Note: The straitjacketed lunatic pictured is not actually a member of the National Board of Review. We think.
The National Board of Review has released their annual list of film honors, but you’re only allowed to look at it after you read these stories about how the NBR’s is this mysterious organization that doesn’t disclose details about its membership, and just has a history of general shadyness. Okay?
Okay. First, The good: Casey Affleck was recognized for Best Supporting Actor for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (he’s really the lead in that film, but whatever); their list of the top ten films of year includes several titles that truly deserve to be there, including Jesse James, Atonement, and Sweeney Todd (which I’m not seeing until tonight, but I’ve heard almost nothing but good things, and I’m trying to keep this positive).
The Bad, The Inoffensive, and The WTF? after the jump.
The Inoffensive: Most of it, really — that’s sort of the name of NBR’s game. No Country For Old Men is not *my* favorite film of the year, but NBR has committed worse crimes than naming it *their* favorite film of 2007. That’s the way a lot of this goes–I don’t agree, but it’s not so bad that I feel compelled to argue. Except…
The Bad: No sign of There Will Be Blood, which is not exactly an earth shattering surprise, but it does indicate that the Todd McCarthys of the world did irreparable damage by pushing all that “it’s brilliant, but it won’t sell to the hicks and kids” rhetoric early and often. Also, no sign of I’m Not There. Again, it’s not going on my Top Ten list, but can anyone really deny that it’s significant, maybe–just maybe–a little bit more significant than, say, Lars and the Real Girl? Can you really say that Amy Ryan is more worthy of recognition as Best Supporting Actress than Cate Blanchett? I mean, with a straight face?
The WTF?: The Bucket List is one of the ten best films of the year? The greatest directing talent to emerge in the past twelve months is … Ben Affleck? Body of War is both the only non-fiction film AND the only film to deal with the war in Iraq worthy of even a mention? I was never sure I believed the hype, but they really *are* a mysterious cabal of lunatics, aren’t they?
One Comment
I’m a member of the NBR (sort of, well, student, even though I’m not anymore… long story) and I’m consistently left in horror by the comments, questions and tastes of our unimaginative membership, most having been cloistered from the real world in there upper west side four bedroom apartments for millenia, rushing from Q&A’s to meet their 7pm reservations at Isabella’s to discuss just how uplifting “The Great Debaters” was. Anyone remember how “Blood Diamond” was the third best film of the year last year!? I promise you, the average membership is so old, feeble and generally unsavvy, that Ben Affleck is the only new director they can remember from the past 12 months.