'Up In the Air' Named NBR's Top Film of 2009

There are a few surprises, but not at the top of the list, for the National Board of Review's 2009 film awards. Up in the Air was named Best Film, and this is the fourth time Best Actor winner George Clooney has picked up three NBR honors in four years (Good Night, and Good Luck won Best Picture and Clooney was named Best Actor for Michael Clayton). He tied with Morgan Freeman from Invictus for the top acting prize, and that film also won Clint Eastwood Best Director. Unlike a lot of these year-end awards, NBR does a top ten list (actually a top 11 because the Best Picture winner is excluded from the countdown), and that's where the surprises might be - no Avatar, which NBR voters haven't seen, no Precious, and no Lovely Bones or Nine. Because they vote so damn early, there's a possibility several movies weren't screened in time for the deadline. If you're wondering, the NBR is rarely indicative of the Academy Award voting, sharing only four of the past 15 Best Pictures. However, the past two years, they've been in sync, and Up in the Air is probably the lead dog in the Oscar hunt at this moment, so they could go three-for-three. First, here's the list of the top ten films of the year (alphabetically), which is followed by the individual awards. (500) Days of Summer
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Star Trek
Up
Where the Wild Things Are Good for Trek and The Messenger, incidentally. Now here are the trophies: Best Film
Up In The Air Best Director
Clint Eastwood, Invictus Best Actor
Morgan Freeman, Invictus and George Clooney, Up In The Air (tie) Best Actress
Carey Mulligan, An Education Best Supporting Actor
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger Best Supporting Actress
Anna Kendrick, Up In The Air Best Foreign Film
A Prophet Best Documentary
The Cove Best Animated Feature
Up Best Ensemble Cast
It’s Complicated Breakthrough Performance by an Actor
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker Breakthrough Performance by an Actress
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious Get the full rundown at Indiewire.

Comments

[SEAN]

Seem to agree with their findings...except Star Trek and Where the Wild Things Are.

I mean I loved Star Trek but does it deserve top 10??? Not too sure, it is a bit of popcorn fun but done extremely well popcorn fun

Where the Wild Things are is popcorn fun, it has no right to be in that category...

I mean what about Precious, The Hangover, Julie and Julia, Inglorious Basterds, Bright Star, Paranormal Activity (come on, why not?) , The Lovely Bones (I have not seen so cant say), or A Single Man (also have not seen), Crazy Heart (also have not seen)

I mean I wouldve been much more happy if any of those were included rather than the 2 I mentioned...I mean come on...
-I have a feeling it's a lot about politics and studio push

[macafrey]

i think the best movie which must should in to this category is Up in the air. nothing will be good more than it. omg, i have seen about thousand movies of George Clooney. but the thing is i could not seen his well prepared movie except this one.
source
http://blog.80millionmoviesfree.com/in-theaters/watch-up-in-the-air-online