National Board of Review Winners

The Social Network dominating the National Board of Review's awards announcement today doesn't really help its cause against the British invader, Tom Hooper's The King's Speech, but it doesn't hurt, either. 
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I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a strong backlash just stacking up against it, though - there's the stuffy English aroma, the god-awful marketing (including that disastrous poster) and the simple fact that it's a film that will carry a stronger impact overseas. Plus we've seen this story before where the odds-on favorite in October eventually stumbles into March as a non-factor. Atonement? Up in the Air, anyone?
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David Fincher also took home Best Director today with Jesse Eisenberg (yes!) taking home Best Actor. Lesley Manville won Best Actress for Another Year and Christian Bale won Best Supporting Actor for The Fighter while Jacki Weaver won Best Supporting Actress for Animal Kingdom (I love the film, but come on...)
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Rounding out the NBR's Top Ten (or Top Eleven if you count out The Social Network), are Another Year, The Fighter, Hereafter, Inception, The King's Speech, Shutter Island, The Town, Toy Story 3, True Grit and Winter's Bone.
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Couple more things. First off, Christian Bale (The Fighter) will take down Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech) for Best Supporting Actor, I'm convinced. Bale is a guy who's ripe for some recognition, he's a major movie star of the now and Rush has already had his fun in the sun. 
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And Ben Affleck's The Town is getting nominated, no question. I'm kind of lukewarm on it myself (it's a really solid meat-and-potatoes crime movie with no nourishing vegetables), but not only do people of all shapes and sizes seem to really like the film, but people really like Affleck and this would be a nice pat-on-the-back for the transition from actor-to-director. (Plus, keep in mind the actors make up the biggest % of the voting body and this will help it immensely.)