Critic Award Winners

The National Board of Review and the Washington D.C. Film Critics have announced their winners.

First Up, The National Board of Review

Best Film: Slumdog Millionaire

Top Ten Films:

Burn After Reading
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Defiance
Frost/Nixon
Gran Torino
Milk
Wall-E
The Wrestler

Best Director: David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Actor: Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
Best Actress: Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Best Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, Milk
Best Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Ensemble Cast: Doubt
Breakthrough Performance by an Actor: Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire
Breakthrough Performance by an Actress: Viola Davis, Doubt
Best Directorial Debut: Courtney Hunt, Frozen River
Best Original Screenplay: Nick Schenk, Gran Torino
Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire and Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Spotlight Award: Melissa Leo, Frozen River and Richard Jenkins, The Visitor


Washington D.C. Film Critics Awards
Best Film: Slumdog Millionaire/Fox Searchlight
Best Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Actor: Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Best Actress: Meryl Streep (Doubt)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Supporting Actress: Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married)
Best Original Screenplay: Jenny Lumet (Rachel Getting Married)
Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Ensemble: Doubt/Miramax
Best Breakthrough: Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire)

I know that the Washington D.C. Critics don't really mean much, but it allows us to see where the critics across the country are going. Right now it is a wise thing to think a few things...

• Slumdog Millionaire is gonna get major nominations including Picture, Adapted Screenplay and maybe even a Director nod.
• Doubt will probably be the front runner for the Best Cast in a Motion Picture award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards
• Dev Patel could get a surprise nomination for Best Supporting Actor
• One major thing, I don't think at this early point of the awards season, that we have a clear frontrunner in ANY of the categories, unlike past years.