‘Finding Neverland’ gets early choice as best film

“Finding Neverland,” a family drama that imagines how Scottish playwright J.M. Barrie was inspired to create “Peter Pan,” was chosen best film of the year Wednesday by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.

The organization selected Jamie Foxx as best actor for his performance as the late singer Ray Charles in “Ray” and Annette Bening as best actress for her turn as a ‘30s stage star in the comedy “Being Julia.” Michael Mann won best director honors for the thriller “Collateral.”

In addition to “Finding Neverland,” the Board of Review also named “The Aviator,” “Closer,” “Million Dollar Baby,” “Sideways,” “Kinsey,” “Vera Drake,” “Ray,” “Collateral” and “Hotel Rwanda” as the top 10 films of the year.

Celebrating its 96th year, the nonprofit National Board of Review is not a critics’ organization. Film professionals, educators, students and historians constitute the group, which, according to its website, has “dedicated its efforts to the support of film, domestic and foreign, as both art and entertainment.”

Although not a bellwether for the Academy Awards like the Golden Globes or the Screen Actors Guild Awards, several National Board winners have gone on to win Oscar gold, including last year’s best actor, Sean Penn, for “Mystic River” and best foreign-language film, “The Barbarian Invasions,” and best actress Halle Berry three years ago for “Monster’s Ball.”

Other winners announced Wednesday in New York:

Animated film: “The Incredibles”

Supporting actor: Thomas Haden Church, “Sideways”

Supporting actress: Laura Linney, “Kinsey”

Acting by an ensemble: Jude Law, Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman and Clive Owen for “Closer”

Breakthrough performance actor: Topher Grace, “In Good Company” and “P.S.”

Breakthrough performance actress: Emmy Rossum, “The Phantom of the Opera”

Directorial debut: Zach Braff, “Garden State”

Foreign-language film: “The Sea Inside”

Documentary: “Born Into Brothels”

Adapted screenplay: “Sideways,” Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor

Original screenplay: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” Charlie Kaufman

Production design: “House of Flying Daggers”

Career achievement: Jeff Bridges

Special filmmaking achievement: Clint Eastwood for producing, directing, acting and scoring “Million Dollar Baby.”

William K. Everson Award for Film History: Richard Schickel

Producers Award: Jerry Bruckheimer

Special recognition of films that reflect freedom of expression: “Fahrenheit 9/11,” “The Passion of the Christ,” “Conspiracy of Silence”

The awards will be presented Jan. 11 at the Tavern on the Green in New York City.