Well, the National Board of Review took advantage of its position as the first major critics group of the year to announce a shock and a huge boost for George Miller's Mad Max sequel, which is pretty damn awesome, I must say. In fact, they delivered a very populist list of choices this year, including three major wins for The Martian in Screenplay, Actor and Director, Sly Stallone's first big victory in Supporting Actor, and an apparent love for The Hateful Eight, which hasn't been officially screened yet, but was shown to critics groups, so that's a good sign for that film. Their top ten list was interesting for not including such favorites as Brooklyn, The Revenant and Joy, but maybe the forthcoming critics awards will correct that oversight. Or maybe this is the year of populist, big studio movies overtaking the arthouse faves for once, with Creed, Straight Outta Compton and Inside Out all on the top ten of the year. The season is here in full swing now- next up is the New York Film Critics Circle tomorrow.
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
- Spotlight
- The Martian
- Room
- Sicario
- 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
