US Film Association names ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ as film of the year

The historical thriller ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ has been named the best film of 2023 by the renowned American film association National Board of Review. The film by Martin Scorsese (81) is a “breathtaking masterpiece” by one of the greatest filmmakers, according to NBR chairman Annie Schulhof, who justifies the choice. It is about the Osage indigenous people who became victims of a crime in Oklahoma in the 1920s. The directing award also goes to Scorsese. The winners were announced on Wednesday (local time).

The association chose the American Lily Gladstone (37), who plays a member of the Osage tribe in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, as best leading actor. The actress herself has indigenous roots. NBR awards are seen as a guideline for the Oscars. Last year, the association named Michelle Yeoh best actress for ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’, and she later won the Oscar.

The association rated the American Paul Giamatti (56) as the best leading actor. In Alexander Payne’s comedy drama “The Holdovers,” he plays a grumpy boarding school teacher who is supposed to take care of a handful of students during the Christmas holidays in the 1970s.

The French legal drama ‘Anatomy of a Case’ won in the International Film category. German Sandra Hülser (45, “Toni Erdmann”) plays a writer accused of murdering her husband in the house they shared.

The association also listed “Top 5 International Films”. The German drama “The Teacher’s Room” by director Ilker Çatak fell into this category. Germany also makes the film a contender for the foreign Oscar.

In addition to ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ as the best film, the association listed nine other ‘Top Films’. These include “Barbie”, “Ferrari”, “The Holdovers”, “Maestro”, “Oppenheimer” and “Poor Things”.

The trophies will be presented on January 11, 2024 during a gala in New York. The National Board of Review, founded in 1909, consists of film historians, filmmakers and filmmakers. (sda/dpa)