NBR goes for 'Slumdog'

Seth Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 02:45 PM EST

WOOOOOOOOO! Huzzah for Slumdog Millionaire!

Brady Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 03:04 PM EST

Burn After Reading in the Top 10? Really? I didn't think that it was that great, though I am pleased to see TDK and WALL-E in there as well.

George Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 03:21 PM EST

Great choice in "Slumdog" and kudos to "Edge of Heaven" and "Man on Wire"!

was not the biggest fan of "Benjamin Button" and thought Brad Pitt was not the right person to play the title character.

td Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 03:27 PM EST

Very happy to see TDK and Wall-E on the list.

RustyT Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 03:37 PM EST

"Slumdog" is overwrought and gimmicky, not a best picture. The NBR often goes for sentimental pap like this and "Finding Neverland" a few years back (remember, they put "The Bucket List" in their top 10 last year). I wouldn't put too much worth in their choices.

Sal Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 03:51 PM EST

I was surprised to see Burn After Reading on the Top 10 list. I was even more surprised to see that Clint edged out Penn in the Best Actor.

Laura Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 04:21 PM EST

Man, the NBR has a SERIOUS serious crush on Eastwood. How else to explain his critically panned performance and films getting awarded. And no Heath Ledger for supporting??? No Kate Winslet anywhere? Did the NBR even see Revolutionary Road and The Reader? And seriously, Burn After Reading??? That movie was terrible!

That being said, I am glad that Slumdog, The Dark Knight, and Wall-E got honors at least. Hopefully, that will help their chances.

Trip Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 04:32 PM EST

Burn After Reading was awful. How in the world was it included!

Trip Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 04:32 PM EST

Burn After Reading was awful. How in the world was it included!

Hedda Hopper Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 04:48 PM EST

Brolin for Milk? Why not Ledger for The Dark Knight? Brolin should have won his awards for No country for Old Men.

Ruben Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 04:48 PM EST

Uhhh...If the NBR wants their awards to be taken seriously you would think the movie given the "Best Documentary" award would actually be listed as one of the Top 5 Documentary Films...

Im going to say the NBR is a joke.

Eating Sarah Palin's Sweet Muffin Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 05:01 PM EST

Pitt was miscast in Button. It really needed someone better for such a sublime story.

CCIPN Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 05:04 PM EST

I think "Slumdog Millionaire" is a fun different kind of movie but I don't think it should even be nominated for an Academy Award as best movie.

E-Rock Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 05:05 PM EST

Not enough of these "voters" saw REVOLUTIONARY ROAD. A powerful film that easily makes the year's 10 best. CHANGELING?! Are you kidding me? Stop blowing Clint Eastwood already, NBR.

namar Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 05:06 PM EST

Yayy for TDK, Wall-e and Slumdog...

boo for Heath Not winning Supp. Actor

JC Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 05:34 PM EST

I think some awards shows are going to bypass Ledger (for the win) simply because then they'll have to go through the depressing moment of having someone else (his parents? Nolan?) accept the award on his behalf.

And, yes, the NBR definitely has a strange affection for Eastwood. I mean, didn't the rather mediocre (Letters From Iwo Jim was obviously good) Flags Of Our Fathers make the cut last year as well?

JC Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 05:36 PM EST

Typo...that would be Letters From Iwo Jima.

Patrick Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 05:41 PM EST

What a joke. Eastwood has been doing the same old tired mumbling and grumbling for 40 years. How could any group of movie acting critics honor him as "Best Actor?" Penn, Rourke, Langella, Jenkins and countless other real actors were superior.
The other pics are not so hard to believe...unfortunately Kristin Scott-Thomas deserves accolades and so does Heath.

olli Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 05:42 PM EST

To Ruben: If you look closely none of the best film winners (documentary, feature and foreign) is included in their best lists, because the NBR first chooses a winner and then picks additional films for the best of the year list.

Happy about Wall-E, not so sure about Burn after Reading and Changeling.

Robert Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 06:25 PM EST

I can't really put much faith in the NBR. First off, I thought Burn After Reading was an awful movie. (and I'm a big fan of the Coen Brothers.) It has also received decidedly mixed reviews and Defiant is also receiving such mixed reviews. Slumdog Million was a good, but not great movie. I haven't seen Gran Torino so I can't comment, but the NBR certainly loves their Clint Eastwood. I'm also surprised about the inclusion of Penelope Cruz for Vicky Christina Barcelona. I'm most pleasantly surprised about David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It was a great film and amazingly directed by Fincher.

Lola Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 12:25 AM EST

Hummmm.... Bet they had to really dig to come up with a top ten for Best Film. So far this year's movie offerings have been really poor. No "standouts" this year for sure.

robert Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 01:20 AM EST

Where is "The Visitor" in this list? The movie is driven by affecting performances including a gem by Richard Jenkins and dramatizes issues of the post 9/11 world.

Sam Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 03:35 AM EST

You people are crazy. Slumdog Millionaire DEFINITELY deserves the Best Picture title...freakin' TDK diehard fans are starting to get on my f***ing nerves. Stop trying to downplay every other film just to make TDK seem even better. YES, it was good...but it is not the second coming!!

Keil Shults Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 07:48 AM EST

Please check out my NBR commentary on my new blog. I'm welcoming any helpful format/content suggestions...

http://monikerjones.blogspot.com/2008/12/national-board-of-review-2008-2009.html

unknown Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 08:15 AM EST

Josh Brolin should not win. Heath Ledger should win and they know it. His performance is much more memorable and it has more depth to it than Brolin's performance. Heath Ledger was much more in Character than Brolin ever was. But hey it's just the National Board review not the Oscars.

Danny Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 05:24 PM EST

I was so excited to see Changeling on the list. I don't get the mixed reviews at all, and I hope that hasn't fueled some of the negativity surrounding it. Audiences rate it really highly, and while I've only seen Rachel Getting Married, Australia, and Changeling, it's my favorite so far (and I liked the other two).

bubba Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 08:58 PM EST

to sam: the dark knight is a lot better than slumdog millionaire. slumdog was good,dont get me wrong but TDK, MILK, WALLE, Frost/Nixon, and The Wrestler were better. To be honest i thought KUNG FU PANDA were better than Slumdog.

bubba Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 08:59 PM EST

i meant was not were

Jason Sun, Dec 7, 2008 at 12:14 AM EST

Slumdog Millionaire was amazing it desrves the Oscar, I loved it!

Romsie Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 02:13 PM EST

"Slumdog Millionaire" deserves every plaudit it gets! Must say, Kate Winslet simply cannot be omitted fom any award this year. Outrageous. "Revolutionary Road" is far better than "Benjamin Button". Ironically, Pitt is better at playing characters, but boring as hell as a leading man.