National Board of Review (NBR) 2023: Scorsese’s Epic Westen, “Killers of the Fuller Moon” Lead Awards: Picture, Director, Actress

Lily Gladstone and Paul Giamatti Nab Top Acting Honors

‘The Holdovers,’ ‘The Iron Claw” and ‘Poor Things’ have strong showings.

Killers of the Flower Moon
Everett Collection
“Killers of the Flower Moon” has been named best picture by the National Board of Review (NBR)

Co-distributed by Apple Original Films and Paramount Pictures, the crime epic also nabbed prizes for director Martin Scorsese and actress Lily Gladstone. Scorsese’s win for directing is notable, as he is now tied with legendary filmmaker David Lean with four wins, the most of any director in NBR history. Interestingly, NBR has the least translation to an Oscar winner of all the major categories, the last being Scorsese for “The Departed” (2006).

Over the last 30 years, the winner of NBR’s best film has received Oscar nomination for best picture, except for once every decade — 2014’s “A Most Violent Year,” 2000’s “Quills” and 1998’s “Gods and Monsters.”

Two NBR best actor winners in the last decade have translated to Oscar winners — Casey Affleck for “Manchester by the Sea” (2016) and Will Smith for “King Richard” (2021).

Only three men have been snubbed by the Academy — Oscar Isaac for “A Most Violent Year” (2014), Tom Hanks for “The Post” (2017) and Adam Sandler for “Uncut Gems” (2019).

Lily Gladstone’s big lead actress prize for “Killers” follows wins at the New York Film Critics Association.

Three NBR lead actresses have moved onto the Dolby Theatre stage — Brie Larson in “Room” (2015), Renée Zellweger in “Judy” (2019) and Michelle Yeoh from “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Four have missed out on an Oscar mention in the last dozen years — Lesley Manville for “Another Year” (2010), Tilda Swinton for “We Need to Talk About Kevin” (2011), Emma Thompson for “Saving Mr. Banks” (2013) and Rachel Zegler for “West Side Story.”

Their movies took both screenplay prizes.

The last two times all four NBR acting winners received Oscar nominations were in 2020 and 2009.

The non-profit organization, which encompasses film enthusiasts from New York City as well as critics, academics and consumer members, also named its top 10 movies of the year. The list included movies such as “Barbie,” “Maestro” and “Oppenheimer,” which bode well for each of their awards campaigns. One surprising inclusion was Hayao Miyazaki’s animated entry “The Boy and the Heron.” Interesting, Miyazaki didn’t take home the animated prize — instead, it went to Sony Pictures’ blockbuster sequel “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”

Sean Durkin’s drama “The Iron Claw” triumphed as the best ensemble of 202

“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003) and Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water,” which failed to make NBR’s top 10 lists, went on to win the best picture Oscar.

The honorees will be feted at the NBR Awards Gala, hosted by Willie Geist (Host, NBC News’ Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist and co-host, MSNBC’s Morning Joe) on Jan. 11 at Cipriani 42nd Street, in New York City.

See the full list of winners below.

Best Film: “Killers of the Flower Moon” (Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures)

Best DirectorMartin Scorsese — “Killers of the Flower Moon” (Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures)

Best ActorPaul Giamatti, “The Holdovers” (Focus Features)

Best ActressLily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon” (Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures)

Best Supporting ActorMark Ruffalo, “Poor Things” (Searchlight Pictures)

Best Supporting ActressDa’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers” (Focus Features)

NBR Icon Award: Bradley Cooper

Best Original Screenplay“The Holdovers” (Focus Features) — David Hemingson

Best Adapted Screenplay“Poor Things” (Searchlight Pictures) — Tony McNamara

Breakthrough PerformanceTeyana Taylor, “A Thousand and One” (Focus Features)

Best Directorial Debut: Celine Song, “Past Lives” (A24)

Best Animated Feature: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (Sony Pictures)

Best International Film“Anatomy of a Fall” (Neon)

Best Documentary“Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” (Apple Original Films)

Best Ensemble“The Iron Claw” (A24)

Outstanding Achievement in Stunt ArtistryDirector Chad Stahelski and Stunt Coordinators Stephen Dunlevy & Scott Rogers, “John Wick: Chapter 4” (Lionsgate)

Top Films (in alphabetical order):

  • “Barbie”
  • “The Boy and the Heron”
  • “Ferrari”
  • “The Holdovers”
  • “The Iron Claw”
  • “Maestro”
  • “Oppenheimer”
  • “Past Lives”
  • “Poor Things”

Top 5 International Films:

  • “La Chimera” (Neon)
  • “Fallen Leaves” (Mubi)
  • “The Teachers’ Lounge” (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • “Tótem”
  • “The Zone of Interest” (A24)

Top 5 Documentaries:

  • “20 Days in Mariupol”
  • “32 Sounds”
  • “The Eternal Memory”
  • “The Pigeon Tunnel”
  • “A Still Small Voice”

Top 10 Independent Films:

  • “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt” (A24)
  • “All of Us Strangers” (Searchlight Pictures)
  • “BlackBerry” (IFC Films)
  • “Earth Mama” (A24)
  • “Flora and Son” (Apple Original Films)
  • “The Persian Version” (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • “Scrapper”
  • “Showing Up” (A24)
  • “Theater Camp” (Searchlight Pictures)
  • “A Thousand and One” (Focus Features)
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