The National Board of Review today announced their selections for the top films and performances of the year. Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza was named Best Film, with additional accolades for the director and debut stars Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman. King Richard’s Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis each won an acting prize for their roles as the parents of Venus and Serena Williams, while West Side Story star Rachel Zegler won Best Actress and Belfast’s Ciarán Hinds won the Supporting Actor award.
Belfast, King Richard, and West Side Story were also included in the list of Top Films which also cited Don’t Look Up, Dune, Nightmare Alley, Red Rocket, and The Tragedy of Macbeth. There were additional recognitions for Asghar Farhadi and A Hero, Flee, Encanto, and Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised).
The National Board of Review has been recognizing the art of filmmaking since 1909. The voting body is comprised of industry professionals and film enthusiasts. An awards ceremony will be held at the NBR Awards Gala on January 11, 2022.
Here is the complete list of honorees:
- Best Film: LICORICE PIZZA
- Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, LICORICE PIZZA
- Best Actor: Will Smith, KING RICHARD
- Best Actress: Rachel Zegler, WEST SIDE STORY
- Best Supporting Actor: Ciarán Hinds, BELFAST
- Best Supporting Actress: Aunjanue Ellis, KING RICHARD
- Best Original Screenplay: Asghar Farhadi, A HERO
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Joel Coen, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
- Breakthrough Performance: Alana Haim & Cooper Hoffman, LICORICE PIZZA
- Best Directorial Debut: Michael Sarnoski, PIG
- Best Animated Feature: ENCANTO
- Best Foreign Language Film: A HERO
- Best Documentary: SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
- Best Ensemble: THE HARDER THEY FALL
- Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
- NBR Freedom of Expression Award: FLEE
Top Films (in alphabetical order)
- Belfast
- Don’t Look Up
- Dune
- King Richard
- The Last Duel
- Nightmare Alley
- Red Rocket
- The Tragedy of Macbeth
- West Side Story
Top 5 Foreign Language Films (in alphabetical order)
- Benedetta
- Lamb
- Lingui, The Sacred Bonds
- Titane
- The Worst Person in the World
Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order)
- Ascension
- Attica
- Flee
- The Rescue
- Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order)
- The Card Counter
- C’mon C’mon
- CODA
- The Green Knight
- Holler
- Jockey
- Old Henry
- Pig
- Shiva Baby
- The Souvenir Part II
