Below is a full list of the awards given by the National Board of Review:
• Best Film: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
• 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: PENELOPE CRUZ, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• Best Foreign Language Film: MONGOL
• Best Documentary: MAN ON WIRE
• Best Animated Feature: WALL-E
• 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
• The BVLGARI Award for NBR Freedom of Expression: TRUMBO
• Top Ten Films:
(In alphabetical order)
BURN AFTER READING
CHANGELING
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
DEFIANCE
FROST/NIXON
GRAN TORINO
MILK
WALL-E
THE WRESTLER
• Top Five Foreign Language Films:
(In alphabetical order)
EDGE OF HEAVEN
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
ROMAN DE GUERRE
A SECRET
WALTZ WITH BASHIR
• Top Five Documentary Films
(In alphabetical order)
AMERICAN TEEN
THE BETRAYAL (NERAKHOON)
DEAR ZACHARY
ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD
ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED
• William K. Everson Film History Award: MOLLY HASKELL and ANDREW SARRIS
164 Responses for "National Board of Review announces 2008 winners"
Clint Eastwood as Best Actor….I can just imagine the chatter this is going to cause! I, for one, can’t wait to see it now!
Bleahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Did they scrap the Top 10 Independent Films list??
Clint Eastwood for Best Actor. There’s a surprise.
Benjamin Button is my most anticipated film this year, so I’m glad to see the love.
And as a fan of Let the Right One In it’s nice to see acknowledgement for it in the foreign category.
Defiance. I called that.
More surprised at the love for Gran Torino though.
No Doubt, The Reader or Revolutionary Road in the top 10 list ?
I actually think I might be sick. Eastwood wins a prize for acting. lol.
And two citations in the top 10 ? WTF
Oh. My. God.
GRAN TORINO? GRAN TORINO?
This is more or less what I wrote a few hours after a screening on Tuesday evening:
Let’s get two things out of the way immediately: 1) Gran Torino should not be a Best Picture candidate, and 2) Clint Eastwood should not be a Best Actor candidate. The film is a real old-school Warner Bros. potboiler, down to the telltale use of the black-and-white WB logo at the beginning of the film and during the end credits, the kind of vehicle Cagney, Bogart and Davis starred in all too often back in the day: a working-class comedy/drama. The cinematography, editing and ensemble acting are workmanlike, as you would find in an excellent movie for cable. And Mr. Eastwood does a great job undermining his iconic stature, as he has been doing for almost–wow–twenty years now. He curses, he growls, he mocks himself at every turn, but none of this makes the performance award-caliber, especially when he actually manages to overact while underacting. That is not to say that he doesn’t command the screen and thoroughly entertain. I haven’t heard the audience laugh this much in an Eastwood film since he carried an orangutan around.
Oh, yeah, in case I wasn’t clear: Gran Torino is a controversial (i.e., politically incorrect), crude, foulmouthed comedy with flashes of “drama” and sentimentality. For the most part, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. And that’s a very good thing, because it is least satisfying when the melodrama is in the foreground. Of course someone is trying to tell us it’s an action-drama–check out the IMDb listing–which is a load of crap. All those dark and shadowy posters with a scowling Eastwood, sometimes holding a rifle, do not do the film justice and are plain misleading. Eastwood the director and Eastwood the actor have a much more interesting and irreverent take on their material: Just because a film deals with racism, culture clash and violence, it doesn’t have to be another Crash, Babel or American History X. And this irreverence is why Gran Torino will likely make it to my Top 20 of 2008. And why, if properly marketed, it should make Warner Bros. a lot of money. There’s crossover appeal in them thar hills. But this is ground that has already been covered — and better, I might add, on cable TV (The Sopranos, Rescue Me, The Shield, etc.)
Gran Torino does deserve one Oscar nomination, for the original song “Gran Torino,” written by Eastwood, his son Kyle and Jamie Cullum. It plays over the end credits and is a gem. Clint sings the first verse, Cullum the rest.
No Kate? No Leo? No Reader or Rev Road? Where’s the love?
Thrilled for Penelope and Brolin!
Nice to see TORINO, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, DOUBT and THE WRESTLER recognized.
May the inevitable “Heath was robbed!” complaints begin.
I don’t think these voters saw all the films. I guess they wanted Clint to come to the awards ceremony really bad. Changeling and Gran Torino? And Milk barely acknowledged?
I don’t think these awards tell us anything this year. Too early in the year.
Dear God….could the NBR lick Eastwood’s butt anymore?
Not only giving him Best Actor, but putting BOTH of his freaking films on the Top 10?????
Total shock that “Revolutionary Road” and “The Reader” were left off….I think “Slumdog Millionaire” (TOTALLY unworthy – but whatever) will walk off easily with Best Picture.
They REALLY love Clint Eastwood, even some room for the mediocre “Changeling” in their top 10.
Biggest snub? Maybe “Revolutionary Road”?
Heath Ledger fans should relax- he will do better with the LA and NY film critics, I bet!
**snore***
Heath was robbed!
lol.
One thing I can’t tell from the Gran Torino trailer though I suspect it: Is this about a white bigot who finally changes his ways and saves his Asian neighbors? Because that could be offensive in a BIG way.
Burn After Reading?!?!?!
No Revolutionary Road or The Reader love.
Nice to see Viola Davis recognized but she should have won best supporting actress over Cruz.
Brolin over Ledger?!?!?!
Holy sh*t! I just realized Clint for Actor! TERRIBLE!
Jesus. Absolutely all my hunchs are wrong, deadly wrong.
No Gomorra.
Mongol (hate it)!
No Revolutionary Road. No Reader.
Boy, do they love Clint.
Yeah, it’s really cool to see the acknowledgement for Let The One Right In.
Erik – “Burn After Reading” was actually great stuff……Totally deserving in my opinion…..
Both Changeling and Gran Torino being in the top 10 is really disgusting…
Changeling was by far one of the worst films of the year for me.
Whatever, let’s not forget they said “The Bucket List” last year.
