It was a celebration of movies and acting in NYC last night at the Gotham Independent Film Awards. Ryan Reynolds hit the red carpet solo looking dapper in his vest while Brooke Shields stood close to Rosie Perez and Alec Baldwin posed with Richard Kind. Alec recently said he would be retiring from acting in a couple of years, but first he's out to promote It's Complicated out this month. He also has a big award show to host this season when he and Steve Martin take on the Oscars together. Natalie Portman showed some skin — get her look here — before being honored during the show just days before her new film, Brothers, hits theaters.

The night's big winner was The Hurt Locker while Stanley Tucci was also one of the night's honorees along with Portman. Chris Rock came out to support his documentary Good Hair, though the prize went to Food, Inc. The night was full of laughs as Meryl Streep entertained, and Sam Rockwell made funny faces with Patricia Clarkson who took the podium. Award season is underway as we start to get an idea of what lies in store for the nominations and shows yet to come.

For more photos from the awards just read more.

Images include: Natalie Portman, Brooke Shields, Alec Baldwin, Chris Rock, Ryan Reynolds, Meryl Streep, Oliver Platt, Willem Dafoe, Patricia Clarkson, Bill Hader, Stanley Tucci, Rosie Perez, Sam Rockwell, Morgan Spurlock, Derick Martini, Malaak Compton, Jeremy Renner, Richard Kind