Yesterday, the National Board of Review released their award winners. The NBR awards pretty much kick off the awards season, along with the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globe nominations, would should be announced in a few more weeks. The National Board of Review actually has a really interesting record picking winners and nominees – they’re chosen actors like Halle Berry (for Monster’s Ball), Slumdog Millionaire (for best picture) and Diablo Cody (for Juno’s screenplay), flying in the face of some conventional Oscar wisdom and some expensive campaigns. What I’m trying to say is – take the NBR awards seriously, but they don’t exactly mean these picks are the absolute winners.
The biggest “shock” win of yesterday’s announcement was George Clooney’s joint win as Best Actor (Morgan Freeman was also named for Invictus) and George’s film, Up In The Air, was named as the Best Picture. Also, Anna Kendrick (the younger girl in the film) took best supporting actress. So, it seems Up In The Air is the film to beat. And Clooney might be the actor to beat?
The 2009 Oscar race is officially Up in the Air.
The George Clooney vehicle about love in the age of layoffs has become one of the Oscar front-runners after being named best picture by the National Board of Review on Thursday.
Clooney shared a win for best actor with Morgan Freeman, who won for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in Invictus, directed by his longtime collaborator Clint Eastwood, who was named best director.
British newcomer Carey Mulligan was named best actress for playing a precocious teen in An Education, while The Messenger’s Woody Harrelson and Air’s Anna Kendrick were recognized for their supporting performances.
The cast of the forthcoming comedy, It’s Complicated, which includes Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, was named best ensemble.
The NBR, which was naming 10 of the year’s outstanding films long before the Oscars got into the act, also recognized, An Education, Inglourious Basterds, (500) Days of Summer, The Hurt Locker, A Serious Man, Invictus, Star Trek, The Messenger, Where the Wild Things Are, and Up, which was named best animated film.
The Oscars will air live on March 7 on ABC.
[From People]
Here’s the thing – I f-cking love to analyze what awards mean, and who has the best chances, and who got robbed and who benefited from the best campaign. Some people might find that kind of thing tedious, but Oscar predictions are like crack to me. I totally Lohan for critics’ awards. So here’s my analysis of the NBR awards: I think Up In The Air is peeking early. Though the film is getting great reviews, and everyone says Clooney is wonderful in it, I have serious doubts the film will go the distance. First of all, it’s got really f-cked subject matter for this time period: it’s a film about people losing their jobs. And the “hero” (Clooney) is the guy who does the laying off.
Now, I do think Clooney will likely end up with an Oscar nomination for the film. I just think his chance of winning it, as this point, isn’t that great. I think Morgan Freeman’s chance at both the nomination and the win for playing Nelson Mandela in Invictus is probably much better. And no one is even mentioning Colin Firth in A Single Man! Or Daniel Day-Lewis in Nine. So let’s not jump to any conclusions.
George Clooney and Elisabetta at the ‘Up In The Air’ premiere in Los Angeles on November 30, 2009. Credit: Fame.
Will he win?
No.
Those NBR awards totally overlooked NINE which is coming out at the “best” time for award winning movies. Traditionally, films with the best Oscar prospects come out closer to Xmas, at the very end of the year so they are fresh in the Academy voter’s minds.
I say George has a slim chance against Morgan Freeman and Daniel Day-Lewis.
Also, I hated 500 Days of Summer. HATED. Ugh I still want a refund.
There is precedent for a versatile leading man “movie star” winning an Oscar for Best Actor: Clark Gable won, and it was for comedy. According to IMDB.com, Gable “Won, Oscar, Best Actor in a Leading Role for It Happened One Night (1934)” –which was a travel movie as is Clooney’s. Gable played a reporter and Claudette Colbert played a runaway bride, and there was a famous scene when they had to share a motel cottage for the night. It was considered scandalous then. Oh, yes, George can win. It’s about damn time. He should have won for “O Brother, Where Art Thou” or “Syriana.”
Kaiser, I need to disagree. I think the film is extremely relevant. I especially appreciate that they used ACTUAL people who had been laid off. The subject matter resonates right now because so many people are facing job loss-and many others are surviving the annual cuts but watching their long-time co-workers suffer. However, I like the approach-it isn’t drippy or pathetic, it’s just…what it is.
That being said, you may be right that it’s peaking a bit early. The buzz will have died down by the time the voting starts.
Yawn
When are they going to stop nom him for playing himself.
Sure, I get that the film is *relevent* but I still wonder if people really want to sit thru a film about mass firings.
The man can’t act. He and all his posse who like to make “serious films.” Stop pushing movies that are total nonsense for Oscars. Nine is another stupid movie they’re pushing because of some famous actresses. Even the trailer is stupid.
you need to take a chill pill yasmin
@kim: i agree with you!(it’s why i like him only in syriana)he acts the same character in movie than in public life!
and i don’t believe too much in Morgan Freeman for winning Oscar because obviously he has a big trouble with his south african accent in the movie
George is overrated. Same character different film.
@ Sumodo, he did win an Oscar for Syriana in 2006 ? Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.
A couple of things about this list. No mention of Precious. It is the best film I have seen so far this award season. Also Viggo Mortensen in The Road is impressive and he has not won an Oscar. And unless Morgan Freeman is like Forrest Whitacre was with Idi Amin and channels Mandela, I don’t see it. But I have yet to get the screener of Invictus. However, Hollywood loves George, and for good reason, he is a really great guy to be around and work with and regarless of what anyone on here says, he is a good actor although IMHO his range is not that of Daniel Day Lewis, per se, doesn’t mean that he doesn’t deserve and Oscar for this performance. Alot of the award voters vote based on a career sometimes and not the actual role that year and I think that really sucks.
@Miss Wanderlust– D’oh! Imdb.com says: 2006
• Won, Oscar
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Syriana (2005)
No cos Colin Firth will win. Clooney to drama is what Hugh Grant is to rom com’s – they essentially always play themselves.
I like George.. but after seeing the trailer of this film I don’t get the hype. The trailer is very boring. George just seems like he is playing himself. And the movie for some reason reminded me of that Dustin Hoffman movie (Last Chance Harvey.. which was really cute). I think the film is getting too much hype. I wanted to see it, but may wait a whild to hear some reactions. But the truth is the movie does not look good going by that trailer. But Hey I am just one person with one opinion
There’s a rumor George promised that if he ever wins best actor, he’s going to thank his longterm “boyfriend/life partner” in his acceptance speech rather than his latest pretend girlfriend. We’ll see if he keeps his word or not.
He is not a good actor in my opinion..
he is just so-so–his roles are boring and have no depth..JMO
I agree Brass, Clooney is the same person in every film. He’s like Cary Grant, you can’t forget for one minute that he’s Cary Grant. (I love Cary Grant, but he aint no chameleon.)
george has got all the stuffs to win an oscar.
he deserved it!!!