Is "Boyhood" the Oscar season frontrunner? Or maybe it’s "Birdman"? Or maybe it’s much more likely that this awards season is turning out to be as unpredictable as ever. Today, the folks at the National Board Of Review unveiled their awards for the best in cinema in 2014, and a different picture dominated.
J.C. Chandor‘s "A Most Violent Year" picked up a handful of honors including Best Film, Best Actor (in a tie), and Best Support Supporting Actress. Not too shabby. Also one to keep an eye on is Julianne Moore who is continuing her run of picking up critics group love with a win for her turn in "Still Alice," while we’re really pleased to see Edward Norton recognized for his hilariously prickish performance in "Birdman." But really? "How To Train Your Dragon 2" is better than "The Lego Movie" for Best Animated Feature? We’re sure that will stir up some debate.
Check out the full list of awards plus the National Board of Review’s Top Ten below.
Best Film: "A Most Violent Year"
Best Director: Clint Eastwood, "American Sniper"
Best Actor: (TIE) Oscar Isaac, "A Most Violent Year" and 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 Adapted Screenplay: "Inherent Vice"
Best Original Screenplay: "The LEGO Movie"
Best Animated Feature: "How to Train Your Dragon 2"
Breakthrough Performance: Jack O’Connell, "Starred Up" and "Unbroken"
Best Ensemble: "Fury"
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
Spotlight Award: Chris Rock for writing, directing and starring in "Top Five"
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: "Rosewater"
Top 10
"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"