Fall Movie Preview 2014

Oscar Isaac ("Inside Llewyn Davis") and Jessica Chastain ("Zero Dark Thirty") star in talented writer/director J.C. Chandor's latest drama, "A Most Violent Year," a crime story set in 1981 New York City. (A24)

The ever-unpredictable

works in oh-so mysterious, but there remains one constant: They love them some Clint Eastwood.

After wandering in and out of the grasp of other talented filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and David O. Russell, "American Sniper" finally wound its way in the hands of Clint Eastwood, who follows up this year's "Jersey Boys" with this drama also starring Sienna Miller. (Warner Bros.)

And, really, who doesn't? The two-time best director Oscar-winner scored the same prize from the NBR for his upcoming drama "American Sniper," due in theaters this Christmas Day. In it, Bradley Cooper plays real-life Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, who recounts his military career, which includes more than 150 confirmed kills.

But more unexpected was the NBR's choice for best picture of 2014: J.C. Chandor's "A Most Violent Year," which also scored best actor (Oscar Isaac, tied with Micheal Keaton for "Birdman") and best supporting actress (Jessica Chastain).

In the film, Isaac stars as an immigrant whose family tries to expand their business as rampant violence and corruption in the city threaten to destroy what they build. Chandor's stock obviously went up with the Oscar-nominated "Margin Call" and last year's acclaimed "All is Lost," so don't look for his star to fade anytime soon, although I don't think this guarantees Oscar nominations for the film.

The rest of the winners seem to paint a decent picture of what we should expect this Oscar season, with Edward Norton ("Birdman") winning best supporting actor and Julianne Moore ("Still Alice") winning best actress.

They showed a lot of love to Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's smash animated hit "The LEGO Movie" by recognizing its original screenplay. And while it finished in their list of top 10 films of 2014, it somehow did not win best animated feature ("How to Train Your Dragon 2" did).

Another curious pick was the Brad Pitt war drama "Fury," which landed in the top 10 and earned best ensemble.

Paul Thomas Anderson's far-out detective story "Inherent Vice" won best adapted screenplay, suggesting there is some hope for one of the weirder prestige projects this year.

And while Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" caught a spot on the top 10 list, it was not recognized otherwise.

So take a look at the complete winners list below, and see if you can make some sense of what's to come this awards season.

Best Film:

A Most Violent Year

Best Director:

Clint Eastwood - American Sniper

Best Actor (TIE):

Oscar Isaac - A Most Violent Year; Michael Keaton - Birdman

Best Actress:

Julianne Moore - Still Alice

Best Supporting Actor:

Edward Norton - Birdman

Best Supporting Actress:

Jessica Chastain - A Most Violent Year

Best Original Screenplay:

Phil Lord & Christopher Miller - The Lego Movie

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Paul Thomas Anderson - Inherent Vice

Best Animated Feature:

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Breakthrough Performance:

Jack O'Connell - Starred Up & Unbroken

Best Directorial Debut:

Gillian Robespierre - Obvious Child

Best Foreign Language Film:

Wild Tales

Best Documentary:

Life Itself

William K. Everson Film History Award:

Scott Eyman

Best Ensemble:

Fury

Spotlight Award:

Chris Rock for writing, directing and starring in Top Five

NBR Freedom of Expression Award:

Rosewater

NBR Freedom of Expression Award:

Selma

Top Films

American Sniper

Birdman

Boyhood

Fury

Gone Girl

The Imitation Game

Inherent Vice

The Lego Movie

Nightcrawler

Unbroken

Top 5 Foreign Language Films

Force Majeure

Gett: The Trial of Vivian Amsalem

Leviathan

Two Days, One Night

We Are the Best!

Top 5 Documentaries

Art and Craft

Jodorowsky's Dune

Keep On Keepin' On

The Kill Team

Last Days in Vietnam

Top 10 Independent Films

Blue Ruin

Locke

A Most Wanted Man

Mr. Turner

Obvious Child

The Skeleton Twins

Snowpiercer

Stand Clear of the Closing Doors

Starred Up

Still Alice

Watch the trailer for "A Most Violent Year" below: