KEY POINTS:
No Country for Old Men by Joel and Ethan Coen was named best film of 2007 by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures this week in the first major award of the Oscar season.
George Clooney won the best actor award for Michael Clayton and Julie Christie won the best actress award for Away From Her.
The awards can be an indicator of what to expect for the Academy Awards, the top honours of the film business, which will be presented in February.
