Licorice Pizza wins NBR Best Film of 2021

by KM, Movie Lightbox

The National Board of Review has announced their 2021 honorees for excellence in filmmaking. Licorice Pizza, a coming-of-age story written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson has been named Best Film of 2021.

“In a moment of transition and uncertainty, there is nothing like Licorice Pizza to remind us of the joy, hope, and exhilaration that great cinema can inspire. The NBR is honored to award the movie as its Best Film of 2021, as well as its brilliant creator, Paul Thomas Anderson, and all of our other awardees.", said Annie Schulhof, NBR President. Anderson also took home the Best Director Award, along with newcomers Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman for Breakthrough Performance. A Hero by Asghar Farhadi has been named Best Foreign Language Film while Flee by Jonas Poher Rasmussen nabbed the NBR Freedom of Expression Award.

The National Board of Review is a select group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals and academics of varying ages and backgrounds. Since 1929, NBR has recognized a vast selection of films, often propelling recipients into the larger awards conversation.

Below is a full list of 2021 National Board of Review Awards Winners:

Best Film:  LICORICE PIZZA

Best Director:  Paul Thomas Anderson, LICORICE PIZZA

Best Actor:  Will Smith, KING RICHARD

Best Actress: Rachel Zegler, WEST SIDE STORY

Best Supporting Actor: Ciarán Hinds, BELFAST

Best Supporting Actress:  Aunjanue Ellis, KING RICHARD

Best Original Screenplay: Asghar Farhadi, A HERO

Best Adapted Screenplay: Joel Coen, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

Breakthrough Performance: Alana Haim & Cooper Hoffman, LICORICE PIZZA

Best Directorial Debut:  Michael Sarnoski, PIG 

Best Animated Feature:  ENCANTO

Best Foreign Language Film: A HERO

Best Documentary: SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) 

Best Ensemble: THE HARDER THEY FALL 

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

NBR Freedom of Expression Award:  FLEE 

Top Films (in alphabetical order)

Belfast 

Don’t Look Up 

Dune 

King Richard 

The Last Duel   

Nightmare Alley 

Red Rocket 

The Tragedy of Macbeth 

West Side Story

Top 5 Foreign Language Films (in alphabetical order)

Benedetta 

Lamb 

Lingui, The Sacred Bonds  

Titane 

The Worst Person in the World

Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order)

Ascension 

Attica 

Flee 

The Rescue 

Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain

Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order)

The Card Counter

C’mon C’mon  

CODA 

The Green Knight 

Holler 

Jockey 

Old Henry 

Pig 

Shiva Baby 

The Souvenir Part II

Image courtesy of UA/MGM