The National Board of Review Puts "A Most Violent Year" on the Map

After yesterday's decision by the Gotham Awards and the New York Film Critics, the National Board of Review has named "A Most Violent Year" the best film of 2014, and gave it 2 other major awards.

Though far from being a huge indicator of Oscar success, this helps the film that was definitely in need of a push (that December 31st release date, and having a not so major studio behind it)

"Birdman" continued its success after the Gotham awards with 2 notices here, while Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper" also showed strength.

It's still seriously wide open race at this point.

See the full list of winners below.

Best Film:

• A Most Violent Year

Best Director:

• Clint Eastwood, "American Sniper"

Best Actor:

• TIE: Michael Keaton, "Birdman" and Oscar Isaac, "A Most Violent Year"

Best Actress:

• Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"

Best Supporting Actor:

• Edward Norton, "Birdman"

Best Supporting Actress:

• Jessica Chastain, "A Most Violent Year"

Best Original Screenplay:

• Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, "The Lego Movie"

Best Adapted Screenplay:

• Paul Thomas Anderson, "Inherent Vice"

Best Animated Feature: 

• How To Train Your Dragon 2

Breakthrough Performance:

• Jack O'Connell, "Starred Up" and "Unbroken" 

Best Directorial Debut:

• Gillian Roberspierre, "Obvious Child"

Best Ensemble:

• "Fury"

Top 10 Films:

• American Sniper
• Birdman
• Boyhood
• Fury
• Gone Girl
• The Imitation Game
• Inherent Vice
• The Lego Movie
• Nightcrawler
• Unbroken