TILDA
The National Board of Review threw the horse race into motion with its winners this week. Tilda made the cut — it’s an interesting alternative to Meryl Streep,Viola Davis, Michelle Williams, & Glenn Close who probably have the strongest campaigns. All I have to say is that — Tilda is amazing.
I’m Also very happy about Christopher Plummer’s best supporting actor. The man has been making pictures since 1953 and never won an Oscar, Golden Globe, or SAG award. This needs to be a sweep all the way to the end. (An Alan Rickman recognition in this category would also be equally satisfying.)
Rooney Mara making waves and Pariah, which I have yet to see but which stars the fab Adepero Oduye who I knew back in NY, also got a mention.
Last but not least, Harry Potter getting 2 mentions is great, it keeps the most successful movie franchise in the race for gold. Over 6 billion dollars in 8 films, easily topping Star Wars and James Bond with the added bonus that it got the world to read.
Best Actor
George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Actress
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Adapted Screenplay
Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, The Descendants
Best Animated Feature
Rango
Best Director
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Best Documentary
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Best Ensemble
The Help
Best Film
Hugo
Best Foreign Language Film
A Separation
Best Original Screenplay
Will Reiser, 50/50
Best Supporting Actor
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Breakthrough Performance
Felicity Jones, Like Crazy
Breakthrough Performance
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Debut Director
J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
NBR Freedom of Expression
Crime After Crime
NBR Freedom of Expression
Pariah
Special Achievement in Filmmaking
The Harry Potter Franchise – A Distinguished Translation from Book to Film
Spotlight Award
Michael Fassbender (A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame, X-Men: First Class)
Top 10 Independent Films
(in alphabetical order) 50/50, Another Earth, Beginners, A Better Life, Cedar Rapids, Margin Call, Shame, Take Shelter, We Need To Talk About Kevin, Win Win
Top 5 Documentaries
(in alphabetical order) Born to be Wild, Buck, George Harrison: Living in the Material World, Project Nim, Senna
Top 5 Foreign Language Films
(in alphabetical order) 13 Assassins, Elite Squad: The Enemy Within, Footnote, Le Havre, Point Blank
Top Films
(in alphabetical order) The Artist, The Descendants, Drive, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Ides of March, J. Edgar, The Tree of Life, War Horse
Sometimes a Good Notion 