"United 93" was one of the most yapped-about pix of 2006, one of the most praised by critics, too, even voted best picture by the New York Film Critics Circle. But it wasn't nominated for best drama picture at the Golden Globes — or in any other races.

What happened?

Its slight is even more surprising considering who's behind it, doing its Globes/Oscar pushing — Tony Angellotti, the P.T. Barnum of Oscar ballyhoo, the General Sherman of kudos battlefield tactics, one of Harvey Weinstein's former soldiers who's now out conquering awards terrain on his own. Masterfully.

Wanna know how good Tony is? Remember when "A Beautiful Mind" was under media attack for sugar-coating the story of its real-life subject, John Nash, and it looked like all Oscar hope was kaput? Tony saved it. The media attack grew so fierce that accusations of a "smear campaign" arose. In fact, no evidence for such a campaign ever surfaced. Andy Seiler of USA Today and I mounted an exhaustive search to find a single journalist who was contacted by a competitor slamming "A Beautiful Mind." Found nothing. However, the suggestion that one existed was evidence of how crazed the crisis got. Did Tony believe the campaign existed? He says, "Yes," but that doesn't matter. What does is how he coped with it. He did so expertly, righted his Oscar ship and it sailed on to win.

Ironically, Harvey Weinstein had a nominee in the best-pic race that year — "In the Bedroom" — and could've benefited from the sudden media ambush of "A Beautiful Mind," but, alas, Tony Angellotti prevailed. That Oscar night, as Harvey exited the grim Miramax party, he must've looked out over the dark Hollywood sky, imagining the jubilant Universal festivities going on across town with his former protege being cheered by studio exex. And Harvey must've thought, smiling slyly, "Well done, kiddo. Well done!"

This year Tony had bright hopes for "United 93." When he and I and The Envelope's editor Scott Robson had lunch back in late summer, Tony beamed, "I'm very optimistic. Come on, it's a movie that was on everybody's mind this year and it had an important message. Oscar and Globe voters want their movies to feel important." It didn't matter that "United 93" had been released in April. Tony had brought back early-year releases before — like "Seabiscuit."

In early November, Tony went to work, blitzing the guilds and academy members with DVD screeners. One industry pal of mine told me he'd received two copies in one week!

In early December things were starting to look good when "United 93" took the top prize from the New York critics. Its kudos hopes seemed to be flying high.

But then — bam — everything crashed when Globe noms came out and "United 93" wasn't there.

I saw Tony at the pre-dawn press conference and asked him, "So . . . what happened? Why didn't it get nominated?"

"They didn't watch it," Tony said with a sad shrug. **

Of course, that's why, come to think of it. I heard other reports about award voters reluctant to watch the DVD, too. Revisiting 9/11 is just too painful. So we must wonder if that could become a big issue with Oscar voters next.

So, how then did it win the New Yorkers' award, you ask?

Really, its victory was by default. The vast majority of film critics entering that voting session had no intention of naming it best picture. It was one of those desperate compromises that the circle is famous for — like "Quiz Show" and "The Accidental Tourist." They win, quite accidentally, when rival factions backing other films can't resolve a deadlock. This year the stand-off was between "The Queen" and "The Departed," which led on the early ballots. During the voting process, critics must rank three choices. What frequently happens during these face-offs is that partisans start thinking strategically. Advocates of "The Queen," for example, must be careful not to list "The Departed" in second or third place because they'd be helping the enemy camp to hike its over-all point score. So voters fill in those bottom-two rungs on their ballots with less-threatening filler. Suddenly, "United 93" started to build strength as it racked up gads of number-two points. On the fourth ballot, "The Departed" fell behind and "United 93" was virtually tied with "The Queen." Upon the fifth ballot, weary of battle, "The Queen" faction conceded that it didn't have the votes to rule, so its advocates surrendered and passed the best-pic crown to "United 93."

Then, that notoriously catty wag Rex Reed couldn't help but express his shock — and obvious disapproval. TheScreenGrab.com reported:

A brief silence. Then, the voice of Rex Reed.

"So that's it."

Pause.

"The best film of 2006."

Pause.

"According to the New York Film Critics Circle."

Pause.

"Is 'United 93.'"

Long, uncomfortable pause, plus some tittering.

"A film that no one in America wanted to see."

**********

(** NOTE QUOTE CORRECTION: Angellotti spoke only about Globe voters not watching the "United 93" DVD screener. )

(Photos: Universal)