First out of the Gate: National Board of Review and Peter Travers
The 2001 Film Awards Season is now officially underway! Unfortunately, it always begins with an organization which has never been a reliable predictor for what films and performances will ultimately end up being nominated for Academy Awards. But they are still worth noting, because for better or worse, they do get certain films and performances noticed early on in the race.
The National Board of Review announced their choices for the best in film for 2001 last week. As had been leaked beforehand, they voted Moulin Rouge as the year's best film. Once again, I feel they have selected a film which really does not have a serious shot at gaining a Best Picture nod, just as their selection Quills did not get a major picture nomination last year. Best Director went to Todd Field for the independent drama In the Bedroom, a somewhat surprising choice. Field's name has not been bandied about for a director nod as much as some of the other heavyweights this year, like Ridley Scott, Ron Howard, Michael Mann, or Lasse Hallstrom. Billy Bob Thornton was voted Best Actor for three films, for the yet-to-be-released but much talked about Monster's Ball, as well as his performances in Bandits and the Coen Brothers film noir The Man Who Wasn't There. Thornton's co-star in Monster's Ball won the Best Actress honor, and I think that nod among all the others in the National Board of Review choices helps her the most. Halle Berry's performance has been getting a lot of buzz, and I think she stands a serious shot at getting a Best Actress nomination. Jim Broadbent won Best Supporting Actor for two films, Moulin Rouge, and the yet-to-be-released Iris. Cate Blanchett was voted the year's Best Supporting Actress for The Man Who Cried, The Shipping News, and The Fellowship of the Ring. She may very well be in contention for the Supporting Actress prize, but my guess will be for Shipping News or The Man Who Cried. Naomi Watts and Hayden Christensen were chosen the year's breakthrough performers, while Shrek won the Board's honor for Best Animated Feature. The Best Screenplay prize went to In The Bedroom.
The National Board of Review, in addition to selecting one film as the year's best, does present a top ten of the year's best films, and here were their choices:
1. Moulin Rouge
2. In The Bedroom
3. Ocean's 11
4. Memento
5. Monster's Ball
6. Black Hawk Down
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