HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — George Clooney’s Up in the Air was named best film of the year by the National Board of Review, organizers announced Thursday.
In the picture, Clooney stars as Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert whose cherished life on the road is threatened just as he is on the cusp of reaching ten million frequent flyer miles and just after he’s met the frequent-traveler woman of his dreams.
Clooney was also named best actor, an honor he shares with Morgan Freeman for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in Invictus.
NBR’s best actress award went to An Education star Carey Mulligan.
Clint Eastwood, meanwhile, won best director for Invictus.
Notably missing from the NBR’s annual list of top 10 films was the critically acclaimed Precious. The film’s star, Gabourey Sidibe, however, won breakthrough performance by an actress.
The 108 members of the National Board of Review include knowledgeable film enthusiasts, academics, filmmakers and students from the New York metropolitan area. Last year’s best film of the year, Slumdog Millionaire, went on to win top honors at the Academy Awards.
The 2010 NBR Gala will be hosted by Meredith Vieira, with the event scheduled to take place on Jan. 12 at Cipriani’s 42nd St. in New York City.
National Board of Review Awards 2010
Best Film: UP IN THE AIR
Best Director: CLINT EASTWOOD, Invictus
Best Actor(s): 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 Foreign Language 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
Spotlight Award for Best Directorial Debut: DUNCAN JONES, Moon, OREN MOVERMAN, The Messenger, MARC WEBB, (500) Days of Summer
Best Original Screenplay: JOEL AND ETHAN COEN, A Serious Man
Best Adapted Screenplay: JASON REITMAN and SHELDON TURNER, Up In The Air
Special Filmmaking Achievement Award: WES ANDERSON, The Fantastic Mr. Fox
William K. Everson Film History Award: JEAN PICKER FIRSTENBERG
NBR Freedom of Expression: BURMA VJ: REPORTING FROM A CLOSED COUNTRY, INVICTUS, THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS
Ten Best 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
Five Best Foreign-Language Films
(in alphabetical order)
THE MAID
REVANCHE
SONG OF SPARROWS
THREE MONKEYS
THE WHITE RIBBON
Five Best 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 Ten Independent Films
(in alphabetical order)
AMREEKA
DISTRICT 9
GOODBYE SOLO
HUMPDAY
IN THE LOOP
JULIA
ME AND ORSON WELLES
MOON
SUGAR
TWO LOVERS
