The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures released its awards for the 2009 year in film today (via their official website). Topping the list is Jason Reitman’s latest film (in limited release starting this Friday) Up in the Air. Founded in 1909, the NBR is made up of approximately 110 knowledgeable film enthusiasts, academics, filmmakers, and students in the New York area. Since 1929, the Board of Review has recognized the top ten films, as voted by its members, of the calendar year. Awards are now given out in twenty-three different categories, including awards for best screenplay, actor, actress, director, and foreign language film.

Some other notable victories include George Clooney (Up in the Air) and Morgan Freeman (Invictus) sharing the award for Best Actor, Jeremy Renner’s win for Breakthrough Performance by an Actor for The Hurt Locker, Gabourey Sidibe’s win in the same category for Precious, and Carey Mulligan’s win for Best Actress for her performance in An Education, beating out Mo’Nique’s performance in Precious (an upset if I’ve ever seen one). And though Up won for Best Animated Feature, the splendid (in my opinion, better animated film) Fantastic Mr. Fox and its director Wes Anderson were given the Special Filmmaking Achievement award.

It’s Up in the Air that’s the big story, though. Jason Reitman took home wins for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay (with Sheldon Turner), and wins in both the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress (Anna Kendrick) categories. Having just seen the film myself, I’m elated to say that it deserves all of these awards without doubt. It’s a beautifully directed, well-written, solid film. And what’s more, it’s an important film, tackling the very real (and extremely topical) issues of unemployment, The Lost Generation, and the issues of disconnectedness amid such a connected world.

Should you be lucky enough to be living in a city that will be playing Up in the Air come Friday, it’s one that’s worth your time, money, and brain. It’ll even provide the heart for you. Should you not be in either New York or Los Angeles, gather the family together and check out Up in the Air on Christmas Day.

Below you’ll find the complete list of the NBR Awards for 2009:

Best Film
UP IN THE AIR

Top Ten Films
(In alphabetical order) AN EDUCATION, (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, THE HURT LOCKER, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, INVICTUS, THE MESSENGER, A SERIOUS MAN, STAR TREK, UP, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Best Foreign Language Film
A PROPHET

Top Five Foreign Films
(In alphabetical order) THE MAID, REVANCHE, SONG OF SPARROWS, THREE MONKEYS, THE WHITE RIBBON

Best Documentary
THE COVE

Top Five Documentaries
(In alphabetical order) BURMA VJ: REPORTING FROM A CLOSED COUNTRY, CRUDE, FOOD, INC., GOOD HAIR, THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS

Top Independent Films
(In alphabetical order) AMREEKA, DISTRICT 9, GOODBYE SOLO, HUMPDAY, IN THE LOOP, JULIA, ME AND ORSON WELLES, MOON, SUGAR, TWO LOVERS

Best Actor
GEORGE CLOONEY, Up In The Air; MORGAN FREEMAN, Invictus

Best Actress
CAREY MULLIGAN, An Education

Best Supporting Actor
WOODY HARRELSON, The Messenger

Best Supporting Actress
ANNA KENDRICK, Up In The Air

Best Ensemble Cast
IT’S COMPLICATED

Breakthrough Performance by an Actor
JEREMY RENNER, The Hurt Locker

Breakthrough Performance by an Actress
GABOUREY SIDIBE, Precious

Spotlight Award for Best Directorial Debut
DUNCAN JONES, Moon; OREN MOVERMAN, The Messenger; MARC WEBB, (500) Days of Summer

Best Director
CLINT EASTWOOD, Invictus

Best Adapted Screenplay
JASON REITMAN and SHELDON TURNER, Up In The Air

Best Original Screenplay
JOEL AND ETHAN COEN, A Serious Man

Best Animated Feature
UP

Special Filmmaking Achievement
WES ANDERSON, The Fantastic Mr. Fox

William K. Everson Award For Film History
JEAN PICKER FIRSTENBERG

Freedom Of Expression
BURMA VJ: REPORTING FROM A CLOSED COUNTRY; INVICTUS; THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS

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