The only relevance here is Anne Hathaway’s victory. Perhaps the Best Actress race is EVEN MORE wide open than we thought it was!!! Leo, Jolie, Hathaway, Streep, Blanchett, Winslet, Scott-Thomas and Hawkins ALL seem like FAIR GAME at this point!!!
What happened to A Christmas Tale and I’ve Loved You So Much? Or Tell No One.
These awards really don’t mean much, but it’s fun to see some of their offbeat choices. “WALL-E” in the top 11! Yay!
Am I the only person to notice that Slumdog won Best Picture but was not on their Top 10 (there are 10 films there – I checked to make certain)?
Daveylow (#14): in a word, yes.
I know Melissa Leo is supposed to be great in Frozen River, which I haven’t seen — but I’m bummed that Michelle Williams’ stellar performance in Wendy and Lucy is going to go unnoticed because Leo is sure to pick up all the Indie-mentions….
Also — am I the only one that thinks Hathaway didn’t do anything all that special in Rachel Getting Married?
Heath Ledger DIDN’T WIN BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR?!?!? BLASPHEMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Though I’m glad to see The Dark Knight in the top ten, Burn After Reading and Changeling also made the list? I think I’m gonna puke…
No [REC] ? No A Outra Margem ? No Winslet ? No Jolie ? hmmm…
Oh my God, it gets worse…
I just realised Gran Torino also took the Best Original Screenplay.
Someone pinch me so I can wake from this nightmare…
Nice, passionate write-up on Gran Torino, Paul.
Keep in mind, everyone, that last year the NBR had The Bucket List on their Top 10 list.
Eastwood (CHANGELING and GRAN TORINO) and Zwick (DEFIANCE) -as always. NBR is BORING!!!
More evidence of a messier awards season this year than last year.
Also, add my voice again, of course, to the chorus of approval for Let The Right One in.
The guy who wrote the Gran Torino script is clearly stuck in the film school, pedantic, manipulative, “controversial” style of filmmaking. Pathetic. Watch this be the first of many wins. I can’t wait to curse when WGA nominates him, too >.<.
How did Rachel Getting Married NOT make the Top 10? It better have made the Top 10 indie list, IF they did one this year.
But yeah, it’s been discussed that NBR has an Eastwoody. For real. I mean, how else to explain the random 2006 win?
It’s either the beginning of a trend for this season or just a complete disconnect.
You cant go by NBR…They named Edward Zwick Best Director for THE LAST SAMURAI and that didnt even get major Oscar nominations
Josh Brolin???
Over Heath Ledger? No way!!!
These winners SUCK big time.
CLINT EASTWOOD wins an award for acting for looking pretty much the same in another overrated performance? Come on! And no way ANNE HATHAWAY gives the best female performance this year! And Josh Brolin over Heath Ledger or Michael Shannon! GRAN TORINO for screenplay! You’re really ?????
Since this gets asked every year, the NBR does a ‘TOP TEN’ list which excludes their BEST FILM winner. So, essentially it’s a 2-11 list…
burn after reading? really?!?
but i think this was a big step for josh brolin in getting the nomination…i would put him third or fourth on my prediction board (if i had one). good for anne hathaway for winning, i think she has the fourth spot behind meryl cate and kate. but i am surprised that they did not put rachel getting married on the top 10 list. and as for the whole clint eastwood debacle, i can only say this: every year seems more and more like his last to make movies. i think its just time for us to acknowledge that most critics groups just want to honor him because they are under that assumption.
No Valkyrie???
Just kidding…
But I just hope they won´t award Clint Eastwood again, he is way overrated with nearly all of his movies, a nice guy- yes, but does he deserve oscar number 5? No-fucking-way!
At least The Dark Knight and WALL-E made the Top-10. I’m thrilled!
Slumdog and all four of the acting winners seem like pretty safe bets now. Viola Davis, too (breakthrough? really? they haven’t noticed her before?).
I’m not counting out Revolutionary Road or The Reader yet, but at this point I’d say the main six contenders for Best Picture are:
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. Milk
3. Gran Torino
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
5. Frost/Nixon
6. The Dark Knight
Thanks, Alison.
And now I’m just going to take a deep breath, since I’m starting to hate Gran Torino and that was not how I felt when I walked out of the theater.
Let me count my blessings:
Best Film: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (it could have been GRAN TORINO)
Best Director: DAVID FINCHER, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Breakthrough Performance by an Actress: VIOLA DAVIS, Doubt
(Six of the) Top Ten Films:
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
FROST/NIXON
MILK
WALL-E
THE WRESTLER
No, Revolutonary Road, Reader, or Doubt ?
Guess , it’s true ‘money can buy you anything’ ; but fortunately not respect.’
To Danny :
Yeah… I like Anne Hathaway, I really do… But I wasn’t blown away by her performance in Rachel getting married… It was just okay for me.
I’m honestly pissed to not see Revolutionary Road at all on there. It was by far my favorite film of the season, and was something transcendent and absolutely beautiful. The only film I’ve ever seen to truly capture a novel on screen. UGHHHHH.
these are the top indie films. for some reason the NBR didn’t put the list in their main page. whatever…
2008: Top Independent Films:
(In alphabetical order) FROZEN RIVER, IN BRUGES, IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS, MR. FOE, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, SNOW ANGELS, SON OF RAMBOW, WENDY AND LUCY, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, THE VISITOR
No ‘TRANSIBERIAN’ for independent film? FUCK THAT
Clint Eastwood as best actor for “Gran Torino”? Why every movie with or directed by Mr. Eastwood has to be awarded? This is absolutely unacceptable, a freaky decision that I can’t understand. I honestly hope “Gran Torino”will not be taken into consideration by the Academy….
In my opinion it is also an excessive acknowledgement to consider Ms. Cruz as the best supporting actress of the year. I agree she does a good job in “Vicky Christina Barcelona”, but she must be extremely thankful to the character she plays (María Elena) in the film, as at least 75% of the award belongs to the character itself and not to her performance.
I have always thought that a good actor is an actor who is sublime not only when facing remarkable characters but also when dealing with insubstantial characters. The problem with Ms. Cruz is that she is only correct (and not always) when dealing with those characters which seem to have been written to provide its performer with an award, regardless who is the above-mentioned performer.
