Awards - National Board of Review - Hugo throws it's hat into the main ring

"HUGO is such a personal film by Martin Scorsese. It is a tribute to the early years of cinema that uses today's cutting edge technology to bring the audience into a completely unique and magical world. It is visually stunning and emotionally engaging." -- Annie Schulhof, NBR President

The National Board of Review has announced their winners for the year. For those who may not know, the Board consists of a group of film professionals, students, enthusiasts, and academics. They are always one of the first groups to announce their awards in the calendar year, and later hold a gala to present the winners with their awards. Here are their winners for 2011...

Top Ten Films
THE ARTIST
THE DESCENDANTS
DRIVE
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 2
HUGO (#1 Film of the Year)
THE IDES OF MARCH
J. EDGAR
TREE OF LIFE
WAR HORSE

Best Director: MARTIN SCORSESE "HUGO"
Best Actor: GEORGE CLOONEY "THE DESCENDANTS"
Best Actress: TILDA SWINTON "WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN"
Best Supporting Actor: CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER "BEGINNERS"
Best Supporting Actress: SHAILENE WOODLEY "THE DESCENDANTS"
Best Original Screenplay: 50/50
Best Adapted Screenplay: THE DESCENDANTS
Best Ensemble Cast: THE HELP
Best Animated Feature: RANGO
Best Foreign Language Film: A SEPARATION
Best Documentary: PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY
Best Breakthrough Performance: FELICITY JONES "LIKE CRAZY" & ROONEY MARA "THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO"
Best Debut Director: J.C. CHANDOR "MARGIN CALL"
NBR Freedom of Expression: CRIME AFTER CRIME & PARIAH
Spotlight Award: MICHAEL FASSBENDER "A DANGEROUS METHOD", "JANE EYRE", "SHAME" & "X-MEN: FIRST CLASS"
Special Achievement in Filmmaking: THE HARRY POTTER FRANCHISE - A DISTINGUISHED TRANSLATION FROM BOOK TO FILM

Top 5 Foreign Language Films
13 ASSASSINS
ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN
FOOTNOTE
LE HAVRE
POINT BLANK

Top 5 Documentaries
BORN TO BE WILD
BUCK
GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD
PROJECT NIM
SENNA

Top 10 Independent Films
50/50
ANOTHER EARTH
BEGINNERS
A BETTER LIFE
CEDAR RAPIDS
MARGIN CALL
SHAME
TAKE SHELTER
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
WIN WIN