The board's picks are considered the first major indication of the Academy Awards. The win boosts the awards hopes for Slumdog, which is viewed as the independent film most likely to follow Juno and Little Miss Sunshine in Oscar contention. WALL-E was named the year's best animated feature.
Clint Eastwood was selected as best actor for his performance in the not-yet-released Gran Torino, and best actress went to Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married.
David Fincher won best director for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
The top 10 films of 2008, as determined by the National Board of Review:
Burn After Reading
Changeling
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Defiance
Frost/Nixon
Gran Torino
Milk
Wall-E
The Wrestler
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