Director Martin Scorsese’s epic crime film The Irishman has been named the best film of 2019 by the National Board of Review.
The film was also honored with the Best Adapted Screenplay for screenwriter Steven Zaillian who had adapted it from the 2004 book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt.
Scorsese and actors Robert De Niro and Al Pacino will be honored with the Icon Award by the National Board of Review. The award was introduced this year to honor “cinematic artists who have contributed meaningfully to the history, culture, and excellence of motion pictures.”
Starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, The Irishman was released on Netflix on 27 November after releasing theatrically in the United States on 1 November. It has received universal acclaim from the critics and has a 96 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Quentin Tarantino was named the best director by the board for his period comedy drama Once Upon a Time in Hollywood while its star Brad Pitt was honored as the best supporting actor.
Renée Zellweger was named as best actress for her performance in Judy, where she played the eponymous actress Judy Garland. Adam Sandler was tapped as the best actor for playing a jewelry shop owner in Uncut Gems. Its writers Benny & Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein won best original screenplay.
Other winners were Kathy Bates as best supporting actress for Richard Jewell, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (best animated film), Parasite (best foreign language film), Maiden (best documentary), Knives Out (best ensemble) and Roger Deakins (best cinematography for 1917).