best foreign film: “Wings of Desire.” Runner-up was “Salaam Bombay!”

--Best cinematography: Henri Alekan for “Wings of Desire.”

--Best musical score: Mark Isham for “The Moderns.”

The critics also bestowed a career achievement award on director Don Siegel (“Escape From Alcatraz,” “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”) and the new generation award on Mira Nair, director of “Salaam Bombay!”