For those who have followed Ms. Cruz’s Spanish career, it is clear that she is not a good actress (exception made of her collaborations with Mr. Pedro Almodóvar), and that on the contrary, she is one of the worst actresses worldwide.
In fact, Cruz had always been considered as a bad actress (everybody seems to have forgotten that Ms. Cruz was a contender in the Razzie race) until “Volver” and Almodóvar appeared. But one good performance in a career means nothing, at least to me.
To sum up, I am very dissapointed with NBR this year. Where are Heath Ledger, Kate Winslet, Sean Penn, “Revolutionary Road”, “The Reader”, Meryl Streep, “Frost/Nixon”, “MilK”, Mickey Rourke and even “Australia”?
As I have still not had the chance to watch “Slumdog millionaire”, I only admit NBR is right when awarding Fincher and “The curious case of Benjamin Button”, Hathaway, Brolin, “Doubt”, Richard Jenkins and “Frozen River”. The rest is pure garbage.
Where is Kate Winslet?
Ahhh, THERE’s Rachel Getting Married. And I had totally forgotten about Son of Rambow!
Bravo PENELOPE!!!!!
This is just the firts award!!!!
OMG, people here really didn’t like Clint nowadays. Guess the guy should a vacation before start doing movies again; maybe they will miss and the love returns somehow.
Prop 8 The musical!
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0cf508ff8/prop-8-the-musical-starring-jack-black-john-c-reilly-and-many-more-from-fod-team-jack-black-craig-robinson-john-c-reilly-and-rashida-jones
That should cheer everyone up just a little bit.
Excuse me, but Josh Brolin’s performance does not at any point in the film or even seen overall, compare to Heath Ledger’s at any point in The Dark Knight or seen everall.
I mean, come on!!
Nice to see Anne Hathaway win! Her performance was sufficient to win something, but it wasn’t necessary for her to win.
Proud that a film about Mumbai has a great chance this awards season. Although, after the atrocities that have happened there, and all over India recently, I can’t feel joyful about my city or about the chatter it is receiving.
Gran Torino wins screenplay?!
Mongol, really? Even as an amatuer historian, don’t know about that choice.
Slumdog…YAY!
Burn After Reading is an awful choice.
Australia should be a top ten film. Most underrated film of the year. Shame. Maybe time will show its greatness.
Burn After Reading has no business being on this list. None whatsoever. The same with Changeling.
I love Brolin but no win for Heath Ledger is borderline depressing. Thankfully The Dark Knight is on their list.
The only problem I have with that is that with all the wonderful films that came out this year they think BURN AFTER READING is one of they year’s 10 best. I love the Coen Bros., and fully accept that the unpredicatibility of their creation results in output of erratic quality, but that movie was terrible! Frozen River? Iron Man? The Visitor? Anything but that!
2 things bug me.
No Australia.
And why is Burn After Reading on this list?
This list is embarrassing. Could they be more up Clint’s bum?
@ Joao (#49):
Amazement, Shock, Horror, Disgust ≠ Hate.
awarding both Clint’s movies is boring. and is he really a better actor than penn in “milk”, hard to believe.
SaltireFlower, my thoughts exactly.
I was also hoping Kate Winslet would pick some momentum. Between this and vote splitting/category placement confusion this is turning in to a bit of a mess.
Prop. 8: The Musical is love <3.
Also, word to whoever mentioned The Bucket List. Thanks for reminding me how retarded these SOBs are ^_^.
Boy, did I LOVE the NBR’s this year. I find it funny people saying Heath Ledger was “robbed”. First, Josh Brolin was spectacular in “Milk” and he deserved this award. Second, Heath doesn’t need an NBR award. Period. He’s already going to show up within the five nominees for Supporting Actor (hopefully, alongside Brolin).
Although I particularly don’t care for “Slumdog Millionaire”, I did like seeing “Benjamin Button” coming in a close second. I mean, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Top 10 Movies of the Year…WOW! AS if I wasn’t so excited already!
Clint Eastwood is a genius and I really liked seeing him winning a Best Actor award and “Gran Torino” walking away with the Best Original Screenplay. Looking forward to it. As for “Changeling”….guys, it wasn’t a bad movie. It might’ve not been one of the 10 best of the year, but it wasn’t bad. It was good, actually.
As for other awards: really liked Penelope Cruz being awarded for her scene-stealing performance in the great Vicky Cristina Barcelona, would’ve been happier if Cate Blanchett won the Best Actress award, but Anne Hathaway was great also, and was also thrilled to see “Wall-E” in two major categories.
I’m so happy to see Anne Hathaway and Courtney Hunt be recognized for their brilliant work this year. Two of my favourite things so far this year have been Hathway’s performance in Rachel Getting Married and Hunt’s screenplay and direction for Frozen River.
Clint Eastwood over Mickey Rourke??? I have not seen a finer performance this year then the one Rourke gave in Aronofsky’s, The Wrestler..
The NBR’s Top 5 Docs will beat the Oscar’s Top 5, because 3 of their choices are not even on the Oscar’s short list.
I’m surprised by the Clint win. In the trailer he seems to be giving a variant on a performance and characterization we’re seen before in what appears a formulaic film (even not taking itself too seriously is part of its predictability). Which Paul’s interesting observations further confirm. I’m sure Clint is excellent, but why reward something so familiar when many male leads have delivered powerful performances in more innovative, ambitious films?
But I completely agree with the others that have pointed out that Burn After Reading does not deserve to be on the list. Especially coming on the heels of No Country for Old Men, that movie was a major disappointment.
Oscar’s Best Picture will be
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Also…where’s Sally Hawkins from “Happy Go-Lucky.” Where are Alexis Zegerman and Eddie Marsan? Actually, where’s “Happy Go-Lucky”?
