The Brians

The high-brow movies will have their moments in Hollywood. But we learn about the really important awards today, the seventh annual Brians, which recognize excellence in movies which I saw in the theater in 2008.

A record 11 movies qualified for this year’s awards. Many were only really eligible to win The Bridget, which goes to the movie which I only saw because my daughter wanted to see it.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at this year’s winners.

Best Supporting Actress: Allison Janney, “Juno.” We all know her as CJ Cregg, the feisty press secretary on “The West Wing,” but she really shone as the stepmother of pregnant teen Juno McGuff. We saw the film in early 2008 after it already received consideration for last year’s Oscars. Janney probably should have won then as well, if only for her impassioned monologue during Juno’s sonogram.

Best Supporting Actor: Russell Brand, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” This category has always been my favorite since the movies for immature guys I usually go to see always have plenty of good sidekicks. This year was no different. Brand, who played the self-obsessed yet eerily prescient rock star, had to beat out two-time winner Paul Rudd among others.

Best Actress: Ellen Page, “Juno.” When we went to see this movie, I worried it would be too heavy-handed or just try too hard to be different. Instead, the film portrayed a touching story of family, connection and angst. Page led the way as her interactions with each of the other characters made you really understand what Juno was going through.

Best Actor: Jason Segal, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” Three-time Brian winner Will Ferrell lurked in the wings with strong performances in “Semi-Pro” and “Step Brothers,” but he could not top Segal’s turn as the heartbroken Peter Bretter. A role which combines full frontal nudity and a rock opera about puppet vampires could not be overlooked.

The glamorous people will gather in Hollywood tonight to pat themselves on the back.

We’ll have a more low-key ceremony here for the sixth edition of The Brians.

Each year’s edition of The Brians brings something special. This year, we have taken the “Best Animated Movie” category from last year and re-named it “The Bridget” because I only get to see certain movies because someone would alert the authorities if I just let my daughter go by herself.

The three movies in that category – “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” “Enchanted,” and “Bee Movie” – will join the more grownup fare of “Superbad,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Dreamgirls,” “Knocked Up,” “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,” and “The Simpsons Movie.”

Remember, only movies I saw in the theater are eligible in The Brians, which have been Joan Rivers-free since 2003. The envelopes, please: