Photo Source: Paramount
"'Hugo' is such a personal film by Martin Scorsese," said Annie Schulhof, NBR president. "It is a tribute to the early years of cinema that uses today's cutting edge technology to bring the audience into a completely unique and magical world. It is visually stunning and emotionally engaging."
The NBR handed its top acting prizes to George Clooney for "The Descendants" and Tilda Swinton for "We Need to Talk About Kevin." Both performers play parents dealing with challenges in their lives, although "Descendants" steers between humorous and dramatic moments while "Kevin" is much more starkly dramatic.
"Descendants" also claimed the best screenplay adaptation award for Alexander Payne (who also directed), Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, as well as best supporting actress for Shailene Woodley, who plays Clooney's elder daughter.
Christopher Plummer was hailed as best supporting actor for his performance as a father who comes out late in life in "Beginners."
Best original screenplay honors went to Will Reiser for the cancer comedy "50/50."
David Fincher's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," which screened for the group Monday, secured one trophy: a breakthrough performance award for Rooney Mara, who plays the title character. A second breakthrough perfromance award went to Felicity Jones, who stars in the geography-challenge romance "Like Crazy."
The complete list of winners Includes:
Best Film: "Hugo"
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"
Best Actor: George Clooney, "The Descendants"
Best Actress: Tilda Swinton, "We Need to Talk About Kevin"
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"
Best Supporting Actress: Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants"
Best Original Screenplay: Will Reiser, "50/50"
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, "The Descendants"
Best Animated Feature: "Rango"
Breakthrough Performance: Felicity Jones, "Like Crazy"
Breakthrough Performance: Rooney Mara, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Debut Director: J.C. Chandor, "Margin Call"
Best Ensemble: "The Help"
Spotlight Award: Michael Fassbender ("A Dangerous Method," "Jane Eyre," "Shame," "X-Men: First Class")
NBR Freedom of Expression: "Crime After Crime"
NBR Freedom of Expression: "Pariah"
Best Foreign Language Film: "A Separation"
Best Documentary: "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory"
Special Achievement in Filmmaking: The "Harry Potter" Franchise - A Distinguished Translation from Book to Film
The NBR also issued several best-of-year lists, with the movies listed in alphabetical order. They are:
Top Films
"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"Drive"
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2"
"The Ides of March"
"J. Edgar"
"Tree of Life"
"War Horse"
Top 5 Foreign Language Films
"13 Assassins"
"Elite Squad: The Enemy Within"
"Footnote"
"Le Havre"
"Point Blank"
Top 5 Documentaries
"Born to be Wild"
"Buck"
"George Harrison: Living in the Material World"
"Project Nim"
"Senna"
Top 10 Independent Films
"50/50"
"Another Earth"
"Beginners"
"A Better Life"
"Cedar Rapids"
"Margin Call"
"Shame"
"Take Shelter"
"We Need To Talk About Kevin"
– The Hollywood Reporter
