The "Wicked" workings of, you know who, the NBR!
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 9:53PM
NATHANIEL R in Jon M Chu, NBR, Wicked, precursor awards

by Nathaniel R 

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in "Wicked". © Universal Pictures 

The National Board of Review has spoken. Though they once fought tooth and nail to be "first" they long ago ceded that title to the Gotham Awards who now announce their nominees a full two months before year's end. Crazy. It's one reason, at least, that earlier releases aren't totally doomed come awards season. So there's that. This year their secret membership roster must be eagerly awaited the 'sing along' version of Wicked that's coming this month; they've bestowed three awards on the phenomenally successful Broadway juggernaut turned blockbuster two-part movie: Best Film, Best Director, and a special prize for the leading actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. It's quite a tonal departure from their favourite film last year which was Killers of the Flower Moon. Or is it? Both films involve a smart woman who gets a little dumb when it comes to men with obviously shady intention who aren't half the person she is. A stretch, I know, but it's fun to amuse yourself with forced connections from one year to the next. 

The NBR winners with commentary and trivia after the jump...

Best Film Wicked
Top 10 Films (alpha order)

 

 

It's always amusing that their top ten never includes their best film, which gives them a 'top 11'. To quote Spinal Tap "This one goes to 11"... The NBR choice almost always goes on to a Best Picture nomination but Wicked certainly didn't need their love to get there. 

On a final note it is absolutely hilarious to see Juror #2 in here. While trying to guess what the NBR choices might be each year before their announcement is a fool's game (unpredictable), one guess that will almost never be wrong is that they will find a way to honor Clint Eastwood. I don't want to spend the time counting which of his pictures have been honored in some way but it's a whole helluva a lot of them, some of which were honored nowhere else. 

Best Director Jon M Chu, Wicked

The NBR often goes their own way in this category -- only half of their choices go on to Oscar nominations historically speaking. But regardless I feel so vindicated about Jon M Chu, you know, because I nominated him right here for In the Heights and it was such a skill jump from the much more successful but also exciting and fun Crazy Rich Asians. Basically his movies are joyful. The shrug that In the Heights got from awards bodies and general audiences makes me fume to this day. 

TRIVIA: Jon M Chu is only the fourth Asian filmmaker to win this prize after Akira Kurosawa twice (1951/1985), Ang Lee twice (1995/2005), and most recently Shekhar Kapur for Elizabeth (1998). 

Best Actress Nicole Kidman, Babygirl

 

Nicole Kidman in "Babygirl" (Credit: Niko Tavernise)

 

I am DYING to see this. Why will no one invite me and why haven't I yet received a screener? Or is that screener sitting in my friends apartment (where I used to live) due to a mailing mishap. I have so many other screeners of less thrilling anticipation. Is my wait to see this movie a metaphor for the S&M relationship at the film's core? 

This weekend I went to the movies with a group of close friends and Kidman's perpetual AMC shilling came on. I did my usual applause with an extra "My Queen!" at the screen and literally no one else in the crowded theater reacted. What a stuffy (Gladiator II) audience. At the theater I usually go to her pinstriped stroll through an empty theater ALWAYS gets applause and vocal responses from the audiences and I'm not usually even the first one to react. 

Best Actor Daniel Craig, Queer

It'll be interesting to see how Daniel Craig fares this awards season. He's a big star playing against-type which usually helps a lot but on the other hand it's an unapologetically R rated very gay and very strange experience that's not likely to excite voters in other categories. It's rare for an NBR winner in this category to repeat at the Oscars but they are often nominated. 

Best Supporting Actress Elle Fanning, A Complete Unknown

This one was the biggest surprise to me among their choices as I've heard approximately no one talking about her up until this point. Even the trailer leans heavily on the other supporting actress, the less famous Monica Barbaro who plays Joan Baez.

This prize, like Director, is one where the NBR will often go their own way. In the past 20 years of this category, for example, 7 of their winners failed to receive a follow-up a Oscar nod. In reverse chronological order they were: Janelle Monae (Glass Onion), Jessica Chastain (A Most Violent Year), Octavia Spencer (Fruitvale Station), Ann Dowd (Compliance), Shailene Woodley (The Descendants), Catherine O'Hara (For Your Consideration), and Gong Li (Memoirs of a Geisha). Only 4 of the NBR winners in the past 20 ceremonies repeated at the Oscars: Da'Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers), Youn Yuh-Jung (Minari), Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk), and Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)

Best Supporting Actor Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Most of NBR's choices here land in the Oscar shortlist.

Best Ensemble Conclave

 

Ralph Fiennes in "Conclave" © Focus Features

 

Fun movie but Ralph Fiennes is working on such a higher level than anyone else in front of the camera that it seems like a strange choice for this prize, despite having a duly humongous cast. 

Breakthrough Performance Mikey Madison, Anora

Such a fun star-is-born turn. 

Best Directorial Debut India Donaldson, Good One

Best Original Screenplay Mike Leigh, Hard Truths

Mike Leigh always collecting those screenplay prizes despite or because of his famous and singular process of writing them through improvisatory collaboration with his actors 

Best Adapted Screenplay Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing

Again, I'm a bit surprised at how well Sing Sing is doing. It's certainly a good picture but it didn't feel potent or unique enough in the summer, beyond the two central performances (at least to this viewer), to go the full awards season distance. I stand corrected!

NBR Spotlight Award Creative collaboration of Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande

Sneaky way to get this year's 'it' girls at your party, NBR. We see you.

 

NOSFERATU

 

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography Jarin Blaschke, Nosferatu

I love Jarin Blaschke's filmography (thus far) but there are more exciting choices this year in Cinematography. This isn't The Lighthouse (2019) in terms of light and imagery is my point. 

Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Another award I can understand in theory but shrug at in reality. I know some critics loved Furiosa, but for these eyes it was a pale retread of its instant classic predecessor, Mad Max: Fury Road.

Best Animated Feature Flow

Yay!

Best International Feature The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany, Iran)
Top International Films

 

 

Best Documentary Sugarcane
Top 5 Documentaries (alpha order)

 

 

Top 10 Independent Films (alpha order)

 

 

A fun list! A Different Man is having a good week. I must make time this weekend to catch up with it.

FINAL NOTE: Here are some buzzy films that the NBR completely passed over despite having so many winners and citations were: The Brutalist, Challengers, Dune Part II, Nickel Boys, The Room Next Door, The Substance, and Italy's Vermiglio. 

What do you make of this year's NBR choices? 

 

 

 

 

Article originally appeared on The Film Experience (http://thefilmexperience.net/).
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