National Board of Review predictions

The National Board of Review announces their winners on Wednesday -- and while this 100+ group of East Coast film academics has a reputation for being easily influenced by studios, the fact is that their winners usually end up in the final Oscar race. Especially in regards to Best Picture -- only two NBR Best Film winners since 1987 (Quills and Gods and Monsters) didn't also receive an Best Picture Oscar nomination. Take tomorrow's NBR Best Film and stick it your top five Oscar Best Picture predictions -- and keep it there.

They've been on a nostalgia trip as of late -- since 2000, the only movie taking place in the present day to win was Mystic River. Don't know if it's a trend, but it's something to think about.

My Predictions:

Best Film: No Country for Old Men

Top Ten Films:

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Atonement
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Into the Wild
The Kite Runner
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
Once
The Savages

Best Foreign Language Film: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Actor: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead and The Savages

Best Actress: Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose

Best Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James

Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There

Best Director: Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Directorial Debut: Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton

Best Ensemble: Juno

Breakthrough Male: Michael Cera, Juno and Superbad

Breakthrough Female: Ellen Page, Juno

Best Adapted Screenplay: Ethan and Joel Coen, No Country for Old Men

Best Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody, Juno

Best Documentary: No End in Sight

Best Animated: Persepolis