National Board of Review Winners: A Most Violent Year is Tops

The oldest organization of film award givers have spoken and A Most Violent Year is their Best Film of 2014. The film manages three major wins today, adding Best Actor for Oscar Isaac (in a tie with Michael Keaton for Birdman) and Jessica Chastain taking Best Supporting Actress. This year’s winners have provided a wealth of shockers and not a small amount of side-eye and giggling. The group’s allegiance to all things Eastwood continued as they bestowed him with yet another Best Director win (for American Sniper).

Julianne Moore takes her first win of the season for Still Alice, Jack O’Connell wins Breakthrough and the NBR’s other favorite, Warner Brothers, showed up with an Adapted Screenplay win for Inherent Vice. A surprising win in Best Ensemble for Fury and Original Screenplay win for The LEGO Movie topped the headscratchers today.

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