Sartre, I don’t know what is more astonishing: The Top 10 inclusion for both Eastwood outings, the Best Actor prize or the Best Original Screenplay prize. When I think of some of the male performances and some of the scripts brought to the screen this year…
I absolutely loved Burn After Reading. Now, whether it’s one of the top 10 films of the year is another story. I thought it was hilarious and had a lot of high-caliber performances, but I wouldn’t expect it to win many premier awards.
Boo @ Harmonica.
Good…now we can remove Australia out of our minds for good.
Paul-
Couldn’t agree more. All this love for Clint is baffling. I walked out on Changeling and Torino looks conventional and un-surprising from the trailer.
Surely Milk or Rachel or The Visitor’s scripts are better.
WHAT………THE……….F….U….C….K………..????????
After the BVLGARI Award for NBR Freedom of Expression, I forgot to add the CHANEL Award for NBR’s Most Fragrant Farts: Clint Eastwood.
No one is talking about Slumdog winning. What do you guys think?
WHAT THE FUCK? This shit sucks sooooo bad. Slumdog Millionaire better be mad good. Seriously, where the hell is Revolutionary Road? And if Clint wins an Oscar I’m going to be PISSED.
Good news and bad news from the NBR choices.
The good news for me is that Anne Hathaway won for best actress. I haven’t seen all the eligible female lead performances, of course, but I thought Hathaway was amazingly good in Rachel Getting Married. It’s not an easy thing to pull off a character like that–there are moments you want to strangle her, moments you cringe for her, moments you ache for her.
I know I shouldn’t judge until I’ve seen the movie, but I’m also disappointed by all the Clint love. It’s not that I dislike or hate Clint. However, there is something that is starting to feel kneejerk and freakish about Clint being handed an award any time he’s within ten feet of a movie camera. Too many people uncritically drinking the Clint Koolaid, is my point.
Now if he gives a performance for the ages in Gran Torino, I’ll happily eat my words. But why do I feel like I won’t be dining on my own purple prose anytime soon?
SOOOO happy that Ledger didn’t win supporting and that RR didn’t get nominated….I was wishing the film wouldn’t go anywhere. I found it pretty ridiculous how everyone was predicting ledger for every f^&&& award.
SO…all the Eastwood love is kinda vomit inducing. I have nothing against him. But really a Best Actor AND Best Screenplay win? That’s a little uncalled for. I could’ve even dealt with the inclusion of “Chageling” and “Gran Torino” in the Top 10 if it hadn’t been for those two wins. Seriously, while i haven’t seen “Gran Torino” yet, that trailer did nothing to help matters. I don’t understand HOW both Mickey Rouke and Sean Penn were left out. And seriously anything wouldn’ve been better than a “Gran Torino” screenplay win.
The distinct lack of “Revolutionary Road” is strange. While they may not have seen “The Reader”. I’m sure they would’ve screened RR, and not even a Top 10 inclusion is highly questionable.
While the Heath ledger loss hurts like a papercut in between the thumb and index finger, we must all remember that no actor wins every award. I think with the exception of Helen Mirren in “The Queen”, no one else has really dominated an acting category recently. So a little healthy competition from Josh Brolin is welcome. It just better start coming up green hair and whites faces soon.
Something I still don’t understand is how personally so many people who frequent these sites take things like this. Like somehow your personal taste is being attacked because an awards group, or group of critics or whatever snubbed your favorite film or your favorite performance. I thought the original purpose (and fun) of websites like this was making attempts at awards prognostication. It seems by reading most of your responses that far too many people treat this as therapy of some kind. I’m not saying people can’t disagree I’m just saying that I thought the purpose was to have fun trying to figure out what happens next. If that’s not the point then I admit my error and regardless I mean no offense. I just think people should try having a little more fun as opposed to going on the attack.
Crap winners, obviously rigged results. Nice to see NBR continuing the tradition.
I’m surprised by the relative ease with which the Ledger fans are taking the news that he didn’t win the National Board of Bullspit prize, as if that is some great honour in itself.
Seriously though, Ledger did not give the one and only male supporting performance of the year. It is unlikely he will win every single acting award under the sun from this day on until the end of the season. He may not even win all of the big three (NSFC, NYFCC, LAFCA). Just accept that possibility and you don’t have to lose your collective sh*t whenever someone else is recognized.
PS: I’m also predicting now that Slumdog Millionaire is likely going to be the movie to beat right now and is the likely frontrunner. While it faces competion from others, no other movie is really giving it MUCH competition. And a feel good movie in a feel good political year can really make a differance. Something to consider.
Second year in a row that NBR leaves off perhaps the most transcendent film of the season.
I dont feel so discouraged though, as I am sure that Revolutionary Road will be right there in the end same as TWBB was last year.
Also, not discouraged because Im certain more than any other award that Heath is a WIN LOCK. Book it.
Can someone please point out that Slumdog Millionaire was a touching mediocre film at best? Call me a hater but I can think of a handful of other non-contending films that were better. I just don’t get the love this film is receiving.
aka Mr. Tibbs, I completely agree with your post.
Cool down, folks, for real.
I still have my favorites. One of them is ‘Australia’. I’m not b*$*%ng because it didn’t show up.
I think Slumdog’s success here will be telling for the rest of the year.
I have not seen in yet, but my friend has and says it is by far his favorite film this year by a margin (over Wall-E and then Dark Knight).
Jesus – you are EXACTLY right….I actually disliked it intensely.
Hey, everyone!!! See, Mumbai is AWESOME!!! Whoops…..don’t mind the 30 million people, stepping over dead dogs in the roadway, and stepping in human sh_it 30 times a day…..we have a real love story that is totally believable, guys and the questions on the Millionaire show are so totally NOT BS!!! Jeez……
Yeah, Slumdog Millionaire was a B- movie at best. A fine crowd pleaser with some above par direction, but nothing transcendant and certainly not Best Picture material. There are at least 10 other films more worthy of Best Picture. Those who love this film should not be allowed to vote for awards.
Having just seen Vicky Cristina Barcelona last night (it opens here in Australia at Xmas) I have to say I am puzzled by all this Oscar buzz and critical love for Penelope Cruz. Yes she is fine in the movie, a bit of fire, but not that special. Then again, I wasn’t blown away by Volver either.
