2014 National Board of Review Award Winners

Today the NBR announced their current award winners and A Most Violent Year was named 2014 Best Film of the Year.

“A Most Violent Year is an exhilarating crime drama with a compelling story, outstanding performances, and an elegant cinematic style,” said Annie Schulhof, NBR President. “J.C. Chandor has given us a new and provocative perspective on the American Dream.”

These are the award winners

Best Film: A Most Violent Year
Best Director: Clint Eastwood for American Sniper
Best Actor (tie): Oscar Isaac in A Most Violent Year and Michael Keaton in Birdman
Best Actress: Julianne Moore in Still Alice
Best Supporting Actor: Edward Norton in Birdman
Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year
Best Ensemble: Fury
Best Original Screenplay: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller for The Lego Movie
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson for Inherent Vice
Best Animated Feature: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Breakthrough Performance: Jack O’Connell in Starred Up & Unbroken
Best Directorial Debut: Gillian Robespierre for Obvious Child
Best Foreign Language Film: Relatos Salvajes (Wild Tales), Argentina
Best Documentary: Life Itself

William K. Everson Film History Award: Scott Eyman
Spotlight Award: Chris Rock for writing, directing, and starring in Top Five
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Rosewater
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Selma

Top Films
American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
Fury
Gone Girl
The Imitation Game
Inherent Vice
The Lego Movie
Nightcrawler
Unbroken

Top 5 Foreign Language Films
Force Majeure
Gett: The Trial of Vivian Amsalem
Leviathan
Two Days, One Night
We Are the Best!

Top 5 Documentaries
Art and Craft
Jodorowsky’s Dune
Keep On Keepin’ On
The Kill Team
Last Days in Vietnam

Top 10 Independent Films
Blue Ruin
Locke
A Most Wanted Man
Mr. Turner
Obvious Child
The Skeleton Twins
Snowpiercer
Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Starred Up
Still Alice

There are some very pleasant surprises among these awards like the honor to Clint Eastwood plus Jessica Chastain winning Best Supporting Actress; but the not so positive are the absence of Ida in Foreign Language and Citizenfour in documentary.  Seems that will have to watch The Lego Movie just to find what is the fuzz and buzz as obviously skipped movie as is not my cup of tea at all, sigh.

A select group of knowledgeable film enthusiasts and professionals, academics, young filmmakers and students, the National Board of Review viewed over 272 films this year including studio, independent, foreign-language, animated and documentary selections. These screenings were frequently followed by in-depth discussions with filmmakers, directors, actors, producers, and screenwriters. Voting ballots were tabulated by the accounting firm of Lutz & Carr, LLP.

The National Board of Review honors diverse members of the film community at their annual Awards Gala, which also acts as a fundraiser for student grant philanthropy. Hosted by Lara Spencer, this year’s gala will take place on January 6, 2015 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

The NBR has a newly redesigned official site that definitively will modernize its image so if you feel like checking the winners announcement at their official site and check the nice design go here to read the press release or here for the list in the database.