NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� The put its full support behind naming the lavish musical the best film of the year, Chu best director and awarding its stars, , a prize for their collaboration, in awards announced Wednesday.
Already a box-office force, 鈥淲icked鈥� is also embarking on an awards campaign expected to make it a major Academy Awards contender. The National Board of Review, a long-running New York-based organization comprised of film enthusiasts and academics founded in 1909, has no correlation with the film academy. But the win hands 鈥淲icked鈥� some early momentum ahead of Monday's Golden Globe nominations, where it should perform well.
"Wicked represents the pure magic that movies can bring to audiences," said Annie Schulhof, NBR president. 鈥淓very detail is beautifully crafted and designed, the actors are all exceptional and the music is second-to-none 鈥� together it adds up to a transporting experience like no other.鈥�
Best actor went to for his performance in Luca Guadagnino's William S. Burroughs' adaptation, 鈥淨ueer.鈥� took best actress for Halina Reijn's 鈥淏abygirl,鈥� in which she plays a high-ranking executive who has a romance with an intern (Harris Dickinson).
The supporting acting winners were and Elle Fanning for 鈥淎 Complete Unknown.鈥�
The NBRs add to the recent run of prizes dished out this week, including the on Monday, the on Tuesday and the announced Wednesday. The NBR Awards will be handed out in an untelevised gala Jan. 7 in New York hosted by Willie Geist.
Full list of 2024 National Board of Review winners
Best Film: 鈥淲icked鈥�
Best Director: Jon M. Chu, 鈥淲icked鈥�
Best Actor: Daniel Craig, 鈥淨ueer鈥�
Best Actress: Nicole Kidman, 鈥淏abygirl鈥�
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, 鈥淎 Real Pain鈥�
Best Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning, 鈥淎 Complete Unknown鈥�
Best Ensemble: 鈥淐onclave鈥�
Breakthrough Performance: Mikey Madison, 鈥淎nora鈥�
Best Directorial Debut: India Donaldson, "Good One"
Best Original Screenplay: Mike Leigh, 鈥淗ard Truths鈥�
Best Adapted Screenplay: Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, 鈥淪ing Sing鈥�
NBR Spotlight Award: Creative Collaboration of Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: 鈥淣o Other Land鈥�
Best Animated Feature: 鈥淔low鈥�
Best International Film: 鈥淭he Seed of the Sacred Fig鈥�
Best Documentary: 鈥淪ugarcane鈥�
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke, 鈥淣osferatu鈥�
Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry: "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga"
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This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Jon M. Chu's first name.
The Associated Press
