A Most Violent Year, the latest movie from Margin Call and All is Lost director JC Chandor, has been named the best film of 2014 by the National Board of Review.
Each year the US organisation, whose best-of list is voted for by critics, film-makers and academics, casts one of the first stones in the annual awards season that culminates in the Oscars. Other early best-film prizes have gone to Boyhood, awarded by the New York Film Critics Circle, and Birdman, winner at the Gotham awards.
Chandor’s film stars Oscar Isaac as Abel Morales, a New York businessman trying to build a heating oil empire, and coming up against violent rivals as well as law enforcement. Isaac shared the best actor award with Michael Keaton for his performance in Birdman, while Isaac’s co-star Jessica Chastain took the supporting actress award. Writing in the Guardian, Xan Brooks described the film as “rigorous, resourceful and as smart as a whip. It surely can’t win [the best picture Oscar]; it’s too nuanced and sombre. But its canny tactical struggle remains a joy to behold.”
Also appearing in A Most Violent Year is David Oyelowo, the British actor tipped for awards season recognition in civil rights drama Selma, which won a Freedom of Expression award.
Other National Board of Review winners included Julianne Moore, who plays a woman suffering early onset Alzheimer’s in Still Alice, and Clint Eastwood, awarded best director for American Sniper. British actor Jack O’Connell won the Breakthrough performance award for his work in Starred Up and Unbroken.
The Lego Movie won the best original screenplay award, suggesting it might break out of the animated movie ghetto this season, while Chris Rock was given the special Spotlight award for writing, directing and starring in Top Five.
Full list of winners
Best film: A Most Violent Year
Best director: Clint Eastwood – American Sniper
Best actor (tie): Oscar Isaac – A Most Violent Year; Michael Keaton – Birdman
Best actress: Julianne Moore – Still Alice
Best supporting actor: Edward Norton – Birdman
Best supporting actress: Jessica Chastain – A Most Violent Year
Best original screenplay: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller – The Lego Movie
Best adapted screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson – Inherent Vice
Best animated feature: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Breakthrough performance: Jack O’Connell – Starred Up and Unbroken
Best directorial debut: Gillian Robespierre – Obvious Child
Best foreign language film: Wild Tales
Best documentary: Life Itself
William K Everson film history award: Scott Eyman
Best ensemble: Fury
Spotlight award: Chris Rock for writing, directing, and starring in Top Five
NBR freedom of expression awards: Rosewater and Selma
Top films
American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
Fury
Gone Girl
The Imitation Game
Inherent Vice
The Lego Movie
Nightcrawler
Unbroken
Top 5 foreign language films
Force Majeure
Gett: The Trial of Vivian Amsalem
Leviathan
Two Days, One Night
We are the Best!
Top 5 documentaries
Art and Craft
Jodorowsky’s Dune
Keep On Keepin’ On
The Kill Team
Last Days in Vietnam
Top 10 independent films
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
