Here’s how the ridiculous National Board of Review stacked up to the eventual Academy Awards. They bore little resemblance to the real awards as they were based on the subjective considerations of the group’s chairman, and the fact that one of their board members works for A24.
So why do the studios pander to this group? In the end, the NBR got them nowhere. The whole thing is a big waste of time.
Best Film: Licorice Pizza — the Oscar went to “CODA”
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson — Licorice Pizza — the Oscar went to Jane Campion
Best Actor: Will Smith — King Richard — this was their only correct choice in acting
Best Actress: Rachel Zegler — West Side Story — Zegler wasn’t nominated. Jessica Chastain won for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Best Supporting Actor: Ciarán Hinds — Belfast — the Oscar went to Troy Kotsur, for “CODA”
Best Supporting Actress: Aunjanue Ellis — King Richard — the Oscar went to Ariana DeBose for “West Side Story”
Best Original Screenplay: Asghar Farhadi — A Hero — the Oscar went to “Belfast”
Best Adapted Screenplay: Joel Coen — The Tragedy of Macbeth — the Oscar went to “CODA”
Best Animated Feature: Encanto — this was the group’s choice
Best Foreign Language Film: A Hero — the Oscar went to “Drive My Car”
Best Documentary: Summer of Soul — this was the group’s choice
Best Ensemble: The Harder They Fall — SAG Best Ensemble went to “Belfast”
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel — The Tragedy of Macbeth — the Oscar went to “Dune
