Critics' Groups in L.A., New York and Boston Get Serious The films that, at year's end, critics (and sometimes audiences) love are beginning to take shape and let's call it, well, whatever form gravitas takes. The Los Angeles Film Critics Association announced its choices over the weekend, and it gave the top prize to Michael Haneke's "Amour," the story of an elderly French couple dealing with dementia and death. One of Mr. Haneke's stars, Emmanuelle Riva, also earned best actress in a tie with Jennifer Lawrence of "Silver Linings Playbook," the only showing for David O. Russell's offbeat comedy. "The Master" also scored with the West Coast critical set, picking up best director for Paul Thomas Anderson, best actor for Joaquin Phoenix and best supporting actress for Amy Adams. Two other awards-season favorites, "Beasts of the Southern Wild" and "Argo," received nods as well, for score and supporting actor ("Beasts") and screenplay ("Argo"). Unlike their Eastern counterparts, the critics entirely eschewed Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln." The New York Film Critics Online took a stance similar to the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Board of Review, honoring "Zero Dark Thirty" and its director, Kathryn Bigelow, with its top prizes; ditto the Boston Society of Film Critics. Both groups gave its main acting trophies to Ms. Riva and Daniel Day-Lewis ("Lincoln"). More critical entities will make their announcements as the year winds down. It may help audiences distinguish what films to check out, but Oscarologists caution against using these best-ofs as predictors. Look for the Screen Actors Guild, which will announce its favorites this week, and other guilds - whose membership overlaps heavily with the Academy - to give us a better idea of what will eventually take a few gold men.