NEW YORK (AP) -- "The Hours," starring Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman, is the year's best movie, according to the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.
Based on Michael Cunningham's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the film follows three women in three eras who are all tied to Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway."
Moore also won the board's best-actress award for "Far From Heaven," in which she plays a 1950s New England housewife who learns her husband is gay, then begins a relationship with her black gardener.
Campbell Scott was named the best actor for "Roger Dodger," in which he stars as a shallow womanizer who teaches his nephew about dating during an eventful night in Manhattan.
The group's supporting actor prize went to Chris Cooper for "Adaptation." Cooper co-stars as an eccentric orchid breeder in search of a rare, perfect flower.
Kathy Bates won best supporting actress for "About Schmidt," in which she plays a bohemian divorcee.
Philip Noyce was the group's director of the year for two films: "The Quiet American" and "Rabbit-Proof Fence."
The documentary honor went to "Bowling for Columbine," Michael Moore's examination of America's gun culture.
Pedro Almodovar's "Talk to Her" was the board's choice for best foreign film of the year. The Spanish film follows two men who are in love with women in comas in the same hospital.
Completing the list of the top 10 movies for 2002: "Chicago," "Gangs of New York," "The Quiet American," "Adaptation," "Rabbit-Proof Fence," "The Pianist," "Far From Heaven," "Thirteen Conversations About One Thing" and "Frida."
The National Board of Review awards represent the first step in anticipating Academy Award winners, but they're usually not in step with what Oscar voters prefer.
Last year, board members chose Baz Luhrmann's revisionist musical "Moulin Rouge" as the best movie; the Academy Award for best picture went to Ron Howard's "A Beautiful Mind," a far more traditional pick for its inspirational themes.
And in 2000, "Quills," starring Geoffrey Rush as the Marquis de Sade, was the board's top choice; the best-picture winner was "Gladiator," starring Russell Crowe.
The National Board of Review, made up of teachers, writers, actors and movie production workers, will award the winners at a ceremony January 14 in New York.
...interesting list. I'm hoping to see either Adaptation or Far From Heaven this weekend up in Eugene. I see more movies in December than any other time of the year, the way they load all the 'best' movies toward the end of the year...
Krug
12-04-02, 07:04 PM
Oh is the year over already? Where did December go? :D
das Monkey
12-04-02, 07:35 PM
<BLOCKQUOTE> • Quoth Krug •<HR SIZE=1>Oh is the year over already? Where did December go? :D <HR SIZE=1></BLOCKQUOTE>
:lol: That's the first thing I thought.
das
Goat3001
12-04-02, 08:43 PM
Moulin Rouge in 2001 and Quills in 2000. I can think of movies much better then those. And I know I'm not the only one that thinks so.
movielib
12-04-02, 08:56 PM
I've only seen two of the movies on the list and most of their top ten hasn't even been released in the real world yet. The two I saw would definitely make my top ten also: Thirteen Conversations About One Thing and Far From Heaven. And I doubt I'll see a better performance than Julianne Moore in Far From Heaven this year.
But puhleeeeze, don't tell me The Two Towers will not belong on the top ten list.
Sierra Disc
12-06-02, 02:50 PM
Can't wait to see Far From Heaven this weekend!
As for The Two Towers, I'm sure it'll be on some of the other lists judging by early word of mouth. As always, I take these things with a heavy grain of salt...
kneijst1
12-06-02, 03:38 PM
Moulin Rouge as the BEST in 2001?!?!?!?! hmmmm.... I would say some comments on that, but I think I'll keep them to myself. :)
I too hope(and expect) 2 towers will be on most top 10 lists(probably near or at top of my own).
Coral
12-06-02, 04:20 PM
But puhleeeeze, don't tell me The Two Towers will not belong on the top ten list.
Oh, I didn't realize anyone on this forum has seen TTT yet.
I didn't feel that LOTR deserved to be in any top 10 lists last year.
It was alright for an action/popcorn type film though.
Pants
12-06-02, 06:59 PM
Since the last thread with 20+ posts was closed in favor of this one, I'll ask my question again:
Is the National Board of Review mostly women? Their tastes seem to skew toward the decidedly non-masculine, and also toward the suck. I had high hopes for The Hours, but if it's as mediocre as Quills I'm not interested.
mdc3000
12-06-02, 07:21 PM
no Catch Me If You Can!?!?! Is there any way to find out if the National Board of Review even got to see this flick??
MATT
movielib
12-06-02, 07:47 PM
Originally posted by Coral
Oh, I didn't realize anyone on this forum has seen TTT yet.
Which is why I used the future tense.:)
I didn't feel that LOTR deserved to be in any top 10 lists last year.
It was alright for an action/popcorn type film though.
-ohbfrank-
;)
Grimfarrow
12-07-02, 02:08 AM
If it makes the LOTR fans feel better, Fellowship of the Ring was also not in the Top 10 list of the NBR last year. Yet, it still went on to become nominated for Best Film at the Oscars.
