2014 National Board of Review Awards

And just when you thought we were getting an idea what the front runners were going to be at this year the National Board of Review shakes things up.  How much of a shakeup is to be determined.  But by choosing A Most Violent Year it catapults it into likely nomination.  Only 1 film in the last 8 years won Best Film at the NBR and wasn’t nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and that was Quills in 2000.  Another surprising choice was Clint Eastwood getting Best Director for American Sniper.  That is one that seemed to be off the radar and relegated to good not great status.  And I bet no one saw The Lego Movie getting Best Screenplay, but still losing Best Animated Feature.  

Two movies that were shut out were Foxcatcher which has been in Oscar talk all year and Selma which has recently been getting lots of buzz (Selma did get a special recognition award but not the same as being listed in the Top 10).  Another movie not listed that could hurt its chances at an Oscar nomination is Interstellar. 

Tell us your thoughts.  

Full list below 

Best Film:   A Most Violent Year

Best Director:  Clint Eastwood – American Sniper

Best Actor (TIE):   Oscar Isaac – A Most Violent Year; 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 Original Screenplay:   Phil Lord & Christopher Miller – The Lego Movie

Best Adapted Screenplay:   Paul Thomas Anderson – Inherent Vice

Best Animated Feature:  How to Train Your Dragon 2

Breakthrough Performance:   Jack O’Connell – Starred Up & Unbroken

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

Best Ensemble:   Fury

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