National Board of Review Award Winners

Two days in, and another curveball is thrown our way. The NBR has selected Spike Jonze's Her has the best film of 2013. This is definitely surprising, as once again Gravity and 12 Years a Slave sit on the sidelines (both made the top ten though). This is a bold choice for a group that usually picks Oscar frontrunners or big contenders. Just flipping through some of the past winners, all of them have at least scored a Best Picture nomination (many winning). I had counted out Her, thinking it would be too quirky for the Academy, but maybe if it continues to rack up precursors it could easily prove me wrong. Director went to Spike Jonze, and the four acting awards all went to top Oscar contenders Bruce Dern, Emma Thompson, Will Forte, and Octavia Spencer. Stories We Tell and The Wind Rises continue to win, and Coens win for Inside Llewyn Davis. Also Wolf of Wall Street gets its first mention of the season with Adapted Screenplay. The Forte and Spencer wins are nice notices for two performances trying to get into this race. Spencer missed out on Indie Spirits, and needs mentions like this to overcome what has become a competitive category. And Forte, who did get Indie Spirit love, has been on the outer circle all season, but he may join June Squibb and Bruce Dern as a serious Oscar contender.

Best Film
HER

Best Director
Spike Jonze, HER

Best Actor
Bruce Dern, NEBRASKA

Best Actress
Emma Thompson, SAVING MR. BANKS

Best Supporting Actor
Will Forte, NEBRASKA

Best Supporting Actress
Octavia Spencer, FRUITVALE STATION

Best Original Screenplay
Joel and Ethan Coen, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

Best Adapted Screenplay
Terence Winter, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET

Best Animated Feature
THE WIND RISES

Breakthrough Performance
Michael B. Jordan, FRUITVALE STATION

Breakthrough Performance
Adele Exarchopoulos, BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR

Best Directorial Debut
Ryan Coogler, FRUITVALE STATION

Best Foreign Language Film
THE PAST

Best Documentary
STORIES WE TELL

William K. Everson Film History Award
George Stevens, Jr.

Best Ensemble
PRISONERS

Spotlight Award
Career Collaboration of Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio

NBR Freedom of Expression Award
WADJDA

Creative Innovation in Filmmaking Award
GRAVITY

Top Films (in alphabetical order)
12 YEARS A SLAVE
FRUITVALE STATION
GRAVITY
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
LONE SURVIVOR
NEBRASKA
PRISONERS
SAVING MR BANKS
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET

Top 5 Foreign Language Films (In Alphabetical Order)
BEYOND THE HILLS
GLORIA
THE GRANDMASTER
A HIGHJACKING
THE HUNT

Top 5 Documentaries (In Alphabetical Order)
20 FEET FROM STARDOM
THE ACT OF KILLING
AFTER TILLER
CASTING BY
THE SQUARE

Top 10 Independent Films (In Alphabetical Order)
AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
IN A WORLD…
MOTHER OF GEORGE
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
MUD
THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES
SHORT TERM 12
SIGHTSEERS
THE SPECTACULAR NOW