Thursday, October 10, 2024

National Board of Review Follows New York Film Critics Circle, Names “Killers of the Flower Moon” Best Picture

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The National Board of Review, a group I’ve chastised in the past for a variety of issues, has followed the New York Film Critics Circle this year almost to the finish.

The NBR — run by a woman named Annie Schulhof — has named Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” as Best Picture. They’ve given Best Director to Scorsese and Best Actress to Lily Gladstone.

With these wins, “Killers” is quickly advancing toward the Oscars.

Paul Giamatti was named Best Actor for “The Holdovers.” The NBR pretty much ignored Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.”

In keeping with previous years the group also mostly snubbed the so called Black films of the year. As usual, they threw Breakthrough Performance to two Black actresses, respectively Teyana Taylor and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. That covered them.

To make up for dissing Cooper, they gave him an Icon Award, whatever that means.

“Killers” deserves all its accolades certainly. But the NBR is about money and its gala. The group — made up of fans — charges members huge annual fees and even more for tickets to the gala. Schulhof no doubt sees herself taking a big bite of the Apple, which released “Killers.” They’ll buy many tables and bring their cast to Cipriani 42nd Street. Well played!

Best Film

Killers of the Flower Moon

Best Director

Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon

Best Actor

Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers

Best Actress

Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon

Best Supporting Actor

Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things

Best Supporting Actress

Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

NBR Icon Award

Bradley Cooper

Best Original Screenplay

David Hemingson, The Holdovers

Best Adapted Screenplay

Tony McNamara, Poor Things

Breakthrough Performance

Teyana Taylor, A Thousand and One

Best Directorial Debut

Celine Song, Past Lives

Best Animated Feature

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Best International Film

Anatomy of a Fall

Best Documentary

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

Best Ensemble

The Iron Claw

Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry

Director Chad Stahelski and Stunt Coordinators Stephen Dunlevy & Scott Rogers, John Wick: Chapter 4

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography

Rodrigo Prieto, Barbie & Killers of the Flower Moon

Top Films (in alphabetical order)

Barbie
The Boy and the Heron
Ferrari
The Holdovers
The Iron Claw
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Past Lives
Poor Things

Top 5 International Films (in alphabetical order)

La Chimera
Fallen Leaves
The Teachers’ Lounge
Tótem
The Zone of Interest

Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order)

20 Days in Mariupol
32 Sounds
The Eternal Memory
The Pigeon Tunnel
A Still Small Voice

Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order)

All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt
All of Us Strangers
BlackBerry
Earth Mama
Flora and Son
The Persian Version
Scrapper
Showing Up
Theater Camp
A Thousand and One

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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