The Social Network picked by L.A., N.Y. critics

The Social Network, David Fincher's film about the trials of Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, has been named the year's best film by critics in Los Angeles and New York.

The accolades come a week after another group,the New York-based Board of Review, chose The Social Network as film of the year.

The New York Film Critics Circle chose Fincher as best director. The Los Angeles Film Critics gave The Social Network's Aaron Sorkin its award for best screenplay and Fincher tied with Oliver Assayas of Carlos for best director.

Both critics groups chose Carlos, the story of 1970s terrorist Carlos the Jackal, as best foreign film.

Canadian documentary recognized

Last Train Home, a documentary by Montrealer Li Xinfan that examines the lives of China's migrant workers, also came in for some glory. The Los Angeles critics chose the film, backed by Montreal's EyeSteelFilm, as best documentary.

The New Yorkers chose Inside Job, Charles Ferguson's examination of the 2008 financial meltdown, as best documentary.

Fan, a TV reporter in China before immigrating to Canada, followed an individual family over a three-year period as they worked in the factories of Guangdong, separated from their own children.

Colin Firth, who is gathering accolades for his portrayal of the stammering King George VI in The King's Speech, was named best actor by both the New York and Los Angeles critics associations.

They were not unanimous on best actress. The L.A. critics chose Kim Hye-Ja in Korean film Mother, while in New York, many of the performance awards went to the cast of The Kids Are All Right. Annette Bening was named best actress, Mark Ruffalo got best supporting actor and Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg got the screenplay honours.

The New York and Los Angeles critics are among the influential groups weighing in ahead of Academy Award nominations in January.

On Tuesday, the Oscar race will pick up when the Golden Globe nominations are announced.