More evidence of a messier awards season this year than last year.
dan,seeing how i don’t have any big interest/fave films in this years whatever(ok a few things i’ve yet to see) but messier is better. well better for me to read about and see how things develope than than seeing the same 2 films or actors or whatever just put a lock in it. and when every damn thing. every damn award. so i want it abit messier. this could be fun.
gimme chaos….
and dlen, i sooooo agree with you on the cruz. thing. so agree…
This season has not started and I already hate it.
CLINT EASTWOOD – for another mediocre performance in another pretentious, awful film???!
ANNE HATHAWAY for RACHEL GETTING MARRIED??? if you wanted a surprise – KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS or MELLISA LEO!!!
And SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is an overrated film.
But GRAN TORINO for screenplay really pisses me off.
I want REALLY GREAT FILMS to be rewarded – MILK, THE VISITOR, DOUBT (yeah, it’s very good!)…
“ANNE HATHAWAY for RACHEL GETTING MARRIED??? if you wanted a surprise – KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS or MELLISA LEO!!!”
None of those three qualify as a surprise. They are all much-talked-about contenders.
On a different topic, I think we need to step back our expectations for Slumdog Millionaire. It’s an extremely likely nominee (never say “lock”…), but it faces an uphill battle for the win because it has no realistic chance at an acting nomination. It takes a real juggernaut to win Best Picture without any nominated actors, and the movies that do manage it are usually big ol’ epics.
ross- the fire of new rage/the keyboard is screaming…
Ross, you haven’t even seen Gran Torino yet. You never know, it might be a REALLY GREAT FILM after all.
I like all the NBR’s choices, save for one: I saw Slumdog last week and absolutely didin’t like it. Didn’t care what happened to the characters and couldn’t get behind the final act. Apparently, the are a lot of people who don’t feel the same way I do about the movie, which oughta make this a very frustrating race for me as a fan.
This announcement solidifies a few things in my opinion when look at the Oscars.
1-Slumdog is now a lock for Best Picture
2-Benjamin Button is a lock as well with Fincher winning Best Director.
Both of those points above may not be earth shattering, but I still wasn’t convinced Slumdog would really end up being in the final five when the announcements came. Now I’ll be shocked if it’s not.
3-Cruz is the frontrunner for supporting actress win, also not surprising.
4-Doubt could get three acting noms, maybe four, and not earn a Best Pic nom. Wouldn’t shock me.
5-Doubt is out of the picture for Best Pic since it wasn’t mentioned in the top ten. I know there have been years that films have made it to the final five and not been in the top ten for the NBR, but I just don’t see Doubt being one of them.
This list sucks in a big way but bennefits Rachel Getting Married and Dev Patel
Oh, actually one, just one of my hunchs were right: Button for adapted screenplay.
I still can’t believe in Mongol’s victory.
Once more: dear Clint, take a vacation (not my personal desire, though), people are tired of seeing you releasing films and getinh awardedfor them. Also, I guess, people are tired of Angeline Jolie; therefore “Changeling” dissapointig box office (suspect good numbers for Wanted are more for the movie himself, than her capability of attracting public).
“2-Benjamin Button is a lock as well with Fincher winning Best Director.”
Careful there. The NBR’s Best Director award has been a notorious kiss of death in the past. Observe:
2007: Tim Burton, SWEENEY TODD
2004: Michael Mann, COLLATERAL
2003: Edward Zwick, THE LAST SAMURAI
2002: Philip Noyce, THE QUIET AMERICAN/RABBIT-PROOF FENCE
There are exceptions, of course–Ang Lee and Martin Scorsese, most recently. But oddly, winners in this category seem to have a tendency to be Oscar also-rans.
[/devil's advocate]
I think changeling was a good film. Maybe not the Best of the year but Jolie’s performance is surprising. She definitely showed off her acting chops and made me see her as a serious Actress.
As for Clint? I think he’s a bit overrated in the acting department but i haven’t watched Gran Torinno yet. Maybe he’s really good? I think Sean Penn was fantastic in MILK.
I enjoyed Slumdog Millionaire I hope it gets at least an Oscar nomination.
Josh Brolin is one of my favorite Actors. happy for him.
To those in the minority of not liking ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (when the rest of the world and critics love it) … I feel your pain.
Last year I watched lNo Country for Old Men’ win everything left & right, and I did not like that movie, at all.
FANTASTIC NEWS: WALL-E AND THE DARK KNIGHT ARE ON THE TOP 10!
I AGREE WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS ALREADY PREDICTED THE FIVE BEST PIC NOMINEES:
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
FROST/NIXON
MILK
THE DARK KNIGHT
AND IF ONE OF THOSE SHOULDN’T HIT TOP 5, UNFORTUNATELY IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE DARK KNIGHT!U-N-F-O-R-T-U-N-A-T-E-L-Y … hopefully this thing won’t happen! Let’s keep our fingers crossed!
I just hope WALL-E being in the top 10 here will keep it’s hopes alive. Please God don’t let it get ghetto-ized out of Best Picture…
@David
“…the most transcendent film of the season.”
Which do you mean? Revolutionary Road?
ok ok ok….
so…. GOOD for Slumdog Millionaire
Josh Brolin over Ledger???? are you fucking kidding me…
Anne Hatthaway over the KCates and Streep????
Mongol over Gomorra?????
And im not even going to bother with all the GRAN TORINO/ CLINT EASTWOOD ass kissing…. that list was fucking lame….
what happened to REVOLUTIONARY ROAD????
This may sound too stupid, it’s just that I’m still amazed at how this whole thing of awards works. But isn’t it contradictory to the essence of any award to honor 21 movies as best/top films of the year (best/top ten/independent top ten)? How can you “out-stand” of anything if everything around is already outstanding? (sounded clearer in my head).
Happy for Cruz and Burn After Reading (yes, I liked that one. And Leatherheads too
Right to the point:
Since THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON is going to win best picture – it simply is, and I don’t like the film, but nothing has a chance against it – I think the only suspense is if Heath Ledger is going to win. And I don’t think he’s as locked as many folks believe – sorry to be cold, but dead men don’t campaign, and that makes all the difference in many cases. Josh Brolin is a great example of someone who’s been on such a great ride over the past 2 years it’d be tough to bet against him no matter who his competition is.
