Another day and another group has named their Best Picture of the year. This time it is the prestigious National Board of Review who have selected J.C. Chandor's third film, A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, as their pick for the top honor. The 106-year-old organization also bestowed Best Director honors to Clint Eastwood for AMERICAN SNIPER and Best Screenplay honors to THE LEGO MOVIE (original) and INHERENT VICE (adapted).
As we said yesterday regarding The NYFCC naming BOYHOOD signaled a front-runner for the eventual Oscar nomination, but that does not guarantee the winner. A MOST VIOLENT YEAR represents J.C. Chandor‘s third consecutive critically lauded film after MARGIN CALL and last year’s Robert Redford film ALL IS LOST.
A MOST VIOLENT YEAR is definitely going to be a contender for a lot of awards this season, but so will fellow NBR winners like INHERENT VICE and AMERICAN SNIPER. Hopefully we get to see these films continue to gather up the praise.
A MOST VIOLENT YEAR opens in limited release on December 31st. See the full list of NBR winners below.
Best Film: A Most Violent Year
Best Director: Clint Eastwood – American Sniper
Best Actor (TIE): Oscar Isaac – A Most Violent Year; Michael Keaton – Birdman
Best Actress: Julianne Moore – Still Alice
Best Supporting Actor: Edward Norton – Birdman
Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain – A Most Violent Year
Best Original Screenplay: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller – The Lego Movie
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson – Inherent Vice
Best Animated Feature: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Breakthrough Performance: Jack O’Connell – Starred Up & Unbroken
Best Directorial Debut: Gillian Robespierre – Obvious Child
Best Foreign Language Film: Wild Tales
Best Documentary: Life Itself
William K. Everson Film History Award: Scott Eyman
Best Ensemble: Fury
Spotlight Award: Chris Rock for writing, directing, and starring in – Top Five
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Rosewater
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Selma