NBR Awards: Stars weigh in on Donald Trump, Standing Rock
NEW YORK — The long march to Oscar night continued Wednesday with the National Board of Review's annual awards gala. Emotional dramas Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight walked away with top honors, while President-elect Donald Trump's impending inauguration loomed heavily over the crowd at Cipriani 42nd Street.
Seth Meyers takes jab at Trump's election
Presenting best documentary to Ezra Edelman for ESPN's O.J.: Made in America, the Late Night host said how nice it was that winners were announced prior to the ceremony. "If I learned anything from 2016, it's that it's very traumatic to learn who won a thing the night of," Meyers joked, earning laughs.
Kenneth Lonergan calls for more humanity in Trump era
The Manchester writer/director took the podium twice to accept best original screenplay and best film. After lavishing praise on his star, best-actor winner Casey Affleck, he closed out the night with a message of optimism amidst fears about Trump's presidency. "We are living in very troubled times and how troubled they are, we don't know yet," Lonergan said. But he is encouraged by films such as Moonlight, with its honest depictions of marginalized people, and O.J., which gives equal screen time to many points of view. "It's an inspiring image of how to approach our work and the next four years — hopefully, only four years."
Jeff Bridges dedicates award to Standing Rock
Accepting the best-supporting actor award for modern Western Hell or High Water, the Oscar winner showed his support for Dakota Access Pipeline activists, particularly those on the ground near North Dakota's Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. "One of the themes of our movie dealt with the consequences of looking out only for your own self interests," Bridges said. "Those folks at Standing Rock, they're looking out, not only for their interests, but all of our interests. ... I accept this award on their behalf."
Barry Jenkins champions diversity with best-director win
Although NBR has honored directors for more than 70 years, Jenkins' win marks the first time an African-American has won the category. The Moonlight filmmaker used his acceptance speech to remind audience members that, historically, minorities have been overlooked by awards groups. "The country's changing, the world is changing and we're trying to 'make America great again,' " Jenkins said. "As we make America great again, let's remember some very inconsiderable things in our legacy, because there was a time when someone like me was just not considered."
Mark Wahlberg, Peter Berg plot next collaboration
Amidst the political speeches, there were plenty of moments of levity. Wahlberg's goal for the night was to "try to get home as early as I can before my kids go to bed," he told Paste BN before the three-plus-hour ceremony. The A-lister shared the spotlight award with his Patriots Day director Peter Berg, who joked that their fourth movie together would be a love story. With "age-appropriate casting," Wahlberg assured. "I'm going to cast my mom. Pete is going to play my dad."
Lucas Hedges meets his idols
The Manchester newcomer (and breakthrough-male performance winner) shared a hug with fellow honoree Amy Adams on the red carpet and said he hoped to meet Silence star Adam Driver by the end of the night. So far this awards season, he has been most starstruck by one of his "acting heroes," Hacksaw Ridge's Andrew Garfield. "I had a genuine heart-to-heart with him and that was straight out of my dreams," Hedges told Paste BN.
The full list of this year's winners:
Best film: Manchester by the Sea
Best director: Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Best actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Best actress: Amy Adams, Arrival
Best supporting actor: Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Best supporting actress: Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Best original screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Best adapted screenplay: Jay Cocks and Martin Scorsese, Silence
Best animated feature:Kubo and the Two Strings
Breakthrough performance (male): Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Breakthrough performance (female): Royalty Hightower, The Fits
Best directorial debut: Trey Edward Shults, Krisha
Best foreign-language film: The Salesman (Iran)
Best documentary: O.J.: Made in America
Best ensemble:Hidden Figures
Spotlight Award: Creative Collaboration of Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Cameraperson
Top films:
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
Hail, Caesar!
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Moonlight
Patriots Day
Silence
Sully
Top 5 foreign-language films:
Elle
The Handmaiden
Julieta
Land of Mine
Neruda
Top 5 documentaries:
De Palma
The Eagle Huntress
Gleason
Life, Animated
Miss Sharon Jones!
Top 10 independent films:
20th Century Women
Captain Fantastic
Creative Control
Eye in the Sky
The Fits
Green Room
Hello, My Name Is Doris
Krisha
Morris From America
Sing Street