No Country for Old Men Named Best Flick

By:OK! Staff

Dec. 5 2007, Published 9:39 a.m. ET

Drug bust drama No Country for Old Men took top honors from the National Board of Review Wednesday afternoon, officially kicking off the 2007-08 award season.

The critically acclaimed flick, which stars Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin, also earned the ensemble cast award and an adapted screenplay mention for writers and directors Joel and Ethan Coen.

Other films in the top ten include Atonement, The Bourne Identity, Juno and Sweeney Todd, which won Best Director for the ever-quirky Tim Burton.

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In the acting categories, Oscar winner George Clooney won for his turn in Michael Clayton and the esteemed Julie Christie took best actress for Away From Her. Gone Baby Gone's Amy Ryan and Casey Affleck triumphed in the supporting categories — but "it" boy Casey's win was for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

There is much to celebrate in the Affleck household though — big bro Ben scored Best Directorial Debut for Gone Baby Gone; however, the crime drama was mysteriously left off the top ten film list.

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A 98-year-old film organization, the NBR serves as the first precursor award for the Oscars. Last year, its lead acting and directing champs Forest Whitaker, Helen Mirren and Martin Scorsese all went onto Oscar glory. Letters From Iwo Jima, last year's best film in their eyes, fell to The Departed at Kodak Theater though.

Awards will be handed out at the Jan. 15 ceremony.

Here is the full list of winners: