"Up in the Air" Named Best Picture by National Board of Review

I caught the screening of Jason Reitman's Up in the Air last night.

Here's what I wrote on Twitter (http://twitter/com/jphilipbooth): " "Up in the Air" - smart, funny, sexy, humane. If it doesn't get Oscar noms for writing, acting, directing, best pic,then I'll eat my shorts."

So it's great to hear that the film, starring George Clooney as a committed bachelor and devoted collector of frequent flier miles who fires people for a living, is getting lots of love from critics.

The movie, also starring Vera Farmiga as Clooney's female road-warrior counterpart and Anna Kendrick as a young go-getting employee in Clooney's firm, was just named best picture of the year by the National Board of Review.

It also picked up honors for best actor (Clooney, splitting the prize with Morgan Freeman, for Invictus), supporting actress (Kendrick) and best adapted screenplay (Reitman and Sheldon Turner, whose script was based on Walter Kirn's book).

Several of my other favorite films of 09 were recognized, too, with An Education and (500) Days of Summer on the Top Ten list, The Cove named best documentary, District 9 included on the Top Independent Films list, Carey Mulligan named best actress for An Education, and Gabourey Sidibey getting the award for breakthrough performance by an actress, for her knock-out work in Precious. Wes Anderson deservedly received a Special Filmmaking Achievement award for the funny, clever, visually charming Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Surprises? Yes, how could the NRB fail to include the stunning, emotionally incendiary Precious in its Top Ten list? And, honestly, Kendrick's performance in Up in the Air was more impressive than Mo'Nique's in Precious? Not so sure about that. And no love for funny/sad rock doc Anvil!

The complete list:

Awards for 2009:

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 ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS