Javier Bardem plays a killer No Country for Old Men

Joel and Ethan Coen also won for their direction and screenplay adapted from Cormac McCarthy's novel.

The awards come a week after the crime thriller was named best film by the National Board of Review - making it an early contender for the 2008 Oscars.

The New York critics also named Daniel Day-Lewis best actor for his role as an oil baron in There Will Be Blood.

Clean sweep

Julie Christie won the best actress award for playing an Alzheimer's disease sufferer who puts herself into a nursing facility in Away From Her.

Amy Ryan has so far managed a clean sweep for her role in Gone Baby Gone.

She was named best supporting actress by the New York critics, the Los Angeles critics and the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.

The critics' awards come ahead of the Golden Globe nominations on Thursday, which can boost the Oscar chances of lesser known films.

The Globes, which will be handed out 13 January, will be followed by Oscar nominations on 22 January.

The Academy Award ceremony will be held on 24 February in Hollywood.