NEW YORK LIKES LAS VEGAS

The New York Film Critics Circle pronounced "Leaving Las Vegas" the best film of 1995, and named its star, Nicholas Cage, best actor. "The New York Film Critics awards certainly provides a clue as to who will be nominated for an Oscar," says TIME's Richard Corliss. "They also give the films' publicists a major tool in marketing the films." Other winners in the 61st annual Film Critics Circle awards went to Jennifer Jason Leigh who won best actress in the film "Georgia"; Ang Lee as best director for "Sense and Sensibility"; Kevin Spacey as best supporting actor in three films -- "Seven," "The Usual Suspects," "Swimming with Sharks" and "Outbreak." Mira Sorvino won best supporting actress for Woody Allen's "Mighty Aphrodite."