Regarding ‘Mongol’: I thought it was a great movie. And I’m happy to see it pop up here, quite randomly.
Here’s the highlights
-Slumdog DID deserve to win the NBR and I absolutely called that
-Heath not winning is a shock but I don’t think it means all that much. Brolin needs the momentum (and deserves it), Heath is a lock any way you look at it
-Thank GOD for the absence of Revolutionary Road. I would’ve liked to have seen Doubt in the top 10, but I’m not too saddened by its exclusion because of its ensemble win.
-Frost/Nixon is now the only film fighting with RR and TR, Doubt is out.
-Burn After Reading is an excellent and totally misunderstood film. You need to watch it from the right perspective or it will be lost on you.
-Fincher’s win seems nice, especially because I sort of expected Danny Boyle to take it. Both are auteurs unnominated so it would be nice to see them both at the ceremony.
-I don’t understand the whole Gran Torino thing, the trailer is not very good, though I haven’t seen it. All I can say is, I didn’t like Million Dollar Baby but LOVED Clint’s performance. I hated Flags of Our Fathers but thought that Letters From Iwo Jima was the best film of the 2006. With that in mind, I don’t think we should all be dismissing Gran Torino
-I’m happy to see The Wrestler on there as I love Aronofsky. I was supposed to see that tonight or The Reader but now I can’t go to either. Oh well
What’s next?
no MERYL STREEP ?
what happened in this award ?
MERYL STREEP is absolutely brilliant in DOUBT !!!
Er, um, they do this by tables. Maybe even more blatantly so than the Golden Globes. Each “major” gets to buy a pretty damn expensive round table…
Everyone is included…Somehow…
They love Clint. Why? Because they know he’ll show up! Sean Penn, you can never be sure of his attendance….
Biggest snub-bee Kate Winslet & co…No Rev. Road. No “Reader”…
Somebody asked me what the NBR looks like….since nobody had ever even met a member…well, they’re OLDER, and RICHER and I hate to say it FATTER…than more awards-giving bodies…but that was countered with “The HFPA is even OLDER!”
So to them Clint is a contemporary. H.E.R.O….
The Academy is looking younger by comparison by the minute!
Poor Kate Winslet! I thought this vote splitting would happen.
And “Doubt” is getting trashed by everybody…I am now leaving the building to see it. And MS will be there, I’m told…AND Viola Davis…SHE’LL be in a good mood.
@Ricky
what’s next?
Dec 11, Golden Globe noms announced
Dec 14, AFI honorees announced
Dec 18, SAG noms announced
Dec 25, Naughty ‘n’ Nice winners revealed
Dec 31-Jan 4, Lost Weekend
Jan 6, ASC Cinematography nominees announced
Jan 7, WGA screen nominees announced
Jan 8, DGA film nominees announced
Jan 9, Art Directors Guild nominees announced
Jan 11, Golden Globe Awards
Jan 12, ACE Eddie nominees announced
Jan 15, ASC Cinematography Awards
Jan15-25, Sundance Film Festival
Jan 20, Obamatopia
Jan 22, Academy Awards nominees announced
Jan 25, SAG Awards
Jan 31, DGA Awards
Feb 7, WGA Awards
Feb 14, Art Directors Guild Awards
Feb 14, CAS Awards
Feb 15, ACE Eddie Awards
Feb 22, 81st Annual Academy Awards
LOL, Ryan.
I am surprised Mickey Rourke is not named Best Actor. I want so badly for him to win!
This, the Independent Spirits, and the Satellites, in my opinion, don’t point us anywhere. I’ll start wondering about where people’s heads are after the Globe and BFCA nominees (speaking of which, does anybody know when those are announced?)
And I would have to agree with Erik, I didn’t care for “Burn After Reading” at all, and I really tried to.
When are the Razzies again?
Jan 21, Razzie nominations, Paul
Feb 21, Razzie Awards
Any suggested nominees?
Jan 21, Razzie nominations, Paul
Feb 21, Razzie Awards
Any suggested nominees?
Well…
Is there an award for Least Deserving Awardwinner?
If not… Worst Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: R.Z. in Appaloosa.
(But you knew that was coming…)
once meryl streep wins the golden globe…in a drama…that will seal the deal for her 3rd oscar..i am not concerned…but where were kate winslet’s films…??? that seemed weird to me…clint is an awful actor..and the academy better remember how he was in the 60’s thru 80’s… he got his recognition as a director/ producer……certainly NEVER AS AN ACTOR… so why now??? please academy..dont get sentimental as you did with john wayne…clint has 4 oscars….ENOUGH!!!!!!!
paul…wait let me say it first…
you can’t stop/what’s coming…
arrgh…
Glimmer–
And I say: Be afraid…be very afraid…
Razzie for Best Actor=Clint Eastwood.
YES with the best picture predictions…
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
…there you have it…if anything, ANYTHING takes it place…the terrible gut feeling i have is…Gran Torino…
…I am not a Clint Eastwood hater…Million Dollar Baby was truly one of the best films I’ve seen in the past decade, but I do have to agree all these awards kudos is SICKENING…truthfully, if clint eastwood directs a movie–bet your ASS that it will get recognition…a best actor nom for him is inevitable (as unfortunate as that seem) but hopefully not a best picture nomination…hell, i might even eat my words and it will be a great movie…
…o and does anyone believe with me that Brad Pitt might knock out Leonardo DiCaprio in the best actor race? I feel like the Benjamin Button love will be enough to ease him through…and im with someone who said earlier that Revolutionary Road will probably disappoint…I don’t see it being a big box-office success, I expect the reviews to be lukewarm (like they already have)…I’m sorry, but none of the general public will want to see a devastating movie about a couple falling apart at CHRISTMAS time…maybe its the cynical side of me haha
Angelina Jolie was robbed and you know this because Changeling is on the top ten list.
