Adapted films dominate awards

Film adaptations feature prominently in this year’s awards, from The National Board of Review in the United States.

* Hugo, based on Brian Selznick's novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, has been selected as the year's best film.

* Martin Scorsese has been named best director, also for Hugo.

* The Descendants, based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings, received the most accolades – best adapted screenplay, best actor (George Clooney) and best supporting actress (Shailene Woodley), as well as being named as one of the top films of the year.

* Other ‘top films’ include Drive (adapted from James Sallis’ novel), The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (adapted from Stieg Larsson’s novel), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (adapted from J.K Rowling’s novel), and War Horse (based on the children’s novel by Michael Morpurgo).

* Rooney Mara was recognised for her ‘breakthrough performance in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

* Tilda Swinton was awarded best actress for her performance in We Need to Talk About Kevin, based on the novel by Lionel Shriver.

* The cast of The Help, based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett, was awarded best ensemble.

* Michael Fassbender received the ‘spotlight award’ for his work in four films, three of which are film adaptations: A Dangerous Method (adapted from John Kerr’s novel), Jane Eyre (adapted from Charlotte Bronte’s novel) and X-Men: First Class (adapted from the Marvel comic series).

* Special achievement in filmmaking was given to the Harry Potter franchise for its "distinguished translation from book to film".

The National Board of Review awards are seen as an important precursor for the Academy Awards – if the Board is on the money this year, it looks like a number of film adaptations will be in the running for an Oscar in 2012.