‘Babe,’ ‘Vegas’ Win National Critics’ Honors

One of 1995’s most uplifting films was named best picture while the stars and director of one of the year’s most despairing releases swept top individual honors in voting Wednesday by the National Society of Film Critics.

Meeting in New York, the critics went hog wild over the Australian-made “Babe,” naming as best picture the whimsical fable of a pig who overcomes adversity to become a champion sheepherder.

They honored “Leaving Las Vegas” in three categories, selecting Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue as best actor and best actress for their lead roles in the bleak love story and Mike Figgis as best director.

Cage, who played a self-destructive alcoholic, has been the unanimous choice among critics, winning best actor from the Los Angeles, New York and Boston critics’ groups as well as the National Board of Review, and a Golden Globe nomination from the Hollywood foreign press. Shue is also nominated for a Golden Globe and won best actress honors from the Los Angeles film critics.

The 46-member national critics’ society, who represent 45 newspapers and one online service, also chose Joan Allen as best supporting actress for her portrayal of the complex and long-suffering First Lady Pat Nixon in “Nixon.” (Allen was also the Los Angeles film critics’ choice for that honor.)

Best supporting actor honors went to Don Cheadle for his role as the volatile, gun-toting Mouse in “Devil in a Blue Dress.” (Cheadle also won best supporting actor from the Los Angeles film critics.)

Best cinematography went to Tak Fujimoto for “Devil in a Blue Dress.”

“Crumb,” a disturbing portrait of an underground cartoonist and his dysfunctional family, was named best documentary.

Best screenplay went to Amy Heckerling for “Clueless,” the lighthearted teen comedy starring Alicia Silverstone and loosely based on Jane Austen’s “Emma.”

“Wild Reeds” was selected as best foreign film.

The group also reelected Los Angeles Magazine film critic Peter Rainer as its chairman.