It’s that time of the year again. The time when critics give awards to movies most of us haven’t gotten around to seeing yet. And in the National Board of Review‘s case, many honors are going to films not yet in release.

Last year, the NBR - a group consisting of educators, historians and film industry professionals - chose Old Country for Old Men as its top selection for 2007. Although that movie went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, the organization’s acting picks did not collect any Oscars.

Even though we are still very early in the awards season, there were several noteworthy items in this recently announced list.  While it’s not surprising to see a Clint Eastwood mention, the 78-year-old was actually chosen for his acting (Gran Torino) rather than his directing (Gran Torino or Changeling). Then there’s Josh Brolin’s Best Supporting honor for Milk. His selection not only highlights Sean Penn’s missing name, but Heath Ledger’s as well.

Here are the 2008 NBR honorees:

• Best Film: Slumdog Millionaire
• Best Director: David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Best Directorial Debut: Courtney Hunt, Frozen River
• Best Actor: Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
• Best Actress: Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
• Best Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, Milk
• Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• Best Ensemble: Doubt
• Best Adapted Screenplay: (tie) Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Best Original Screenplay: Gran Torino
• Best Foreign Language Film: Mongol
• Best Animated Film: Wall-E
• Best Documentary: Man on Wire
• Breakthrough Performance, Actor: Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire
• Breakthrough Performance, Actress: Viola Davis, Doubt

(You can keep up with the 2008-09 Awards Season posts here.)