The National Board of Review has chosen Jason Reitman's Up in the Air as the Best Picture of 2009, but as Anne Thompson states, the National Board of Review tends to be a bellwether of where Oscar momentum is heading, but not necessarily a forecaster of where it will be. However, it's a near-certainty that Up in the Air will be getting some Oscar nominations because not only is it in the zeitgeist (the main character Ryan Bingham fires people for a living), but it's just a damn good film and critics agree with an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes (look for my review tonight). If you'd like a track record for the NBR, its Best Picture choice has gone on to be nominated for Best Picture Oscar nine of the past ten years (their selection of Quills in 2000 was a swing and a miss), and won the award the past two years.
George Clooney also won the NBR's Best Actor award for Up in the Air (tied with Morgan Freeman for Invictus), Carey Mulligan won Best Actress for An Education, Woody Harrelson won Best Supporting Actor for The Messenger, Anna Kendrick won Best Supporting Actress for Up in the Air, and Clint Eastwood won Best Director for Invictus. Hit the jump for the full list of winners including the NBR's picks for the 10 Best Films of the Year after Up in the Air.
Best Film
UP IN THE AIR
Top Ten Films
(In alphabetical order) AN EDUCATION, (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, THE HURT LOCKER, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, INVICTUS, THE MESSENGER, A SERIOUS MAN, STAR TREK, UP, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
Best Foreign Language Film
A PROPHET
Top Five Foreign Films
(In alphabetical order) THE MAID, REVANCHE, SONG OF SPARROWS, THREE MONKEYS, THE WHITE RIBBON
Best Documentary
THE COVE
Top Five Documentaries
(In alphabetical order) BURMA VJ: REPORTING FROM A CLOSED COUNTRY, CRUDE, FOOD, INC., GOOD HAIR, THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS
Top Independent Films
(In alphabetical order) AMREEKA, DISTRICT 9, GOODBYE SOLO, HUMPDAY, IN THE LOOP, JULIA, ME AND ORSON WELLES, MOON, SUGAR, TWO LOVERS
Best Actor
GEORGE CLOONEY, Up In The Air; MORGAN FREEMAN, Invictus
Best Actress
CAREY MULLIGAN, An Education
Best Supporting Actor
WOODY HARRELSON, The Messenger
Best Supporting Actress
ANNA KENDRICK, Up In The Air
Best Ensemble Cast
IT'S COMPLICATED
Breakthrough Performance by an Actor
JEREMY RENNER, The Hurt Locker
Breakthrough Performance by an Actress
GABOUREY SIDIBE, Precious
Spotlight Award for Best Directorial Debut
DUNCAN JONES, Moon; OREN MOVERMAN, The Messenger; MARC WEBB, (500) Days of Summer
Best Director
CLINT EASTWOOD, Invictus
Best Adapted Screenplay
JASON REITMAN and SHELDON TURNER, Up In The Air
Best Original Screenplay
JOEL AND ETHAN COEN, A Serious Man
Best Animated Feature
UP
Special Filmmaking Achievement
WES ANDERSON, The Fantastic Mr. Fox
William K. Everson Award For Film History
JEAN PICKER FIRSTENBERG
Freedom Of Expression
BURMA VJ: REPORTING FROM A CLOSED COUNTRY; INVICTUS; THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSEBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS