Monday it was the New York Film Critics Circle with their best of 2012 list. Today it was the National Board of Review. And both orgs chose the same film as best film:

Here's NBR's list:

• Best Film:  ZERO DARK THIRTY
• Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, ZERO DARK THIRTY
• Best Actor: Bradley Cooper, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
• Best Actress: Jessica Chastain, ZERO DARK THIRTY
• Best Supporting Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, DJANGO UNCHAINED
• Best Supporting Actress: Ann Dowd, COMPLIANCE
• Best Original Screenplay: Rian Johnson, LOOPER
• Best Adapted Screenplay: David O. Russell, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
• Best Animated Feature: WRECK-IT RALPH
• Special Achievement in Filmmaking: Ben Affleck, ARGO
• Breakthrough Actor: Tom Holland, THE IMPOSSIBLE
• Breakthrough Actress: Quvenzhané Wallis BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
• Best Directorial Debut: Benh Zeitlin, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
• Best Foreign Language Film:  AMOUR
• Best Documentary: SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN
• William K. Everson Film History Award: 50 YEARS OF BOND FILMS
• Best Ensemble: LES MISÉRABLES
• Spotlight Award: John Goodman (ARGO, FLIGHT, PARANORMAN, TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE)
• NBR Freedom of Expression Award: CENTRAL PARK FIVE
• NBR Freedom of Expression Award: PROMISED LAND

(BTW, NBR, that should be “Sugar Man,” not “Sugarman.” FYI.)

The National Board of Review is less prestigious than the New York Film Critics Circle but an even poorer predictor of the Oscar race. Since 2000, they've chosen the same best picture as the Academy only twice: “No Country for Old Men” in 2007 and “Slumdog Millionaire” in 2008. For the rest they went “Quills,” “Moulin Rouge!,” “The Hours,” “Mystic River,” “Finding Neverland,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “Letters from Iwo Jima,” “Up in the Air,” “The Social Network,” “Hugo.” Some weak tea there.

As for when the NBR and the NYFCC agree on best picture? They rarely do: four times in the last 20 years. Well, five now. And it means nothing in terms of the Oscar race:

• 2010: The Social Network (NO)
• 2007: No Country for Old Men (YES)
• 1997: L.A. Confidential: (NO)
• 1993: Schindler's List: (YES)

“Lincoln,” interestingly, was shut out by the NBR. Even Danny Day-Lewis. That makes me smile, it's so absurd.

Among other absurd choices? “Looper” in their top 10, “Hello, I Must Be Going” among their top 10 indie, and “The Kid with a Bike” among their top 5 foreign.

I'm sure he's fine. But he's no Danny Day-Lewis, despite the garbage bag.

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