Oscar boost for Moulin Rouge
The glamourous musical Moulin Rouge has topped the National Board of Review’s list of the year’s best films, boosting its chances for a potential Oscar nomination.
The anachronistic tale of an 1899 French burlesque show set to modern pop tunes starred Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman.
Co-star Jim Broadbent was named best supporting actor by the Los Angeles-based group for both his role as a devilish cabaret owner in Moulin Rouge and Iris, in which he played the lover of novelist Iris Murdoch.
Billy Bob Thornton earned the best actor honour for his roles in the thriller The Man Who Wasn’t There, the death-row drama Monster’s Ball and the robbery comedy Bandits.
Monster’s Ball co-star, Halle Berry, was named best actress.
Many early awards such as the National Board of Review honours are viewed as indicators of a film or performer’s Academy Award chances.
The first film in a three-part fantasy drama, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, won three awards, including a special achievement honour for director Peter Jackson and a production design award.
Cate Blanchett won best supporting actress for her roles in Lord of the Rings, The Shipping News and The Man Who Cried.
The board’s top 10 films are:
Best Picture: Moulin Rouge, In the Bedroom, Ocean’s 11, Memento, Monster’s Ball, Black Hawk Down, The Man Who Wasn’t There, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Pledge, Mulholland Drive.
Other winners include:
Documentary: The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Adventure.
Animated feature: Shrek.
Career achievement award: Jon Voight.
Billy Wilder Award, excellence in direction: Steven Spielberg.
