The National Board of Review, the second-oldest movie award-givers still going (after the Oscars), proved they were all for No Country for Old Men, naming it their film of the year. The Coen brothers' crime drama also claimed their ensemble and screenplay honors in the sometimes controversial group's 78th annual film awards, announced today. Their top choice is a change of pace for the NBR (they often go for more obviously highbrow fare), which, although they are not a professional critics group (The Envelope's Tom O'Neil best describes them as an "Enlightened People's Choice Award"), are still a reliable bellwether for things to come.Other winners include actors George Clooney, Julie Christie, Casey Affleck, Amy Ryan, Emile Hirsch and Ellen Page, directors Tim Burton and Ben Affleck and, in their respective categories, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Body of War and Ratatouille. Honorary awards were also bestowed upon actor/producer Michael Douglas, film historian Robert Osborne (of Turner Classic Movies fame), cinematographer Roger Deakins and the films The Great Debaters and Persepolis.
Being the first real precursor to actual name names as opposed to just nominations, here's what today's results could mean in the overall race:
- Heating up: Obviously, No Country is red hot, but Michael Clayton is gaining steam as a quiet frontrunner, and Burton's win bodes well for the futures of Sweeney Todd.
- Percolating along: Atonement, Juno, The Kite Runner, at least five of the six acting winners.
- Warming trends: I have a feeling The Diving Bell will prove to be a big factor in the coming weeks.
- Surprises in the mix: Unexpected love for The Bourne Ultimatum, The Bucket List and Lars and the Real Girl.
- Cooling down: Conspicuous in their absence: American Gangster, Charlie Wilson's War, I'm Not There and There Will Be Blood.
The NBR will hand out their trophies in New York on January 15. See the comments section below for a quick look at the full list of winners.
Links via NBRmp.org, Variety.com and LATimes.com.
1 comment:
Picture:
No Country for Old Men
Top Ten:
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Atonement
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Bucket List
Into the Wild
Juno
The Kite Runner
Lars and the Real Girl
Michael Clayton
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Actor:
George Clooney in Michael Clayton
Actress:
Julie Christie in Away from Her
Supporting Actor:
Casey Affleck in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Supporting Actress:
Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone
Breakthrough Performance - Actor:
Emilie Hirsch in Into the Wild
Breakthrough Performance - Actress:
Ellen Page in Juno
Ensemble Acting:
No Country for Old Men
Director:
Tim Burton for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Debut Director:
Ben Affleck for Gone Baby Gone
Adapted Screenplay:
No Country for Old Men
Original Screenplay (tie):
Juno
Lars and the Real Girl
Animated Feature:
Ratatouille
Foreign Language Film:
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Top Five Foreign Films:
The Band's Visit
The Counterfeiters
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
La Vie en Rose
Lust, Caution
Documentary:
Body of War
Top Five Documentaries:
Darfur Now
In the Shadow of the Moon
Nanking
Taxi to the Dark Side
Toots
Top Independent Films:
Away from Her
Great World of Sound
Honeydripper
In the Valley of Elah
A Mighty Heart
The Namesake
Once
The Savages
Starting Out in the Evening
Waitress
Freedom of Expression Awards:
The Great Debaters
Persepolis
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