On December 3rd, Oscar season officially kicks off as the National Board of Review unveils their Best Picture, top ten list, and acting awards. This is a VERY important group. When there were five Best Picture nominees, usually you would find at least four of them on the NBR’s top ten list. Additionally, their acting award winners frequently go on to win the Oscar. Past winners have included Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Forrest Whitaker, Helen Mirren, and Jamie Foxx. For the past two years, they have nailed Best Picture. Last year, they picked Slumdog Millionaire and the year before they forecasted No Country For Old Men. Will it be three in a row? Here are our predictions:

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

Top ten:

An Education
A Serious Man
Precious
A Single Man
Up in the Air
Nine
Inglorious Basterds
Julie and Julia
500 Days of Summer
Invictus

Best Actor: Colin Firth, A Single Man

Best Actress: Gabourney Sidibe, Precious

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress: MoNique, Precious

Best Director: Lee Daniels, Precious