Also Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchet also was robbed. I’m so tired of all this indie take over like small budget movie are the only ones that have great acting.
GMAB, these awards are now so infected with the smell of money…Slumdog Millionaire is the new favorite of the moment….geez this country hates it’s own movies and slap a non-american face on it and it’s called art.
You may be onto something re the box office expectations of Revolutionary Road, Aaron. The trailer makes it look depressing as hell. I have to agree that it will likely not be the movie that everyone flocks to over Christmas unless it gets really stellar reviews. And even then…
If they market RR correctly, proclaiming it’s the first film with Kate & Leo since Titanic, people will see it.
Surprises.
I came to this late, so I didn’t read all 126 postings that came before me, but they really did spread the love with their choices, didn’t they?
NBR is wrong about actor winners almost every time. While most of their winners eventually become nominees, they usually don’t go past that in the Oscars. I haven’t seen Eastwood’s performance so I can’t say shit. If anything should be upsetting, it should be Josh Brolin winning. Not because of Heath Ledger, but because Brolin wasn’t that good in Milk. That was one of the most disappointing performances of the year to me because I thought they could have done much more with the charatcer of Dan White. If anybody needs to be a supporting actor possibility from that film, it should be Emile Hirsch.
I don’t understand why anyone would ever root for a movie before they saw it. Seems like your opinion should matter more if you go into a movie and watch it objectively, rather than having already decided that you will love it.
I think Slumdog Millionaire will win best picture. I don’t know if anyone else has said this (and, if not, why not) but I think that the terrorist attacks in Mumbai make it more likely to win.
Razzie for worst movie, “Blindness”. It’s the second time I have ever walked out on a film and demanded money back from the theater. (The first was “Superstar: the Karen Carpenter Story”.)
You actually saw Superstar in the theatre? wow, I’m impressed!
I may be wrong about this, but didn’t the NBR award Halle Berry and Charlize Theron for Monster’s Ball and Monster, respectively?
By the way, they’re advertising the DVD for Hancock on TV up here, and they give away the twist! How dumb are marketing people these days?!
Two things: Yay for Richard Jenkins.
Boo for the Australia snub.
I love Australia…one of the best films for me.
Gran Torino looks like another “Perfect World”.
I just saw the trailer and there’s a lot of NO on that one.
Except for the Asian cast. How often do you see that?
Yes I saw Superstar in a theater that was showing a festival of shorts with SS headlining it. I was truly offended by the theme.
Someone mentioned this towards the top, but how does Slumdog win Best Film and then not make the Top 10 list? Can someone explain this to me? That’s absurd.
Eric,
Because some years — like this one — NBR’s Top 10 is really a Top 11.
Last year NBR passed over Daniel Day-Lewis for George Clooney. This year they passed over Sean Penn/Mickey Rourke/Richard Jenkins for Clint Eastwood. I am reeling.
Is this the People’s choice awards?
Heath Ledger gave the single most intense, immersing, mesmerizing and horrifying character creation in the past 25 years. I have religiously watched the Golden Globes and the Oscars every year for the past decade. If Heath Ledger gets snubbed for best supporting actor at either of those events this year. I WILL BOYCOTT THEM FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!
I mean Brolin? Seriously?
TAKE NOTE ACADEMY! Give accolades to the performance, not the person.
I want to give some props to Sasha/awardsdaily.
It’s Dec 4 and there are over 140 posts for this thread. That rocks.
Amazing. You, Ryan and anyone else involved have become a true force to be reckoned with. You make my winter so much fun.
Thanks.
Re: Boo: Angelina was robbed.
Have just seen Changeling and can see why its Oscar chances have faded. It is a well-made film but never rises to any great heights. There was no tension or sense of urgency in the drama. Perhaps it helps if you are a parent? But then you don’t have to be gay to feel the anger in Milk!
And I doubt any of the perfs in the film will be acknowledged at GGs, SAGs or Oscars: they are professional without being powerful. Malkovich is better in Burn After Reading and Amy Ryan does not very much at all. And Angelina is good but far better in A Mghty Heart.
Damn, as usual I’m a day late and a dollar short!
The top 10 list isn’t THAT bad. Changeling wasn’t THAT bad. Gran Torino…haven’t seen it but the trailer WAS THAT BAD! LOL
As for Slumdog, I really really LIKED the movie. Sure it might not be “transcendent” but it fills you with so much joy you can’t help but really really like it. Since we know the Academy votes with their hearts Slumdog is a front runner for the Win at the Oscars. (Don’t believe me, see Rocky winning over Network.)
OK now I’m going to bed.
What Michael said Sasha, Ryan and Company.
My friends, I wouldn’t worry all that much about the NBR Acting Awards. Heath is going to win the Oscar and Mickey Rourke is probably going to win as well.I really like this list. Other observations: Isn’t it possible that Revolutionary Road and The Reader just might not connect with enough people? This week alone I have had the good fortune to see both The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Milk (which I saw tonight). For those who have seen Milk, am I the only one that actually thought Emile Hirsch was the best of the Supporting Actors in the movie? I am seeing Slumdog next Thursday night and hopefully Frost/Nixon in the near future. I think The Dark Knight is a GG Nomination away from being locked in. Count me on the bandwagon who will be very surprised if the Best Picture Lineup isn’t :
TCCoBB
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog
Of the three I have seen so far, TDK is my choice but I realize it’s reward is the nomination, so personally I liked Milk better than Benjamin Button. I hope there are more progressive straight males like myself who will take their wives or girlfriends to see it. Extremely powerful. That’s my two cents.
Browsing through this thread, why am I getting the feeling more people claim to have seen Slumdog than have actually seen it?
I mean, how many theatres is it playing at that so many people have seen it and disliked it?
As for all the Gran Torino hate, a commenter on Awards Daily’s forums expressed the sentiment best: “I didn’t saw Gran Torino, but I hated it.” Only I don’t think he was joking.
Maybe Clint can invite McCain out on the campaign trail. That ought to put this baby to bed.
Man, I love how this awards season is shaping up. All the anger, all the disgust, all the confusion… bring it on!
