The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures

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NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

NAMED 2007 BEST FILM OF THE YEAR
BY THE
NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW

George Clooney and Julie Christie
Named Best Actor and Best Actress

Michael Douglas is honored

with the Career Achievement Award

THE GREAT DEBATERS and PERSEPOLIS win the

The BVLGARI Award for NBR Freedom of Expression

New York, NY -; December 5th, 2007 -; The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures named NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN the 2007 Best Film of the Year.  Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, released by Miramax and Paramount Vantage on November 21st, the film is based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel. It simultaneously strips down the American crime drama and broadens its concerns to encompass themes as ancient as the Bible, and as bloodily contemporary as this morning’s headlines.

For Best Actor and Actress of 2007, the NBR honors two artists whose performances were truly outstanding. The 2007 Best Actor, GEORGE CLOONEY, was selected for his performance in the title role of Michael Clayton.  For the 2007 Best Actress honor, the NBR has selected JULIE CHRISTIE for her performance in Away From Her. 

Below is a full list of the awards given by the National Board of Review: 

Best Film: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Best Director: TIM BURTON, Sweeney Todd

Best Actor: GEORGE CLOONEY, Michael Clayton

Best Actress: JULIE CHRISTIE, Away From Her

Best Supporting Actor: CASEY AFFLECK, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Best Supporting Actress: AMY RYAN, Gone Baby Gone

Best Foreign Film: THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY

Best Documentary: BODY OF WAR

Best Animated Feature: RATATOUILLE

Best Ensemble Cast: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Breakthrough Performance by an Actor: EMILE HIRSCH, Into The Wild

Breakthrough Performance by an Actress: ELLEN PAGE, Juno

Best Directorial Debut: BEN AFFLECK, Gone Baby Gone

Best Original Screenplay: DIABLO CODY, Juno and NANCY OLIVER, Lars and the Real Girl

Best Adapted Screenplay: JOEL COEN and ETHAN COEN, No Country For Old Men

TOP TEN FILMS OF 2007

(in alphabetical order)

THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES

ATONEMENT

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

THE BUCKET LIST

INTO THE WILD

JUNO

THE KITE RUNNER

LARS AND THE REAL GIRL

MICHAEL CLAYTON

SWEENEY TODD

TOP FIVE FOREIGN FILMS OF 2007
(in alphabetical order)

4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS

THE BAND’S VISIT

THE COUNTERFEITERS

LA VIE EN ROSE

LUST, CAUTION

 

TOP FIVE DOCUMENTARIES OF 2007
(in alphabetical order)

DARFUR NOW

IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON

NANKING

TAXI TO THE DARKSIDE

TOOTS

TOP INDEPENDENT FILMS

(in alphabetical order)

AWAY FROM HER

GREAT WORLD OF SOUND

HONEYDRIPPER

IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH

A MIGHTY HEART

THE NAMESAKE

ONCE

THE SAVAGES

STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING

WAITRESS

 

Career Achievement -; MICHAEL DOUGLAS

William K. Everson Film History Award -; ROBERT OSBORNE

Career Achievement in Cinematography -; ROGER DEAKINS

The BVLGARI Award for NBR Freedom of Expression -; THE GREAT DEBATERS and PERSEPOLIS

“2007 was an extremely exciting and challenging year for the NBR in determining the winners in the various categories,” said NBR President Annie Schulhof. “We screened 282 films and the diversity of these narratives is reflected in our 2007 Ten Best Films.  NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN is a brilliant convergence of extraordinary directing, a masterful screenplay, and incredible ensemble performances. We are also proud to honor the special career achievements of Michael Douglas, Roger Deakins, and Robert Osborne, all of whom are truly gifted and deserving artists.”

Additional awards given by the NBR in 2007 include The BVLGARI Award for NBR Freedom of Expression, which champions the voices of maverick filmmakers. The films that have been selected to receive The BVLGARI Award for NBR Freedom of Expression are THE GREAT DEBATERS, directed by Denzel Washington and PERSEPOLIS, directed by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi. Both films capture the spirit of this award, and both do it in uncompromising and unexpected ways. The 2007 NBR Awards, sponsored by BVLGARI, will be presented at the annual gala on January 15th, 2008 at Cipriani’s 42nd St in New York City.  Once again, the accounting firm of Lutz & Carr tabulated the actual ballots.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW:

Formed in 1909, the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures is dedicated to film, foreign and domestic, as both art and entertainment. The NBR has supported free expression in motion picture arts for over 99 years when, in an effort to avoid government censorship of films, the National Board became the unofficial clearinghouse for new movies. From 1916 into the 1950’s thousands of motion pictures carried the legend “Passed by the National Board of Review” in their main or end titles. To the public, this was the catchphrase of confidence. The organization works to foster commentary on all aspects of film production, to endow scholarships for film students and to underwrite educational film programs and seminars. For more information on the National Board of Review, please visit www.nbrmp.org.

 

ABOUT BVLGARI:

For over a century, BVLGARI has been synonymous with the finest Italian style. Outstanding jewels (in precious and semi precious materials), watches, a vast range of leather goods, silver gifts and perfumes are now coveted by a sophisticated clientele in over 150 countries. Every BVLGARI creation is permeated with a spirit of excellence, hence the attention to detail and the research for absolute quality. As an ultimate tribute to the world of luxury, BVLGARI also opened its first hotel in 2004. The BVLGARI Hotel & Spa in Milan is the jeweler's first five star luxury hotel. The BVLGARI Hotel & Spa in Bali just opened in September 2006, and additional hotels will open across the world's major travel destinations including New York, Paris, and Miami

 

Contact:
Rubenstein Communications, Inc.
Nicole Quenqua Adler (212-843-8288),

nqadler@rubenstein.com

Susie Arons (212-843-8033)

sarons@rubenstein.com

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