Among the many bodies that give out awards during gong season in the States, the National Board of Review is possibly the most mysterious, rising out of the waves of film coverage like a leviathan, handing out its honours, then disappearing back into the depths. This year, it has chosen to give prizes to films including Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian and Creed.
George Miller’s return to the post-apocalyptic world of Max Rockatansky won Best Film, though oddly Miller himself did not pick up Best Director; that went to Ridley Scott. And Scott’s Martian leading man Matt Damon was named Best Actor, with Room’s Brie Larson acknowledged as Best Actress.
There was welcome recognition of Sylvester Stallone’s work in Creed, as he took Best Supporting Actor, while The Hateful Eight’s Jennifer Jason Leigh won Best Supporting Actress. In the screenplay stakes, Quentin Tarantino took Best Original Screenplay, and the Adapted category went to Drew Goddard for The Martian.
The main categories are below. If you're in need of more films of the year list action, take a look at ours.
Best Film
Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Director
Ridley Scott, The Martian
Best Actor
Matt Damon, The Martian
Best Actress
Brie Larson, Room
Best Supporting Actor
Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Best Original Screenplay
Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight
Best Adapted Screenplay
Drew Goddard, The Martian
Best Animated Feature
Inside Out
Breakthrough Performance
Abraham Attah, Beasts Of No Nation and Jacob Tremblay, Room
Best Directorial Debut
Jonas Carpignano, Mediterranea
Best Foreign Language Film
Son Of Saul
Best Documentary
Amy
Best Ensemble
The Big Short
Spotlight Award
Sicario, for Outstanding Collaborative Vision
NBR Freedom Of Expression Award
Beasts Of No Nation and Mustang