NBR -Then & Now

THEN ~Last year the National Board of Review chose the following films as the tippity top of 2006 -I've highlighted the eventual Oscar Best Picture nominees for ya: Letters from Iwo Jima (the NBR winner), Babel, Blood Diamond, The Departed, The Devil Wears Prada, Flags of Our Fathers, The History Boys, Little Miss Sunshine, Notes on a Scandal and The Painted Veil . This list is rather indicative of what they always do: mix Oscar buzz titles with one or two populist favorites and then fill the rest with movies that have just been released or are about to and, thus, likely to use the NBR stamp of approval in their launch. The NBR is even more November/December focused than the Academy (note the presence of The History Boys and The Painted Veil that didn't go anywhere with the Academy but were very fresh in the minds of the NBR voters)

Despite correlations with Oscar tastes, their lists are often difficult to read in terms of Oscar because of their desire to spread the wealth to all studios (AMPAS voters have no such need of ego stroking. People service them). If you win an acting award, say like Helen Mirren in the Queen, they may feel they can bypass you in their top 10. So political it is...

One last thing about last year. The NBR was the first to reveal the chink in the Dreamgirls armor. Other awards bodies followed their lead: Once you've awarded Jennifer Hudson for her breakthrough performance, feel free to shimmy away from that picture towards other movies

NOW (my comments in red)
For 2007 They've chosen Best Picture: No Country For Old Men
The rest of their top ten is: 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 and Sweeney Todd
My Oscar predictions for Best Picture are looking pretty good now, aren't they?


Other prizes...
Director: Tim Burton Sweeney Todd
Director is an area in which the NBR voters can' t be trusted. Sorry for the Burton lovers but this doesn't usually indicate great things ahead -just ask Edward Zwick
Actor: George Clooney Michael Clayton
I think he's an easy get for an Oscar nomination but I guess I was really hoping they'd be brave and give Viggo Mortenson (Eastern Promises) a boost. But oops. That movie came out in September which according to the NBR is a million years ago.
Actress: Julie Christie Away From Her
Yes! May she absolutely clobber Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose) to nab the Oscar
Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Yes! He needed some early love. He got it.
Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Foreign Film: The Diving Bell and Butterfly
This is a good movie (my review and interview with Max von Sydow) but my god these voters have a limited frame of reference. Everything is opening right now.

Breathrough Performance, Actress: Ellen Page, Juno "dudes, the NBR is totally into freaky chicks"
Breakthrough Performance, Actor: Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild This is his 9th film and he's been the lead several times. But they always have a loose definition of "Breakthrough". Remember when Charlize Theron won on her 20th picture after being famous for a decade?
Directorial Debut: Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone
If you're already famous and you make a movie, someone somewhere will give you prizes for it. It's the law.
Original Screenplay (tie) Lars and the Real Girl & Juno
NBR fought back the desire to rename this category "Most Loveable Quirkfest of the Year"
Adapted Screenplay: No Country For Old Men
Ensemble Cast: No Country For Old Men
This movie certainly cleaned up. Is the Oscar next?
Animated Feature: Ratatouille
Duh!
Documentary: Body of War
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