We’re officially in Oscar season! Our first precursor comes in today, and the winners potentially shine a light on films to keep an eye on for the coming season. Last year, the National Board of Review named Green Book their Best Film. Clearly, the group has its finger on some kind of pulse, and it bodes well for this year’s winner The Irishman. The NBR’s Best Film has been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars in 9 of the last 10 years, and 17 of the last 19 years.
Other notable wins went to Adam Sandler, who needed something like this to get attention on his campaign. This will be a big boost for him. Many have seen his early-season success as fluky, but as he continues to pick up nominations, someone will have to take him seriously. Renée Zellweger picked up her first of many prizes to come this year, as did Brad Pitt. There’s going to be an unintentional reunion occurring throughout the season. Kathy Bates (Sandler’s Mama in from Waterboy) also took home an acting prize for Best Supporting Actress for Richard Jewell. She’s going to break into the race quickly, and with the field wide open, she could do some major damage.
The big miss comes from Joker, which missed everything. It was assumed by many that it would at least appear in the NBR’s Top 10. After all, WB films have often done well at NBR. Just last year, A Star Is Born took home three prizes. That love went to Richard Jewell instead. That could signal which film the studio wants to push more this season.
Check out the full list of nominees below!
Best Film: The Irishman
Best Director: Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Best Actor: Adam Sandler – Uncut Gems
Best Actress: Renée Zellweger – Judy
Best Supporting Actor: Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates – Richard Jewell
Best Original Screenplay: Uncut Gems – Benny & Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Irishman – Steve Zaillian
Best Animated Feature: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Breakthrough Performance: Paul Walter Hauser – Richard Jewell
Best Directorial Debut: Melina Matsoukas – Queen & Slim
Best Foreign Language Film: Parasite
Best Documentary: Maiden
Best Ensemble: Knives Out
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Roger Deakins
NBR Icon Award: Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: For Sama & Just Mercy
Top Films (in alphabetical order)
1917
Dolemite Is My Name
Ford v Ferrari
Jojo Rabbit
Knives Out
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Richard Jewell
Uncut Gems
Waves
Top 5 Foreign Language Films (in alphabetical order)
Atlantics
Invisible Life
Pain and Glory
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Transit
Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order)
American Factory
Apollo 11
The Black Godfather
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese
Wrestle
Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order)
The Farewell
Give Me Liberty
A Hidden Life
Judy
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Midsommar
The Nightingale
The Peanut Butter Falcon
The Souvenir
Wild Rose