Cmon Clint Eastwood! Give everyone here nightmares! I love you, man.
@ Ryan: My suggestion for Razzies Worst Movie of the Year: “Valkyrie”, and Tom Cruise for Worst Actor!
ouch! Dominik
maybe, maybe
I read the latest version of the Valkyrie script though, and it’s surprisingly tight and literate. I think there’s too much bad ink (or bad pixels) spread about Valkyrie for it to recover in time for major awards. But it might not be a total disaster as we’ve been led to believe.
Well, I definately have to see it cause I´m writing an article about the movie- sometimes you expect the worst and it turns out surprisingly acceptable? Yeah, the trailer looked horrible… but to me it´s really an important issue if the movie will conceal the fact that Stauffenberg was indeed an antisemit – in order to make Cruise look like the perfect hollywood action hero… this would definitely suck!
Oh, and to Javi claiming “Cruz has always been considered a bad actress until Volver came along” by “those who have followed her Spanish career”, you’re like most people who love claim you’re for others and understand general opinions. Meaning, you haven’t a friggin’ clue what you’re even talking about.
Yeah, I guess she’s considered a bad actress by everyone, if you don’t include the Goya awards who’ve nominated her for four performances and awarded her two… or the European Film Awards who’ve nominated her for three awards and awarded her one… or the European Film Awards “People’s Choice” category (People’s choice? Isn’t that where general audiences vote???) nominating her for three awards and giving her one… or the general sentiment of Spain. Nope, she’s considered a marvelous actress so long as she sticks to Spanish language films. She’s more uncomfortable with the English language, which is why she doesn’t come off so well in English language films. And this is why some people got the impression that she’s a bad actress, but that’s only because they’re unfamiliar with her extensive career in Spanish language films. Anyone who says her performances only picked up when she teamed with Almodovar? Well, that’s an opinion, I guess, although I’ll bet it’s an uninformed one. But anyone who says that this is the opinion of “those who’ve followed her Spanish career” pretending to be an authority of the general consensus? Anyone who says that is an ignoramus.
Post NBR Best Picture line-up
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Gran Torino
Slumdog Millionaire
Doubt
Milk
Vicky Christina Barcelona
fight for the remaining 2
cc, you’re my new hero. The whole diatribe against Cruz was pretty silly and unsubstantiated. I know everyone has a right to their opinion, but this woman has done her *best* work in Spanish films. From “Jamon, Jamon” through “Belle Epoque” through “Volver.” She is very deserving of any accolades she receives for “VCB,” where she burns up the celluloid like nobody’s business.
Ugh! No LOVE for Doubt, Revolutionary Road or The Reader? What the heck are they thinking? But, then again, maybe it’s a good thing. I am ready to barf of the love again being thrown at Clint Eastwood. They both can’t be THAT good; Changeling over the above mentioned? Give me a break. Hell, Australia was better than Changeling!
Slumdog is released here in Indy today; I am excited to go see it! It looks fascinating!
I don’t understand why it is so hard for people to understand that many people actually liked Changeling. It was after all, in a very strong competition for the Palm d’Or. I am hoping that it gets the recognition that it deserves, but OSCAR or not it was an amazing film.
Dorothy and CC: allow me to gentilely disagree with both of you. I saw “Jamon, Jamon”, “Belle Epoque”, “El Efecto Mariposa”, “El Amor Perjudica Seriamente la Salud”, “Entre Rojas”, “Per Amore, per solo amore” (as Virgin Mary), etc. To me Penelope Cruz was always a bad actress in Spain; and a terrible one in english, but in this case, due to lame roles (”The Hi-lo Country”, a good movie, the awful “Blow”, etc).
I began to like her in “Todo Sobre Mi Madre”. But to me the turning point on her career, to the fine actress she is now, is even more recent. Guess you both saw it: it’s the italian “Non Ti Muovere” (2004), directed by and starring one the best actors of the planet, Sergio Castelitto. Penelope gave one the most amazing female screen perfomances of this first decade of the new millenium. And of course, she shines in “Vicky”.
I have no problem with your opinion, Joao. I appreciate what you’re saying. My problem was the claim “she has always been considered a bad actress until Volver”, as if this is universally known and agreed upon.
The evidence that this is universally agreed upon speaks otherwise. For a such a looked-down-upon actress, she’s had quite a distinguished – and awarded – career.
I think she’s a fine actress… in Spanish. Particularly in “Jamon Jamon”, “Open Your Eyes”, and “Belle Epoque”. In English, she becomes rather self-conscious like many non-English speaking actors do. But the English-speaking roles, unfortunately, are where most people on this side of the ocean get their impressions of her from.
Same here. And let’s not lose sight that this is all very subjective. I thought she was always good or showed a lot of promise, even in her early performances. It’s great to see her achieve her potential as an actress and I hope she has many great performances ahead in her career.
Go, Pe, go!!! Loving Penelope, and enjoying this moment with her!!!
Cruz gives a fine and strong performance in VCB.
She deservers more time in scene.
This list sucks.
The NBR disappoints this year. Too much championing of tired Clint Eastwood movies for me. He’s not THAT great a director and his movies are only decent dramas with great ensemble acting (sans Mystic River). I love that movie. But, I hated Million Dollar Baby. The whole shift in tone to a statement about “assisted suicide” was forced and amateurish.
Glad to see, THE DARK KNIGHT, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, VIOLA DAVIS, PENELOPE CRUZ, ANNE HATHAWAY and JOSH BROLIN get love tho.
Overall, meh…
It’s inevitable that Heath Ledger will win SUPPORTING ACTOR, that’s the only reason I have no problem with the NBR picking Brolin. He’s a great actor that has had another stellar year–as far as performances goes.
He deserves recognition. But let’s face it, HEATH LEDGER gave the best performance from any actor I’ve seen this year (besides Sean Penn, Frank Langella, and Brad Pitt) and I won’t dare say they were better than Ledger.
They were equally brilliant.
Waiting for love for TARAJI P. HENSON (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and ROBERT DOWNEY JR. (yes, for Tropic Thunder).
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