'Most Violent Year' Crashes Oscar Race with 3 NBR Wins

JC Chandor's A Most Violent Year surprised by winning three awards at the National Board of Review on Tuesday afternoon. Its two leads, Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, were also honored for the film. There were some other surprises as well (Eastwood...really...), and it's exciting to have something crashing the race as December begins.

Best Picture: A Most Violent Year

I am as surprised by this as I was with Her last year. 

Best Director: Clint Eastwood, American Sniper

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. The NBR honors Clint a lot. It's rather disheartening to see him take the spot of some other deserving director coming up this year. 

Best Actor: (tie) Michael Keaton, Birdman & Oscar Isaac, A Most Violent Year

Keaton has two wins under his belt.

Best Actress: Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Best Supporting Actor: Edward Norton, Birdman

Yaaaaayyy!!!

Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year

Best Original Screenplay: The LEGO Movie

Um...

Best Adapted Screenplay: Inherent Vice
Best Animated Feature: How to Train Your Dragon 2

Breakthrough Performance: Jack O'Connell, Unbroken
Best Foreign Language Film: Wild Tales
Best Documentary Feature: Life Itself

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Directorial Debut: Gillian Robespierre, Obvious Child

It's great to have 2 women take the first two debut directing awards this year (Jennifer Kent won at the NYFCC for The Babadook)

Best Ensemble: Fury

Spotlight Award: Chris Rock for writing, starring in, and directing Top Five

National Board of Review Freedom of Expression Award: Selma & Rosewater

Top Ten Films of the Year:
American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
Fury
Gone Girl
The Imitation Game 
Inherent Vice
The Lego Movie
Nightcrawler
Unbroken

Top Five Foreign Language Film:
Force Majeure
Gett: The Trial of Vivian Amsalem
Leviathan
Two Days, One Night
We Are the Best!

Top Ten Independent Films of the Year:
Blue Ruin
Locke
A Most Wanted Man
Mr. Turner
Obvious Child
The Skeleton Twins
Snowpiercer
Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Starred Up 
Still Alice