The National Board of Review, which will hold its gala Tuesday, January 5, named “Mad Max: Fury Road” the best film of 2015.
The NBR throws the glitziest, most glamorous shindig of the year, and because they love their celebrities, who always attend, they tend to nominate big names.
What does it mean for the Oscar race? Not much, although it’s worth paying attention to the NBR choices because many of these films will be in the Oscar mix. And since the winners are announced in advance, the emphasis is on partying. The ceremony, a boozy affair, is not televised, so anything goes and speeches are often long, raunchy and hilarious.
For example, it’s unlikely “Mad Max: Fury Road,” will be a best film nominee in the Oscar race, but director Ridley Scott for “The Martian” and Brie Larson for best actress for “Room,” are real contenders for little gold men.
NBR President Annie Schulhof said, “2015 has been a banner year for popular cinema. We are thrilled to be awarding George Miller and Ridley Scott, two iconic filmmakers at the top of their game, while also celebrating the next generation of talent.”
Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight,” which started out as a reading and is theatrical – early on, Tarantino considered presenting it as a play – is an interesting choice for best screenplay, although the language and violence is extreme even for the “Pulp Fiction” director.
Below is a full list of the awards given by the National Board of Review:
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; The Martian ; Room ; Sicario ; Spotlight ; 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
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