Tim Burton as best director for “Sweeney Todd,” George Clooney as best actor for his role in “Michael Clayton” and Julie Christie as best actress for “Away From Her” – these were among the 2007 honorees picked by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Wednesday, Dec 5.

The 79th National Board of Review Awards, honoring the best in film for 2007, were given on December 5.

The crime thriller “No Country for Old Men,” written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, was named best film of 2007 by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.

The Coen brothers also received the best adapted screenplay award, while the movie’s ensemble cast, which includes Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Kelly Macdonald and Woody Harrelson, was named the best of 2007.

George Clooney was named best actor for his portrayal of a “fixer” at a New York law firm beset with corruption in “Michael Clayton,” while Julie Christie’s role as a woman suffering from Alzheimer's in “Away From Her” earned her the best actress title.

Best supporting actor went to Casey Affleck for his role in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” while Amy Ryan was selected best supporting actress for her work in “Gone Baby Gone.”

Tim Burton was named best director for his latest film, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” a thriller adaptation of Steven Sondheim’s musical. The film was also among the NBR’s top 10 films of 2007.

Ben Affleck’s directorial debut with “Gone Baby Gone” was named the best of 2007.

Two younger actors were selected for best breakthrough performance: Emile Hirsch in the male category for his performance in the Sean Penn-directed drama “Into the Wild” and Ellen Page in the female category, for her role as a pregnant teenager in “Juno.” Both “Into the Wild” and “Juno” were listed among the best 10 films of the year.

Julian Schnabel's French-language drama, “Le Scaphandre et Le Papillon” (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”) was selected as best foreign film. Best documentary honors went to “Body of War.”

“Ratatouille” was chosen best animated feature.

The NBR National Board of Review awards will be given out in New York City on Jan. 15. The NBR is the first to announce annual awards, thus launching the award season officially.