The National Board of Review is traditionally the first “awards group” (we use that term lightly with them) to announce their honorees for the season. This year, the organization somewhat surprised by selecting Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza” for Best Film and Best Director. And, in a move that will raise some eyebrows, completely snubbed Jane Campion‘s highly lauded “The Power of the Dog.”
It should be noted, however, that NBR has a very spotty record picking Best Picture with only its 2018 winner, “Green Book,” taking Oscar’s top prize in 2019. In fact, since 2010, three NBR winners (“Hugo,” “A Most Violent Year,” “Da 5 Bloods”) weren’t even nominated. “Pizza” should escape that fate, however.
On the acting side, Will Smith (“King Richard”) and Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”) took Best Actor and Best Actress respectfully. Ciarán Hinds was a surprise Supporting Actor winner for “Belfast” while Aunjanue Ellis won Supporting actress for “King Richard.” Asghar Farhadi took Best Screenplay and Foreign Language Film for “A Hero” while Joel Coen took Best Adapted Screenplay for “The Tragedy of Macbeth.”
Surprising snubs across the board included Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog,” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “tick, tick…Boom!,” Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch” and Pablo Larrain’s “Spencer,” among others.
The full list of winners and honorees are as follows:
Best Film: LICORICE PIZZA
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, LICORICE PIZZA
Best Actor: Will Smith, KING RICHARD
Best Actress: Rachel Zegler, WEST SIDE STORY
Best Supporting Actor: Ciarán Hinds, BELFAST
Best Supporting Actress: Aunjanue Ellis, KING RICHARD
Best Original Screenplay: Asghar Farhadi, A HERO
Best Adapted Screenplay: Joel Coen, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
Breakthrough Performance: Alana Haim & Cooper Hoffman, LICORICE PIZZA
Best Directorial Debut: Michael Sarnoski, PIG
Best Animated Feature: ENCANTO
Best Foreign Language Film: A HERO
Best Documentary: SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
Best Ensemble: THE HARDER THEY FALL
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: FLEE
Top Films (in alphabetical order)
Belfast
Don’t Look Up
Dune
King Richard
The Last Duel
Nightmare Alley
Red Rocket
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story
Top 5 Foreign Language Films (in alphabetical order)
Benedetta
Lamb
Lingui, The Sacred Bonds
Titane
The Worst Person in the World
Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order)
Ascension
Attica
Flee
The Rescue
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order)
The Card Counter
C’mon C’mon
CODA
The Green Knight
Holler
Jockey
Old Henry
Pig
Shiva Baby
The Souvenir Part II