"A Most Violent Year" named best film by National Board of Review
The National Board of Review has named "A Most Violent Year" as the best film of 2014.
The group announced its picks for the best films and performances of the year on Tuesday, and J.C. Chandor's Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain-starring crime drama took the top honor.
"'A Most Violent Year' is an exhilarating crime drama with a compelling story, outstanding performances, and an elegant cinematic style," said National Board of Review president Annie Schulhof. "J.C. Chandor has given us a new and provocative perspective on the American Dream."
"Birdman," "Boyhood" and "Gone Girl" also made the group's list of the best films of the year, as did "American Sniper," "Fury," "The Imitation Game," "Inherent Vice," "The Lego Movie," "Nightcrawler" and "Unbroken."
Clint Eastwood won the best director honor for "American Sniper," while acting honors went to Isaac and Chastain for "A Most Violent Year," Michael Keaton and Edward Norton for "Birdman" and Julianne Moore for "Still Alice."
The National Board of Review, a group of film historians, students and academics, will honor the winners at a gala to be held in New York on Jan. 6, 2015, hosted by ABC News' Lara Spencer.
See below for the 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 & 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" & "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 Award: "Rosewater"
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: "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"