Keeping Up with Warm Traditions.
“Select knowledgeable film enthusiasts, academics, filmmakers, and students in the New York metropolitan area” (Wikipedia) are members of the National Board of Review. This organization has fostered the art of film since 1909 and is a good reference for excellent cinema. Last year, with its selection of Her as best film, that movie gained strong momentum and went on to garner major awards, including five Academy nominations and an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. And that movie opened two weeks after the announcement from NBR, so it was a curve to the season indeed.
This year in their fine tradition of curves and fast balls, NBR has awarded A Most Violent Year the honor of Best Film for 2014 and top honors for its actors. It does look good, can’t wait to see it. It opens on New Year’s Eve.
Other noteworthies from this year’s selection: Birdman, with two Actor wins and a Top 10 list inclusion; American Sniper, with a win for Best Director and in the Top 10 list; The Lego Movie, with a win for Best Screenplay and included in the Top 10 for NBR; Inherent Vice, Best Adapted Screenplay as well as part of the 10 Best; Obvious Child, winner Best Directorial Debut and in the top 10 Independent movies; and Still Alice, winner Best Actress and in Top 10 Indies.
A Most Violent Year – Mini Featurette.
Website subscribers – go to Afilmlook.com for enhanced video features.
The NBR list of Winners:
Best Film – A Most Violent Year
Best Director – Clint Eastwood (American Sniper) – When Clint is good, he is very good. When not…
Best Actor – Two winners! – 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 Foreign Language Film – Wild Tales (Argentina) In A Film Look’s short list of Foreign Movies
Best Animated Feature – How to Train Your Dragon 2
Best Documentary – Life Itself – this sets up the battle with CITIZENFOUR
Best Original Screenplay – Phil Lord & Christopher Miller (The Lego Movie)
Best Adapted Screenplay – Paul Thomas Anderson (Inherent Vice) – From a Thomas Pynchon book, no less; it’s an 80’s romp.
Best Directorial Debut – Gillian Robespierre (Obvious Child) – Well deserved, difficult material
Best Ensemble – Fury – Plan B at work
Breakthrough Performance – Jack O’Connell (Starred Up and Unbroken) – Angelina Jolie has a good eye
William K. Everson Award for Film History – Scott Eyman
Spotlight Award – Chris Rock (Top Five) – He’s getting some respect
NBR Freedom of Expression – Rosewater and Selma
The National Board of Review Best Film lists:
Top Films (in alphabetical order)
American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
Fury
Gone Girl
The Imitation Game
Inherent Vice
The Lego Movie
Nightcrawler
Unbroken
Blue Ruin – Keep an eye out for this one
Locke – Good!! We are glad for this well deserved honor
A Most Wanted Man – One of Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s last. He’s good in Mockingjay also. Robin Wright, superb
Mr. Turner – Sleeper this award season, hoping it does well
Obvious Child – One of those you should re-watch
The Skeleton Twins – A serious turn for the stars of this one
Snowpiercer – Keep your coats handy. Tilda Swinton’s teeth are chilling
Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Starred Up – The other movie with the guy from Unbroken (Jack O’Connel)
Still Alice – One to remember
Force Majeure (Sweden) – Independent Spirit Award nominee
Gett: The Trial of Vivian Amsalem (Israel)
Leviathan (Russia) – Also Independent Spirit Award nominee
Two Days, One Night (Belgium) – With Marion Cotillard, this film is a contender.
We Are the Best! (Sweden / Denmark)
Art and Craft – The real thing?
Jodorowsky’s Dune – Also an Independent Spirit Award nominee
Keep On Keepin’ On
The Kill Team – Quite a contrast to American Sniper
Last Days in Vietnam – This one is going a long way