The U.S. National Board of Review announced its picks for the best films and performances of 2011 on Thursday, and awarded prize for top film to Hugo and Best Director to its director, Martin Scorsese.
The top 10 independent Films (in alphabetical order) included 50/50, Another Earth, Beginners, A Better Life, Cedar Rapids, Margin Call, Shame, Take Shelter, We Need To Talk About Kevin, and Win Win
The indie films Pariah and the documentary Crime After Crime were singled out to receive the NBR Freedom of Expression.
Awards for 2011:Best Actor
George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Actress
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Adapted Screenplay
Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
Best Animated Feature
Rango
Best Director
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Best Documentary
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Best Ensemble
The Help
Best Film
Hugo
Best Foreign Language Film
A Separation
Best Original Screenplay
Will Reiser, 50/50
Best Supporting Actor
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Breakthrough Performance
Felicity Jones, Like Crazy
Breakthrough Performance
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Debut Director
J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
NBR Freedom of Expression
Crime After Crime
NBR Freedom of Expression
Pariah
Special Achievement in Filmmaking
The Harry Potter Franchise – A Distinguished Translation from Book to Film
Spotlight Award
Michael Fassbender (A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame, X-Men: First Class)
Top 10 Independent Films
(in alphabetical order)
50/50
Another Earth
Beginners
A Better Life
Cedar Rapids
Margin Call
Shame
Take Shelter
We Need To Talk About Kevin
Win Win
Top 5 Documentaries
(in alphabetical order)
Born to be Wild
Buck
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Project Nim, Senna
Top 5 Foreign Language Films
(in alphabetical order)
13 Assassins
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
Footnote
Le Havre
Point Blank
Top Films
(in alphabetical order)
The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Ides of March, J. Edgar
The Tree of Life
War Horse