If you’ve been in denial about the upcoming awards season, it’s time to stop, because the National Board of Review, the mysterious, somewhat shady organization that have often kicked off the endless run of precursor awards across December and January leading up to the Oscar nods, have just named their winners for 2015.
No one quite knows who they are, or what they do, but they were founded in 1909, and have been giving out awards since the 1930s. They are often seen as something of a forerunner to the Academy and co, although their track record is decidedly patchy (last year, only five of the eleven movies they picked were Best Picture-nominated).
Regardless, few would say that “Mad Max: Fury Road” didn’t get something of a boost today, as the organization named it the Best Film. They often have something of a lean towards Warner Bros movies, and certainly err towards the mainstream, but this is nevertheless a boon for a big action movie that possibly needed a little nudge for the Academy to take it seriously as a Best Picture proposition.
Also doing well is "The Martian," which took Best Actor for Matt Damon, Director for Ridley Scott and Adapted Screenplay for Drew Goddard, while "Room" made up for a disappointing showing at the Spirit Awards by landing among the best films list, and winning Best Actress. "The Hateful Eight" won Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay and also made the final ten, while "Creed" (which also took Supporting Actor for Sylvester Stallone) "Sicario" and "Straight Outta Compton" joined it, along with more expected awards fare like "Bridge Of Spies" and "Spotlight."
Not doing so well? "Joy" and "The Revenant" which were both shut out entirely, though it’s unclear if the organization saw the films in time. Also missing were "Steve Jobs," "Brooklyn" (perhaps most surprisingly of all), "Carol," "The Danish Girl" "Suffragette" and "Black Mass."
Again, all of this should be taken with a giant pinch of salt — movies like "Fury," "Inherent Vice," "Unbroken," "The Secret Life Of Walter MItty" and "Lone Survivor" were all lauded by the organization, and mostly shut out of the awards conversation, while last year’s winner, "A Most Violent Year," didn’t register with the Academy. That said, with the right movie, they can provide a little momentum — as with "Her" two years ago, which took the top prize and went on to a Best Picture nod. We’ll be seeing how much impact they have this time in a few months, and you can read the complete list below.
Best Film: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Director: Ridley Scott – The Martian
Best Actor: Matt Damon – The Martian
Best Actress: Brie Larson – Room
Best Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone – Creed
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Jason Leigh – The Hateful Eight
Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino – The Hateful Eight
Best Adapted Screenplay: Drew Goddard – The Martian
Best Animated Feature: Inside Out
Breakthrough Performance: Abraham Attah – Beasts of No Nation & Jacob Tremblay – Room
Best Directorial Debut: Jonas Carpignano – Mediterranea
Best Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul
Best Documentary: Amy
William K. Everson Film History Award: Cecilia De Mille Presley
Best Ensemble: The Big Short
Spotlight Award: Sicario, for Outstanding Collaborative Vision
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Beasts of No Nation & Mustang
Top Films
Bridge of Spies
Creed
The Hateful Eight
Inside Out
Spotlight
The Martian
Room
Sicario
Straight Outta Compton
Top 5 Foreign Language Films
Goodnight Mommy
Mediterranea
Phoenix
The Second Mother
The Tribe
Top 5 Documentaries
Best of Enemies
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
The Diplomat
Listen to Me Marlon
The Look of Silence
Top 10 Independent Films
’71
45 Years
Cop Car
Ex Machina
Grandma
It Follows
James White
Mississippi Grind
Welcome to Me
While We’re Young