Wicked Casts a Spell on NBR

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked,
winner of Best Picture from NBR

Wicked (which I just saw yesterday in IMAX), the film adaptation of the first act of the hit Broadway musical about the witches of Oz, casts a spell on the National Board of Review, winning Best Picture, Best Director (Jon M. Chu) and the NBR Spotlight Award to stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for their creative collaboration. The National Board of Review announced its winners on Tues. Dec. 4. The awards will be presented on Jan. 7 at Ciprani 42nd Street in a gala hosted by Willie Geist on MSNBC's Morning Joe (is anyone still watching that show?) and NBC's Sunday Today. 

Founded in 1909, the NBR is composed of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals, academics and students. The group's winners did not overlap much with those of the New York Film Critics Circle, announced yesterday. Only Kieran Culkin of A Real Pain won both a NYFCC and NBR award in his category, Best Supporting Actor. The NBR thespian champs are Best Actor Daniel Craig (Queer), Best Actress Nicole Kidman (Babygirl) and Best Supporting Actress Elle Fanning (A Complete Unknown). NYFCC's choice for Best Picture, The Brutalist, was totally ignored by the NBR.

This win increases Wicked's chances for Oscar gold. But it's a long way to the noms for Hollywood's top prize on Jan. 17

"Wicked represents the pure magic that movies can bring to audiences. Every detail is beautifully crafted and designed, the actors are all exceptional and the music is second-to-none - together it adds up to a transporting experience like no other. The NBR is proud to honor director Jon M. Chu and his remarkable cinematic vision,” said NBR President Annie Schulhof.

2024 National Board of Review winners:

Best Film:  Wicked

Best Director:  Jon M. Chu, Wicked

Best Actor: Daniel Craig, Queer

Best Actress: Nicole Kidman, Babygirl 

Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Best Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning, A Complete Unknown

Best Ensemble: Conclave

Breakthrough Performance: Mikey Madison, Anora

Best Directorial Debut: India Donaldson, Good One

Best Original Screenplay: Mike Leigh, Hard Truths

Best Adapted Screenplay: Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing

NBR Spotlight Award: Creative Collaboration of Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande

NBR Freedom of Expression Award: No Other Land

Best Animated Feature: Flow

Best International Film: The Seed of the Sacred Fig

Best Documentary: Sugarcane

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke, Nosferatu

Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Top Films (in alphabetical order):

Anora

Babygirl

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Gladiator II

Juror #2

Queer

A Real Pain

Sing Sing

Top 5 International Films (in alphabetical order):

All We Imagine as Light

The Girl with the Needle

I’m Still Here

Santosh

Universal Language

Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order):

Black Box Diaries

Dahomey

Look Into My Eyes

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

Will & Harper

Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order):

Bird

A Different Man

Dìdi

Ghostlight

Good One

Hard Truths

His Three Daughters

Love Lies Bleeding

My Old Ass

Thelma