With the Oscars delayed until 4/25 and COVID nixing traditional screenings, q&a’s, and parties, early awards may be more influential than ever.
Academy voters often look to other groups’ awards to decide which films to make time to see. December brought only the quirky votes by NY & LA critics, who tend to applaud indie dramas. The more mainstream National Board of Review will announce its winners 1/26.
NBR’s a good bellwether for Oscar noms, but not necessarily for wins. Last year, its best picture was THE IRISHMAN. Quentin Tarantino won directing for ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD. Both became Oscar frontrunners, but Academy members chose PARASITE and its director, Bong Joon Ho.
NBR’s best actor winner, Adam Sandler (UNCUT GEMS), wasn’t Oscar-nominated. But best actress winner (pictured) Renee Zellweger (JUDY) also won the Oscar.
NBR had mixed results for supporting actors & actresses. Brad Pitt won for ONCE and also won the Oscar. Kathy Bates, who won for RICHARD JEWELL, got an Oscar nom, but lost to Laura Dern (MARRIAGE STORY).
However, in 2018 NBR’s best picture winner way back in late November, GREEN BOOK ended up taking home the Oscar!