“Zero Dark Thirty” wins Best Film from National Board of Review – OSCARS

 Is “Zero Dark Thirty” going to be this year’s “The Social Network,” or “The King’s Speech?”

Kathryn Bigelow’s searing, comprehensive docu-drama detailing the impossible hunt for Osama Bin Laden was named Best Film by the National Board of Review today, days after the New York Film Critics Circle handed the film the same award. (Bigelow, for the record, took Best Director from both groups, as well.) These are tremendous feathers in the cap of a film that expects to compete for Oscar gold as the campaign for nominations kicks into high gear.

But as you likely recall, David Fincher’s “The Social Network” also collected most – if not all – of the pre-Oscar critics love … only to be shut down (for the most part) by Tom Hooper’s “The King’s Speech” two seasons ago.

Hooper could halt another critical darling if his “Les Miserables” picks up steam. The film was named to the NBR’s Top 10 list, along with a bevy of titles we’ll list below.

At the moment, though, the frontrunner in the ongoing awards race is shaping up to be Bigelow’s masterful “Zero Dark Thirty.” Whether that works in the film’s favor or not remains to be seen.

And the Oscar race rolls on …

Here are today’s National Board of Review winners:

Best Film: ZERO DARK THIRTY
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, ZERO DARK THIRTY
Best Actor: Bradley Cooper, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Best Actress: Jessica Chastain, ZERO DARK THIRTY
Best Supporting Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, DJANGO UNCHAINED
Best Supporting Actress: Ann Dowd, COMPLIANCE
Best Original Screenplay: Rian Johnson, LOOPER
Best Adapted Screenplay: David O. Russell, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Best Animated Feature: WRECK-IT RALPH
Special Achievement in Filmmaking: Ben Affleck, ARGO
Breakthrough Actor: Tom Holland, THE IMPOSSIBLE
Breakthrough Actress: Quvenzhané Wallis, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
Best Directorial Debut: Benh Zeitlin, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
Best Foreign Language Film: AMOUR
Best Documentary: SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN
William K. Everson Film History Award: 50 YEARS OF BOND FILMS
Best Ensemble: LES MISÉRABLES
Spotlight Award: John Goodman (ARGO, FLIGHT, PARANORMAN, TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE)
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: CENTRAL PARK FIVE
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: PROMISED LAND

Top Films
(in alphabetical order)

ARGO
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
DJANGO UNCHAINED
LES MISÉRABLES
LINCOLN
LOOPER
THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
PROMISED LAND
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

Top 5 Foreign Language Films
(In Alphabetical Order)
BARBARA
THE INTOUCHABLES
THE KID WITH A BIKE
NO
WAR WITCH

Top 5 Documentaries
(In Alphabetical Order)
AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY
DETROPIA
THE GATEKEEPERS
THE INVISIBLE WAR
ONLY THE YOUNG

Top 10 Independent Films
(In Alphabetical Order)
ARBITRAGE
BERNIE
COMPLIANCE
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