WAFCA says ...

The Coen brothers might want to start practicing their Oscar speeches. First, the National Board of Review gives their feature "No Country for Old Men" its highest honor, and now The Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association has seconded the motion.

WAFCA, of which I'm a member, selected the uber-dark drama for its Best Picture. George Clooney's deft work as a morally confused lawyer in "Michael Clayton" earned him Best Actor honors, and early Oscar favorite Julie Christie was chosen as Best Actress for her terrific performance in "Away From Her."

"No Country For Old Men" also nabbed Best Supporing Actor (Javier Bardem), Best Director (Joel Coen and Ethan Coen) as well as Best Acting Ensemble.

No quibbles here, although their film is so dark it might scare off enough Oscar voters to let another film slip by for Best Picture.

WAFCA's other winners: "Gone Baby Gone's" Amy Ryan for Best Supporting Actress; "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" for Best Foreign Language Film and "Sicko" for Best Documentary. Sigh.

"Once," alas, didn't make the cut.

(Photo: Javier Bardem brings the menace in "No Country for Old Men")