Frank TJ Mackey
12-07-02, 03:47 AM
Campbell Scott won for "Roger Dodger" so I'm happy.
Nicole Kidman is almost unrecognizable in "The Hours".
nice job with the prosthetic nose
cooper2000
12-07-02, 05:33 AM
Lord of the Rings a popcorn flick?
XXX and Armaggedon maybe, but I think LOTRs stands out as much more than mindless fluff that most Popcorn movies are.
As far as Moulin Rouge goes, that's a debate that can never be won. Its a love it or hate it movie and I remember the I Love/I Hate Boards last year at this time.
As far as the Hours goes, how can you miss with three extremely talented actresses like that?
As it says on Entertainment Weekly this week, Julianne Moore has two very good chances of winning an Oscar this year and I couldnt be happier.
I thought she was great in Far From Heaven and I am sure she wont dissapoint in The Hours.
"Pants," because TNBOR gives the award to a movie that has three women in the cast automatically makes you assume that the board consists of Woman?
What would you like to see on the list, Die Another Day????!!!????
Coral
12-07-02, 12:12 PM
Originally posted by cooper2000
Lord of the Rings a popcorn flick?
XXX and Armaggedon maybe, but I think LOTRs stands out as much more than mindless fluff that most Popcorn movies are.
Day????!!!????
Actually, you're correct.
Calling it an action/popcorn flick was being a little hasty, since XXX and such fit in that category much better.
Perhaps the LOTR books show many more layers to the story, and has a much deeper meaning (I don't know, I've never read the books)... but the film didn't come across the same way.
It was an action/adventure/fantasy film that the average movie-goer could just sit and enjoy for the visuals, action and simple storyline.
I don't consider it a real think-piece, but it's miles ahead of films like XXX and Armageddon.
NitroJMS
12-08-02, 01:52 AM
Originally posted by Coral
Actually, you're correct.
Calling it an action/popcorn flick was being a little hasty, since XXX and such fit in that category much better.
Perhaps the LOTR books show many more layers to the story, and has a much deeper meaning (I don't know, I've never read the books)... but the film didn't come across the same way.
It was an action/adventure/fantasy film that the average movie-goer could just sit and enjoy for the visuals, action and simple storyline.
I don't consider it a real think-piece, but it's miles ahead of films like XXX and Armageddon.
I found Fellowship of the Ring to be a boring, soulless action movie that wasn't moving on any emotional level other than for giddy fan boys. I much preferred Moulin Rouge, Amelie, and A Beautiful Mind.
cooper2000
12-08-02, 04:17 PM
I didnt like A Beautiful Mind at all. It was a drama that tried too hard to be mind provoking. It was laughable.
RichC2
12-08-02, 06:49 PM
Anyone care to share why Moulin Rouge was so popular? I found it to be incredibly annoying, flamboyant, awkward, and often times - painful (most enduced from the cringe worthy singing), boring, and downright stupid. Ooh and the songs were downright horrible. It deserves credit in art design and creativity, but outside of that, it was a complete mess.
*shudders are the memorance of the movie*
Guess it'll remain one of the many mysteries of the world for uh... me.
That being said, The Hours and Adaptation seem to share a bit in common, which I guess is kind of interesting.
Oh and Regardless if something gets nominated - you know you like it, and that should be good enough... If I had my choice Mulholland Drive and Black Hawk Down would have been in the Best Picture nominations along with Lord of the Rings, A Beautiful Mind (I found it occasionally boring but saw a good bit of quality to it.), and well - didn't like Gosford, didn't see In the Bedroom, and couldn't stand Moulin Rouge.
But then, I'm just a moviegoer who likes movies for being movies :)
Pants
12-09-02, 12:35 PM
Originally posted by cooper2000
"Pants," because TNBOR gives the award to a movie that has three women in the cast automatically makes you assume that the board consists of Woman?
What would you like to see on the list, Die Another Day????!!!???? Not just because of The Hours, but also Mulan Suck and Quills from last year and the year before. These are all womens pictures.
Sierra Disc
12-09-02, 12:54 PM
I can't say I saw "Quills" as a women's picture. Sure, Kate Winslet was in it and there was a far amount of hankypanky, but Geoffrey Rush and Joaquin Phoenix were the focus of the story. I didn't think it was a classic but I enjoyed it, but I'm just wondering what makes you think it's a "women's picture"? Care to expand?
Pants
12-09-02, 01:32 PM
A movie doesn't have to have an all female cast to be a women's picture. Quills was just the perfect blend of prurient titilation and explicit teasing so as to be popular with 40 year old women. Nothing "too adult" like Salo, and nothing "too childish" like Jackass. Just the right amount of sadism so as not to offend the middlebrows.
Also no one has provided any evidence to prove my hunch (about these being all or mostly women) one way or the other. But I'll bet I'm right
Buy: