The National Board of Review take a bizarre turn into new territory with their selection of The Most Violent Year as Best Film of 2014. The indie hadn’t been making much of an impact in early prognostication, but suddenly bursts into the competition with the most awards this year from NBR. Selma is left out while The Lego Movie becomes a bizarre statistic by earning a place on the Best Films list, but failing to win the Best Animated Film prize that went to How to Train Your Dragon 2, which wasn’t on the top films list.

Award Tallies

(3) A Most Violent Year
(2) Birdman

The Awards

Best Picture

A Most Violent Year

Best Animated Film

How to Train Your Dragon 2

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

The Lego Movie

Best Adapted Screenplay

Inherent Vice

Best Foreign Film

Wild Tales

Best Documentary

Life Itself

Best Ensemble

Fury

Best Breakthrough Performance

Jack O’Connell – Starred Up, Unbroken

Best Directorial Debut

Gillian Robespierre – Obvious Child

Freedom of Expression

TIE:
Rosewater
Selma

Spotlight Award

Chris Rock – Top Five

William K. Everson Film History Award

Scot Eyman

Top Films of 2012

• American Sniper
• Birdman
• Boyhood
• Fury
• Gone Girl
• The Imitation Game
• Inherent Vice
• The Lego Movie
• A Most Violent Year
• Nightcrawler
• Unbroken

Top Independent Films of 2012

• 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

Top Foreign Films of 2012

• Force Majeure
• Gett: The Trial of Vivian Ansalem
• Leviathan
• Two Days, One Night
• We Are the Best!
• Wild Tales

Top Documentaries of 2012

• Art and Craft
• Jodorowsky’s Dune
• Keep On Keepin’ On
• The Kill Team
• Last Days in Vietnam
• Life Itself

National Board of Review Data

Year Founded: December 24, 1908
First Awards: 1929 (86)