National Board Of Review

The 2000 movie awards season officially commenced Wednesday with "Quills," Fox Searchlight's outrageous exploration of the life and philosophy of the notorious Marquis de Sade, being named best film by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.

"Zero Dark Thirty," Kathryn Bigelow's drama about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, was named the best film of the year Wednesday by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. The movie, set to open in limited release Dec. 19, took home two other top prizes, as Bigelow was deemed best director and star Jessica Chastain was given the lead actress award. It's been a good week for the movie, which this week also received the highest honors from the New York Film Critics Circle. Best actor of the year went to Bradley Cooper for his portrayal of a man struggling with bipolar disorder in "Silver Linings Playbook.

The abbreviated movie awards season officially kicked off Wednesday when the National Board of Review named Clint Eastwood's emotional drama "Mystic River" the best film of 2003, and the Independent Feature Project announced nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards. Irish director Jim Sheridan's semi-autobiographical drama "In America" led the Spirit nominations with six, including best feature, director and best female lead, for Samantha Morton.

"LETTERS From Iwo Jima," director Clint Eastwood's companion piece to "Flag of Our Fathers" exploring the World War II battle from the perspective of the Japanese, was chosen best film of 2006 on Wednesday by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. The movie, which is in Japanese with English subtitles, opens in theaters Dec. 20. "Flags," a box-office disappointment released in October, was also named among the top 10 films of the year by the New York-based organization.

"LETTERS From Iwo Jima," director Clint Eastwood's companion piece to "Flag of Our Fathers" exploring the World War II battle from the perspective of the Japanese, was chosen best film of 2006 on Wednesday by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. The movie, which is in Japanese with English subtitles, opens in theaters Dec. 20. "Flags," a box-office disappointment released in October, was also named among the top 10 films of the year by the New York-based organization.

Elizabeth Taylor, the glamorous queen of American movie stardom, whose achievements as an actress were often overshadowed by her rapturous looks and real-life dramas, has died. She was 79. Hospitalized six weeks ago for congestive heart failure, Taylor died early Wednesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with her four children at her side, publicist Sally Morrison said. FOR THE RECORD: An earlier version of this article said Mickey Rooney played Elizabeth Taylor's trainer in "Lassie Come Home.

Let the movie awards season begin. The race for the Oscars kicked off Wednesday with "Moulin Rouge," Baz Luhrmann's expressionistic and audacious musical drama, being named best film of 2001 by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. "It's fabulous news," said Luhrmann, reached in London where he is casting the opera version of "Moulin Rouge." "I think there has been a building acceptance of 'Moulin Rouge' over the past three months....

Swedish filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul, who has been tearing a swath through awards season with his film debut, "Searching for Sugar Man," is scheduled to attend his first-ever Oscar ceremony Sunday as a nominee for documentary feature. How has awards season been for you? You've won Writers Guild, DGA, BAFTA and other awards. How many have you won? Over 30 awards internationally. In awards season we won Writers Guild, Producers Guild, Directors Guild, the American Cinema Editors and BAFTA, the IDA - International Documentary Assn.'s award - and Critics' Choice and the National Board of Review.

More than three years have passed since Kasi Lemmons made her feature directing debut with "Eve's Bayou," not exactly a typical entree into the world of movie-making. With an all-black cast headlined by Samuel L. Jackson (who also co-produced) and a challenging story line infused with magical realism and hallucinatory imagery, "Eve's Bayou" was 1997's most commercially successful independent film.

"A Room With a View" was selected Monday as best film of 1986 by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. In ceremonies at New York's Whitney Museum, Paul Newman won best actor award for "The Color of Money." Kathleen Turner received the best actress award for the title role in "Peggy Sue Got Married." Woody Allen was selected as best director for "Hannah and Her Sisters." Jack Lemmon was presented the board's career-achievement award.

The abbreviated movie awards season officially kicked off Wednesday when the National Board of Review named Clint Eastwood's emotional drama "Mystic River" the best film of 2003, and the Independent Feature Project announced nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards. Irish director Jim Sheridan's semi-autobiographical drama "In America" led the Spirit nominations with six, including best feature, director and best female lead, for Samantha Morton.

Let the movie awards season begin. The race for the Oscars kicked off Wednesday with "Moulin Rouge," Baz Luhrmann's expressionistic and audacious musical drama, being named best film of 2001 by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. "It's fabulous news," said Luhrmann, reached in London where he is casting the opera version of "Moulin Rouge." "I think there has been a building acceptance of 'Moulin Rouge' over the past three months....

To what "buzz" has writer Jack Mathews been listening ("For the Early Line on Oscar: Listen to the Buzz," Dec. 17)? "Driving Miss Daisy" has been named best picture by the National Board of Review, meriting at least consideration for an Oscar nomination. In the acting categories, Cannes Film Festival best actor James Spader of "sex, lies, and videotape" surely has a chance for a nomination. BRIAN BANKS Encino