National Board Names "No Country" Best Picture

The National Board of Review has named directors Joel and Ethan Coen's No Country For Old Men as the best film of 2007.

In the first major awards ceremony of the season, awards also went out to George Clooney as Best Actor for Michael Clayton; Julie Christie as Best Actress for Away From Her; and Tim Burton as Best Director for Sweeney Todd.

Best Animated Film went to Ratatouille, while Body Of War won Best Documentary.

While the National Board awards can be a good indication of what the Academy Award nominees could be, they haven't - at least in recent years - been a good indicator of who will win the Oscar for Best Picture.

The last time the National Board winner matched the Oscar winner for Best Picture was in 1999, when American Beauty won both awards.