Up in the Air soars with pre-Oscar awards

The George Clooney movie Up In the Air, directed by Canadian Jason Reitman, has scored a major coup, garnering four awards, including best film,from the U.S. National Board of Review.

It marks the first big prize of the film awards season in the lead up to the Oscars in March.

Reitman said he was "overwhelmed with gratitude" for the accolades, handed out on Friday just as the film launched in North American cinemas.

The 32-year-old director said that the days leading up to his movie's release date are filled with "anxiety and anticipation" and thanked the NBR for "making today perfect."

The film about a corporate hatchetman who spends much of his time on the road also picked up best actor honours for Clooney, who tied with Morgan Freeman for Invictus, a best supporting actress trophy for Anna Kendrick and best adapted screenplay.

The awards are a good prediction of another possible Oscar glory for Reitman, who garnered wide praise for 2007's Juno, starring Canadian Ellen Page as a pregnant teenager. Juno won an Oscar for best original screenplay.

Previous Board of Review best film winners, such as No Country for Old Men and Slumdog Millionaire, went on to nab best picture at the Academy Awards.

Other prizes announced included:

• Best director prize to Clint Eastwood for Invictus.
• Best actress for Carey Mulligan for An Education.
• Best supporting actor to Woody Harrelson for The Messenger.
• Best documentary for The Cove.
• Best animated film to Up.

The board also gave a special filmmaking achievement award went to Wes Anderson for his stop-motion animated The Fantastic Mr. Fox, which he co-wrote, directed and lent his voice to.Clooney also voices the main character.

The judges on the National Board of Review consist of film historians, students and educators. Awards will be handed out on Jan. 12 in New York City.