The first of the big American awards bodies has annouced its winners. The US National Board of Review unveiled their favourites, as well as an alphabetical list of the top 10 films of the year - and there were a few surprises in the mix.
The Coen Brothers' No Country For Old Men got Film of the Year, as well as Ensemble Cast and Best Adapted Screenplay. That's no indication that it will do similarly well at the Oscars (even though it's fantastic and deserves to; many voters are apparently confused by the ending) but it's a step in the right direction.
More surprisingly still, Tim Burton took Best Director for Sweeney Todd - indicating that perhaps NBR voters are less repelled by gallons of blood than their Academy counterparts.
George Clooney continued to gather Best Actor momentum for his so-low-key-how-did-anyone-spot-it performance in Michael Clayton when he picked up that award, and Julie Christie landed Best Actress for Away From Her, a well deserved nod. Even better, Casey Affleck got Best Supporting Actor for The Assassination of Jesse James By The Really Long Title, and Amy Ryan got Best Supporting Actress for Gone Baby Gone, which also landed Ben Affleck the Best Directorial Debut prize - and a big woot-woot to him; it's a very impressive first film.
There was a tie for Best Original Screenplay between the much talked about Diablo Cody for Juno and Nancy Oliver for Lars and the Real Girl. Juno also landed Ellen Page Best Breakthrough Performance, while Into The Wild did the same for Emile Hirsch.
Best Foreign Film went to The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, while precisely no one was surprised when **Ratatouille **landed Best Animated Film. Best Documentary went to Iraqi tale Body Of War.
The year's top ten was much as expected, and...wait. The Bucket List? Really? I mean, it's OK and everything. Nothing objectionable here, really. But seriously? I take it all back - these awards mean nothing.
Here's the full list, including the NBR's top ten films of the year:
Film of the Year
No Country For Old Men
Director:
Tim Burton, "Sweeney Todd"
Actor:
George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"
Actress:
Julie Christie, "Away From Her"
Supporting Actor:
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Supporting Actress:
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"
Foreign Film:
"The Diving Bell And The Butterfly"
Documentary:
"Body Of War"
Animated Feature:
"Ratatouille"
Ensemble Cast:
"No Country For Old Men"
Breakthrough Performance by an Actor:
Emile Hirsch, "Into The Wild"
Breakthrough Performance by an Actress:
Ellen Page, "Juno"
Best Directorial Debut:
Ben Affleck, "Gone Baby Gone"
Best Original Screenplay (tie):
Diablo Cody, "Juno" and
Nancy Oliver, "Lars and the Real Girl"
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country For Old Men"
The rest of NBR's top ten, in alphabetical order:
"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"