The National Board of Review have announced their picks for outstanding films and performances in cinema for 2019, and wouldn't you know it, Martin Scorsese's THE IRSHMAN is going home with the top prize! In addition to naming Scorsese's latest as the Best Film of 2019, the 110-year old organization also crowned Quentin Tarantino as Best Director for his ninth feature, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD.
A number of other films and actors were also recognized as being among the best of what 2019 had to offer while at the movies, including Adam Sandler picking up a Best Actor win for directors Benny and Josh Safdie's UNCUT GEMS, while Renee Zellweger earned Best Actress for her portrayal of Judy Garland in Roadside Attractions' JUDY.
A raft of talented individuals were also awarded for their contributions to this year's cinematic gems, such as Kathy Bates, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Bobi Jewell in Clint Eastwood's RICHARD JEWELL. On the other side of the coin, Brad Pitt snagged the Best Supporting Actor accolade for his performance as Cliff Booth in Tarantino's ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD.
“We are thrilled to award The Irishman as our Best Film – Martin Scorsese’s masterful mob epic is a rich, moving, beautifully textured movie that represents the best in what cinema can be. We are also excited to be presenting Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino with our inaugural Icon Award – they are the true definition of cinematic icons, each with their own exceptional body of work, and all in top form in The Irishman,” said NBR President Annie Schulhof.
You can check out a complete list of this year's NBR winners below:
Best Film: THE IRISHMAN
Best Director: Quentin Tarantino, ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD
Best Actor: Adam Sandler, UNCUT GEMS
Best Actress: Renée Zellweger, JUDY
Best Supporting Actor: Brad Pitt, ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD
Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates, RICHARD JEWELL
Best Original Screenplay: Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, Ronald Bronstein, UNCUT GEMS
Best Adapted Screenplay: Steven Zaillian, THE IRISHMAN
Breakthrough Performance: Paul Walter Hauser, RICHARD JEWELL
Best Directorial Debut: Melina Matsoukas, QUEEN & SLIM
Best Animated Feature: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD
Best Foreign Language Film: Parasite
Best Documentary: Maiden
Best Ensemble: KNIVES OUT
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Roger Deakins, 1917
NBR Icon Award: Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: FOR SAMA
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: JUST MERCY
Top Films
1917
Dolemite is My Name
Ford v Ferrari
Jojo Rabbit
Knives Out
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
Richard Jewell
Uncut Gems
Waves
Top 5 Foreign Language Films
Atlantics
Invisible Life
Pain and Glory
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Transit
Top 5 Documentaries
American Factory
Apollo 11
The Black Godfather
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese
Wrestle
Top 10 Independent Films
The Farewell
Give Me Liberty
A Hidden Life
Judy
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Midsommar
The Nightingale
The Peanut Butter Falcon
The Souvenir
Wild Rose