For all of the pseudo-controversy their delayed announcement caused, the National Board of Review's 2005 award winners should surprise exactly nobody. Indeed, we already knew about the top-shelf Take Your Trophy and Retire prizes, but do not tell me you did not foresee a top ten interchangeably populated by A History of Violence, Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Munich, etc. etc. Good Night, and Good Luck evidently claimed the NBR's blue ribbon along with performances by Capote's Philip Seymour Hoffman and Transamerica's Felicity Huffman.

“Every year the NBR screens many wonderful films,” said President Annie Schulhof in a statement because she could not do it in person or even on the phone without laughing. “And it is always challenging to decide our top candidates. The 2005 Ten Best Films list reflects stories of human spirit, sacrifice, desire and political awareness, and also singles out the biopics of two extraordinary American artists."

Look, I have spent too much time on this as it is, so if you want the rest of the winners, click the link below. Personally, I would recommend cutting your losses--or your wrists--first.

BEST TEN FILMS OF 2005

Best Film: Good Night, And Good Luck

And, in alphabetical order:

Brokeback Mountain

Capote

Crash

History of Violence

Match Point

Memoirs of a Geisha

Munich

Syriana

Walk the Line

BEST FIVE FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILMS OF 2005

Best Foreign-Language Film: Paradise Now

And, in alphabetical order:

2046

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

Downfall

Walk on Water

BEST FIVE DOCUMENTARIES OF 2005

Best Documentary: March of the Penguins

And, in alphabetical order:

Ballets Russes

Grizzly Man

Mad Hot Ballroom

Murderball

Best Animated Feature: Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride

Best Director: Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain

Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote

Best Actress: Felicity Huffman, TransAmerica

Best Supporting Actor: Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain

Best Supporting Actress: Gong Li, Memoirs of a Geisha

Best Acting By An Ensemble: Mrs. Henderson Presents

Breakthrough Performance Actor: Terrence Howard, Crash, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and Hustle & Flow

Breakthrough Performance Actress: Q’Orianka Kilcher, The New World

Best Directorial Debut: Julian Fellowes, Separate Lies

Best Adapted Screenplay: Stephen Gaghan, Syriana

Best Original Screenplay: Noah Baumbach, The Squid and the Whale

Best Film or Mini-Series Made for Cable TV: Lackawanna Blues

Career Achievement: Jane Fonda

Career Achievement in Film Music Composition: Howard Shore

Outstanding Achievement in Special Effects: King Kong

Billy Wilder Award for Excellence in Direction: David Cronenberg

William K. Everson Award for Film History: George Feltenstein

Producer of the Year Award: Saul Zaentz

Special Recognition of Films That Reflect Freedom of Expression:

Innocent Voices and The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till

Special Mention for Excellence in Filmmaking:

The National Board of Review, in keeping with its long tradition of recognizing excellence in filmmaking, is proud to salute the following films crafted by visionary artists, which demonstrate the creativity and determination always vital to the film industry. (Listed Alphabetically)

Breakfast on Pluto

Cape of Good Hope

The Dying Gaul

Everything Is Illuminated

Hustle & Flow

Junebug

Layer Cake

Lord of War

Nine Lives

The Thing About My Folks

The Upside of Anger