Poster of Alexander Payne's comedy-drama "The Descendants" which stars George Clooney [Photo: IMPAwards.com]

Alexander Payne's comedy-drama "The Descendants" has been chosen as the best film of the year by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

The movie stars George Clooney as a land baron in Hawaii, also a neglectful father who tries to deal with his two rebellious daughters after his wife is badly injured in a boating accident.

The picture was also named the film of the year by the American Film Institute, another Los Angeles-based industry group, and one of the best 10 best films of the year by the National Board of Review earlier this month.

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association gave the best foreign language film to "City of Life and Death", a 2009 Chinese film directed by Lu Chuan, which deals with the massacre of Chinese soldiers and civilians committed by Japanese army when it raped Nanjing in late 1937.

A still photo from Chinese director Lu Chuan's film "City of Life and Death" [Photo: douban.com]

Michael Fassbender was named best actor for his performances in "A Dangerous Method", "Shame", "Jane Eyre" and "X-Men: First Class". South Korean Yun Jung-hee was picked as best actress for her role in "Poetry", a South Korean drama which tells the story of a suburban woman in her 60s who begins to grow an interest for poetry while struggling with Alzheimer's disease and her irresponsible grandson.

Best supporting actor went to Christopher Plummer for his role in "Beginners" and best supporting actress went to Jessica Chastain for her performance in movies including "The Tree of Life", "The Help" and "Take Shelter".

The critics group, known for being unconventional in picking its winners, also chose Terrence Malick, who helmed "The Tree of Life", as best director. Martin Scorsese follows as runner-up.

"The Tree of Life" also won the cinematography award for Emmanuel Lubezki, while Cao Yu earned runner-up in cinematography for his work on "City of Life and Death".