"Waltz With Bashir," an Israeli's memoir of his nation's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, and "Happy-Go-Lucky," a British feature about a cockeyed optimist, were named top movies of 2008 by the National Society of Film Critics Saturday.

Ari Folman's "Bashir," an animated film conjuring the filmmaker's tormented memories of his role as an Israeli soldier in Lebanon, was named best picture. Mike Leigh's "Happy" took honors for its director and his screenplay, actress Sally Hawkins, and supporting actor Eddie Marsan.

Sean Penn was named best actor in "Milk." The critics cited Hanna Schygulla as best supporting actress for "The Edge of Heaven."

"Slumdog Millionaire," the story of a Mumbai street kid who becomes a contender on a TV game show, was cited for Anthony Dod Mantle's cinematography.

"Man on Wire," James Marsh's account of aerialist Philippe Petit's 1974 wire walk between the World Trade Center towers, was cited as best nonfiction film of 2008. "Razzle Dazzle," the latest film from veteran vanguardist Ken Jacobs, took the prize for experimental film.

The NSFC's 63 members represent newspapers from Los Angeles to New York. (Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer)

The Producers Guild of America yesterday announced nominations for its top honor: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight," "Frost/Nixon," "Milk" and "Slumdog Millionaire."

An estimated 3,600 members will vote for the winner of the Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award, to be announced Jan. 24 at the Hollywood Palladium.

Last year, the PGA honored the producers of "No Country for Old Men," which later won the Academy Award for Best Picture. (Barbara Vancheri, Post-Gazette movie editor)

First lady Laura Bush's office said yesterday that India, a black American shorthair named for former Texas Rangers player Ruben Sierra, died Sunday at the White House.

Bush daughter Barbara, then 9, named the cat "India" after Sierra, a former major league player, whose nickname was "El Indio." President George W. Bush was a former co-owner of the Texas Rangers.

The cat had been with the Bush family for 18 years.

Police in Normal, Ill., said actor and playwright Sam Shepard was arrested on preliminary charges of speeding and drunken driving.

Shepard, 65, was stopped early Saturday in the central Illinois town where police said he was driving 16 mph over the 30 mph speed limit and a breath test indicated his blood-alcohol level was double the legal limit. Shepard told police he had been at a tavern in nearby Bloomington and was heading to a hotel. He said he was on his way to his home in Kentucky from Minnesota. He posted bail in Bloomington.

Rebecca Romijn and husband Jerry O'Connell welcomed healthy twin girls, Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip, on Dec. 28.

They are the first children for the "Ugly Betty" actress, 36, and actor O'Connell, 34, who married in 2007.