What a lovely day for "Mad Max: Fury Road," which just earned an Oscar boost thanks to the National Board of Review. The New York-based film organization named George Miller's feminist dystopian reboot the year's best movie.
Because it's one of the first major film prizes announced each year, the NBR's awards wield a strong, if sometimes spotty, hand in forecasting the Oscars. Of the 15 most recent films selected for the NBR's top award, 13 have gone on to earn Best Picture nominations. Last year's left-field choice, "A Most Violent Year," surprised awards prognosticators, and "Mad Max" is in a similar position because, as a big-budget epic released in May, its Oscar potential is one of the season's biggest question marks. One might say, in terms of awards odds, that it lived, died and now lives again. But "A Most Violent Year" was snubbed across the board when the 2015 Oscar list was announced, so transmit good vibes, "Fury Road" fans. The movie has to keep momentum alive until Jan. 14's nominations.
Most of the titles on the NBR's Top 10 list are expected to earn Best Picture slots, with "Sicario" and "Straight Outta Compton" as obvious outliers. ("Carol," "Brooklyn," "Steve Jobs" and "Youth" are among the films left out.)
In the acting races, NBR inclusion means the odds just grew for Matt Damon ("The Martian"), Brie Larson ("Room"), Sylvester Stallone ("Creed") and Jennifer Jason Leigh ("The Hateful Eight"), all of whom are likely candidates in their respective categories. Below is the full list of winners, announced Tuesday afternoon.
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”
William K. Everson Film History Award: Cecilia De Mille Presley
Best Ensemble: “The Big Short”
Spotlight Award: “Sicario” for Outstanding Collaborative Vision
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: “Beasts of No Nation” and “Mustang”
Top 10 Films
"Bridge of Spies"
"Creed"
"The Hateful Eight"
"Inside Out"
"Spotlight"
"The Martian"
"Room"
"Sicario"
"Straight Outta Compton"
Top 5 Foreign Language Films
"Goodnight Mommy"
"Mediterranea"
"Phoenix"
"The Second Mother"
"The Tribe"
Top 5 Documentaries
"Best of Enemies"
"The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution"
"The Diplomat"
"Listen to Me Marlon"
"The Look of Silence"
Top 10 Independent Films
"'71"
"45 Years"
"Cop Car"
"Ex Machina"
"Grandma"
"It Follows"
"James White"
"Mississippi Grind"
"Welcome to Me"
"While We're Young"
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