Brad Pitt may be on his way to getting his own Oscar to put on the mantle next to Angelina Jolie, after he received the coveted Best Actor award from the New York Film Critics Circle. NY1's George Whipple filed the following report. Stay tuned!"

The New York Film Critics Circle recently handed out in the Flatiron District their awards for the best films and best actors of 2011, and Brad Pitt got the Best Actor Award for "Moneyball" and Tree Of Life."

"Our pushing filmmaking is to just say something that just resonates in our time and maybe is around in 10 years, 20 years, and this is all a by-product of that effort," said Pitt.

His girlfriend, Angelina Jolie, showed up to support her man.

"This season, everybody gets caught up in statues," said Jolie. "I think the truth is that there've been some great films and great work and that's what's wonderful and there are a lot of people that aren't even here tonight that are also just as extraordinary and obviously I'm biased for him!"

The silent black and white film "The Artist" received Best Picture and its director, Michel Hazanavicius, got Best Director.

George Whipple: There's a different way to make a movie if it's silent than if it had sound. So you had to learn that?

Hazanavicius: Yeah, sure, but technically what changes is the writing because you don't use the same tools. Usually you write with lines and words. Here you write with images. In a way, you redirect the movie.

Its star, Jean Dujardin, mostly spoke French but still made the scene.

Whipple: Anyone ever told you you have an expressive face?

Dujardin: Yes, but my eyebrows are independent. They are not controlled.

Whipple: I just have one!

Dujardin: You, too! Hey, look! Eh, Martin Scorsese!

Whipple: That's it!

Dujardin: Yeah.

Of the "presidential primaries" of the Oscar race, one of the big ones is the New York Film Critics Circle. So stay tuned and watch who pulls ahead in the horse race for the golden Oscar.