The National Board of Review released a list of movies in various categories for a Best of 2012 List. Before the N.Y.F.C.C. announced their Best List on Monday, the NBR would kick off movie award season. Here is what they came up with:
NAMED 2012 BEST FILM OF THE YEAR BY THE NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW
*** 2012 Gala to be held on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 hosted by Meredith Vieira
New York, NY – (December 5, 2012) – The National Board of Review has named ZERO DARK THIRTY the 2012 Best Film of the Year.
Below is a full list of the awards given by the National Board of Review:
Best Film: ZERO DARK THIRTY
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, ZERO DARK THIRTY
Best Actor: Bradley Cooper, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Best Actress: Jessica Chastain, ZERO DARK THIRTY
Best Supporting Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, DJANGO UNCHAINED
Best Supporting Actress: Ann Dowd, COMPLIANCE
Best Original Screenplay: Rian Johnson, LOOPER
Best Adapted Screenplay: David O. Russell, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Best Animated Feature: WRECK-IT RALPH
Special Achievement in Filmmaking: Ben Affleck, ARGO
Breakthrough Actor: Tom Holland, THE IMPOSSIBLE
Breakthrough Actress: Quvenzhané Wallis, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
Best Directorial Debut: Benh Zeitlin, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
Best Foreign Language Film: AMOUR
Best Documentary: SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN
William K. Everson Film History Award: 50 YEARS OF BOND FILMS
Best Ensemble: LES MISÉRABLES
Spotlight Award: John Goodman (ARGO, FLIGHT, PARANORMAN, TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE)
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: CENTRAL PARK FIVE
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: PROMISED LAND
Top Films (in alphabetical order)
ARGO
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
DJANGO UNCHAINED
LES MISÉRABLES
LINCOLN
LOOPER
THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
PROMISED LAND
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Top 5 Foreign Language Films
(In Alphabetical Order)
BARBARA
THE INTOUCHABLES
THE KID WITH A BIKE
NO
WAR WITCH
Top 5 Documentaries
(In Alphabetical Order)
AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY
DETROPIA
THE GATEKEEPERS
THE INVISIBLE WAR
ONLY THE YOUNG
Top 10 Independent Films
(In Alphabetical Order)
ARBITRAGE
BERNIE
COMPLIANCE
END OF WATCH
HELLO I MUST BE GOING
LITTLE BIRDS
MOONRISE KINGDOM
ON THE ROAD
QUARTET
SLEEPWALK WITH ME
That’s a the list as it stands for the year. A few things to be considered:
Not Always An Oscar Indicator:
The NBR isn’t always an indicator for how the Oscar voters will respond. Just ask Tilda Swinton, Shailene Woodley, and “Buck” which were winners last year who probably deserved Oscars, but weren’t even nominated. It happens!
A New Frontrunner Clearly Emerges:
“Zero Dark Thirty,” a movie that hasn’t screened to a general audience nor probably sold a single movie ticket, looks poised join the Oscar Best Picture Frontrunners Club. The anticipation for this thriller is only building! The pressure is on for it to compete with “Lincoln,” “Argo,” and “Silver Linings Playbook!”
Some Big Surprise Contenders:
Ann Dowd’s stellar turn in “Compliance” was recognized for a Best Supporting Actress prize, but this might not translate well to the Academy. At my screening in August, close to two dozen people walked out of this picture. This was tough stuff to watch, but her turn was award worthy.
Likewise for Leonardo DiCaprio unexpectedly winning Best Supporting Actor for “Django Unchained.” It could be a hard sell to the Academy.
Provides Needed Awards Boost:
One performance needs all the attention from all the critics it can obtain and that’s Bradley Cooper in “Silver Linings Playbook.” It’s a competitive category and this sends him in the right direction. “Looper” made the Ten Best List and scored the original screenplay win. Actress Quvenzhané Wallis and director Benh Zeitlin won best debuts for BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD! This is critical for them to do well in all the critics circles and maintain online buzz.
The ‘Wallflower’ Under the Radar:
“Perks of Being A Wallflower” ending up on the Top Ten list was no fluke. The best movies sneak up on us with introspective writing, solemn acting, and a whirlwind of an emotional response. ‘Perks’ was a John Hughes movie for both the sentimental 90’s teenager and the current hipster generation…and yet so much more. This little gem of a movie has earned all of the attention that it receives during year end recognition!
