Spike Jonze’s Her has become the latest film you haven’t yet seen to be named the Best Picture of 2013.
The day after the New York Film Critics Circle selected David O. Russell’s American Hustle as the year’s best film, the National Board of Review bestowed its annual award on Her, a sweetly strange and hauntingly romantic sci-fi drama about a lonely man (Joaquin Phoenix) who falls in love with his intuitive operating system (voiced seductively by Scarlett Johansson). Jonze also won Best Director in the NBR’s tally, while top acting awards went to Bruce Dern (for Nebraska) and Emma Thompson (for Saving Mr. Banks).
Annie Schulhof, NBR President, said of the selection:
Spike Jonze is one of the most talented and visionary filmmakers working today. In Her, he explores the age-old themes of love and human connection in a completely fresh and innovative way. It is an outstanding achievement that is sure to become a new classic."
Having been lucky enough to see Her, I can tell you that it certainly is one of the best movies of 2013. But it does continue this very strange trend of year-end critic lists singling out movies no one has seen! That can be frustrating. Does this happen because the voting members of the different groups saw movies like Hustle and Her recently? Are films like Gravity, 12 Years a Slave or Captain Phillips suffering because they came out too early? That’s silly … but seems like a concern at the moment.
The critical groups will march on. For now, here are the full results of the NBR’s voting, via Deadline:
Best Film: HerBest Director: Spike Jonze, HerBest Actor: Bruce Dern, NebraskaBest Actress: Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. BanksBest Supporting Actor: Will Forte, NebraskaBest Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, Fruitvale StationBest Original Screenplay: Joel and Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn DavisBest Adapted Screenplay: Terence Winter, The Wolf of Wall StreetBest Animated Feature: The Wind RisesBreakthrough Performance: Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale StationBreakthrough Performance: Adele Exarchopoulos, Blue Is The Warmest ColorBest Directorial Debut: Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale StationBest Foreign Language Film: The PastBest Documentary: Stories We TellWilliam K. Everson Film History Award: George Stevens, Jr. Best Ensemble: PrisonersSpotlight Award: Career Collaboration of Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprioNBR Freedom of Expression Award: WadjdaCreative Innovation in Filmmaking Award: GravityTop Films (in alphabetical order)12 Years a SlaveFruitvale StationGravityInside Llewyn DavisLone SurvivorNebraskaPrisonersSaving Mr. BanksThe Secret Life of Walter MittyThe Wolf of Wall StreetTop 5 Foreign Language Films (In Alphabetical Order)Beyond the HillsGloriaThe GrandmasterA HijackingThe HuntTop 5 Documentaries (In Alphabetical Order)20 Feet from StardomThe Act of KillingAfter TillerCasting ByThe SquareTop 10 Independent Films (In Alphabetical Order)Ain’t Them Bodies SaintsDallas Buyers ClubIn a World…Mother of GeorgeMuch Ado About NothingMudThe Place Beyond the PinesShort Term 12SightseersThe Spectacular Now
