Tis the Season: The National Board of Review

Most film critics and pundits consider the official kick-off of awards season with the National Board of Review. The NBR is a century old not-for-profit organization dedicated to film as both art and entertainment around the world. They do not go the route of nominations and subsequent winners but cut right to the chase and give the love direct and right away. This year, their love has been spread among many gracious recipients.

It is official. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is the hot ticket Best Picture possibility this year. The NBR named it the best film of the year and also gave it props for its screenplay and the breakthrough performance of its lead, Dev Patel. Don't discount THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON yet though. David Fincher earns directing honours and the screenplay shares the honours in the adapted category with SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. It seems to me that both of these films will be mentioned quite a bit in the coming weeks. The only other films to score two nods with the NBR are Clint Eastwood's GRAN TURINO and the soon-to-be-released DOUBT. Eastwood's second film this year, and incidentally second film alongside CHANGELING to make the NBR's Top 10 list, earned Eastwood himself top acting honours and recognition for the film's original screenplay. DOUBT picks up awards for its ensemble cast and a breakthrough nod for Viola Davis. While SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE only solidifies its buzz with this announcement, BENJAMIN BUTTON and GRAN TURINO throw their hats into the official race. Meanwhile, the remaining acting awards went to this year's darling, Anne Hathaway for RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, Josh Brolin for his supporting role in MILK and the breathtaking Penelope Cruz for her unforgettable performance in Woody Allen's VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA. We cannot discount Richard Jenkins in THE VISITOR or Melissa Leo in that pesky little FROZEN RIVER quite yet as they both were featured in the Spotlight Award category. Now, I don't know what this means at all but I'm fairly positive that if you're looking to get noticed, a spotlight could probably help you out with that.

The NBR also lists a Top 10 film list and Top 10 independent film list and both of these lists will be listed below. List, list, list.

BEST FILM
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

BEST ACTOR
Clint Eastwood, GRAN TURINO

BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, MILK

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
DOUBT

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR
Dev Patel, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS
Viola Davis, DOUBT

BEST DIRECTOR
David Fincher, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
and
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
GRANT TURINO

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
WALL-E

THE TOP 10 FILMS OF 2008
(listed alphabetically and not including SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE)
BURN AFTER READING
CHANGELING
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
DEFIANCE
FROST/NIXON
GRAN TURINO
MILK
WALL-E
THE WRESTLER

THE TOP 10 INDEPENDENT FILMS OF 2008
FROZEN RIVER
IN BRUGES
IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS
MR. FOE
RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
SNOW ANGELS
SON OF RAMBOW
WENDY AND LUCY
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
THE VISITOR

For a complete list of the winners, visit the National Board of Review website. That is it for the awards season coverage this week, far as I know. Next week, its time for the critics to have their say, as the New York, Boston and L.A. film critics make their pics for the year. And of course of Thursday, its time for the Golden Globe nominations. And be sure to check back this weekend for my full length review of Gus Van Sant's MILK.