National Board of Review Names The Irishman Best Film

According to Deadline, the Martin Scorsese crime epic, The Irishman, has received Best Picture honors from The National Board of Review, which obviously bodes well for its Oscar chances. Last year the prestigious award went to eventual Best Picture winner Green Book — though, to be fair, that was the first time in nine years the Board and Oscars saw eye to eye. So, maybe this isn’t good news for The Irishman.

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Others who walked away with prizes include Quentin Tarantino and Brad Pitt for their tremendous work on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Renee Zellweger for her portrayal of Judy Garland in Judy, and, most surprising of all, Adam Sandler, who earned Best Actor for his work in the upcoming Uncut Gems. Kathy Bates won Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Richard Jewell.

Here’s the full list of winners:

Best Film:  The Irishman

Best Director:  Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood

Best Actor:  Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems

Best Actress: Renée Zellweger, Judy

Best Supporting Actor: Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood

Best Supporting Actress:  Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell

Best Original Screenplay:  Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, Ronald Bronstein, Uncut Gems

Best Adapted Screenplay:  Steven Zaillian, The Irishman

Breakthrough Performance: Paul Walter Hauser,Richard Jewell

Best Directorial Debut:  Melina Matsoukas, Queen & Slim

Best Animated Feature:  How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Best Foreign Language Film: Parasite

Best Documentary: Maiden

Best Ensemble:  Knives Out

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Roger Deakins, 1917

NBR Icon Award: Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino

NBR Freedom of Expression Award:  For Same

NBR Freedom of Expression Award:  Just Mercy

Robert De Niro headlines the flick as mob hitman Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran, reputed to have carried out more than 25 murders. Al Pacino will portray infamously slain labor leader Jimmy Hoffa in what will mark the Academy Award winner’s first time working with Scorsese. The Irishman also stars Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Anna Paquin, Jesse Plemons, Bobby Cannavale, Jack Huston, and Ray Romano.

An epic saga of organized crime in post-war America told through the eyes of World War II veteran Frank Sheeran, a hustler and hitman who worked alongside some of the most notorious figures of the 20th century. Spanning decades, the film chronicles one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history, the disappearance of legendary union boss Jimmy Hoffa, and offers a monumental journey through the hidden corridors of organized crime: its inner workings, rivalries, and connections to mainstream politics.

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The Irishman, based on the book by Charles Brandt, will employ extensive (and expensive) digital de-aging techniques so the older actors can portray their characters through the decades. Joe Pesci will portray Pennsylvania Mafia boss Russell Bufalino, who may have had a hand in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. Ray Romano will play another member of the same crime family, Bill Bufalino.