Casey Affleck could be in for a big awards season
One day after the Gothams, it's the National Board of Review's turn to announce its best of list. They had been kind of quirky and reactionary in recent years, preferring to champion non-Oscar bait of the sort that may not even get nominated. But this time, probably since they're the first critics group (well, there are presumably some critics in this board of so-called scholars, journalists, etc) to announce, they go with heavy Oscar favorites in many categories. This win for Manchester evens up the score after Moonlight swept the Gotham awards, but I personally like seeing Amy Adams get the prize for Best Actress. It's an understated performance in a movie that is certainly not traditional Oscar bait, so I'm glad to see it be included in their top ten. Moonlight gets Director and Supporting Actress, while Manchester again takes Best Actor. In fact, it's early, but with Best Actor being extraordinarily weak this year (which is very rare), I'm starting to think Casey Affleck may just sail right on through to the Oscar podium, winning everything from critics to guild and televised precursors as well. NBR also put Martin Scorsese's Silence in there for a mention in the top ten and a screenplay award- only some critics groups have seen that film, with most set to screen it this week at the last minute. There are some interesting choices in their top ten this year- we'll have to wait and see if mainstream movies like Patriot's Day, Sully and Hidden Figures have the passion to make it all the way to the Oscars.
- Best Film: Manchester by the Sea
- Best Director: Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
- Best Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
- Best Actress: Amy Adams, Arrival
- Best Supporting Actor: Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
- Best Supporting Actress: Naomie Harris, Moonlight
- Best Original Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Jay Cocks and Martin Scorsese, Silence
- Best Animated Feature: Kubo and the Two Strings
- Breakthrough Performance (Male): Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
- Breakthrough Performance (Female): Royalty Hightower, The Fits
- Best Directorial Debut: Trey Edward Shults, Krisha
- Best Foreign Language Film: The Salesman
- Best Documentary: O.J.: Made in America
- Best Ensemble: Hidden Figures
- Spotlight Award: Creative Collaboration of Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg
- NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Cameraperson
NBR TOP 10 OF 2016
- Arrival
- Hacksaw Ridge
- Hail, Caesar!
- Hell or High Water
- Hidden Figures
- La La Land
- Moonlight
- Patriots Day
- Silence
- Sully
NBR TOP 10 INDEPENDENT FILMS
- 20th Century Women
- Captain Fantastic
- Creative Control
- Eye in the Sky
- The Fits
- Green Room
- Hello, My Name is Doris
- Krisha
- Morris From America
- Sing Street
NBR TOP 5 DOCUMENTARIES
- De Palma
- The Eagle Huntress
- Gleason
- Life, Animated
- Miss Sharon Jones!
NBR TOP 5 FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILMS
- Elle
- The Handmaiden
- Julieta
- Land of Mine
- Neruda
Will Amy Adams get her sixth Oscar nomination?
