'Finding Neverland' Victorious

The award season is officially in full swing, and early favourite 'Finding Neverland' has been named film of the year by the National Board of Review.

Dec  3 2004

'Finding Neverland' has been named best film of 2004 by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.

Marc Forster's tearjerker, recounting the creation of children's classic 'Peter Pan', fought off stiff competition from Martin Scorsese's 'The Aviator' to win the award, although Johnny Depp lost out to Jamie Foxx's stunning 'Ray' performance in the best actor category.

Elsewhere, no one film dominated the awards, with Annette Bening winning best actress for 'Being Julia' and Michael Mann taking home directorial honours for his work on 'Collateral'.

The Board of Review, who are more a collection of professionals who appreciate film rather than a group of actual reviewers, have their identities kept secret so as to avoid pressure from the studios.

They also vote in unusual and sometimes quite unique categories, such as the ensemble acting award, which went to Mike Nichol's 'Closer' thanks to sterling work from Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Clive Owen and Natalie Portman.

A special prize was also shared by controversial pair 'Fahrenheit 9/11' and 'The Passion of the Christ' which, together with 'Conspiracy of Silence', a simlarly provocative film about the Irish Catholic Church, took home the freedom of expression award.

Michael Moore's contentious '9/11' was not victorious in the documentary category however, losing out to 'Born Into Brothels', a disturbing account of the plight of the children growing up in Calcutta's red light district.

Laura Linney was named best supporting actress for 'Kinsey' while Thomas Haden Church won best supporting actor for his work in Alexander Payne's bittersweet comedy 'Sideways', a film that also took home the best adapted screenplay prize.

As for the best original screenplay, that deservedly went to Charlie Kauffman for his brilliant but frankly bonkers 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' script.

Elsewhere Zach Braff received the directorial debut prize for the wonderful 'Garden State', while Clint Eastwood received a special award for filmmaking achievement having produced, directed, acted, scored and probably drawn the poster for forthcoming boxing drama 'Million Dollar Baby'.

And in two categories that could have a large bearing on their Oscar counterparts, Alejandro Amenabar's inspiring 'The Sea Inside' was named best foreign language film, while 'The Incredibles' beat 'Shrek 2' and 'The Polar Express' for the hotly contended best animated film award.

The National Board of Review's films of 2004 are:

1. 'Finding Neverland'
2. 'The Aviator'
3. 'Closer'
4. 'Million Dollar Baby'
5. 'Sideways'
6. 'Kinsey'
7. 'Vera Drake'
8. 'Ray'
9. 'Collateral'
10. 'Hotel Rwanda'