Critics group opts for ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’

Earlier today, I noted that the movie awards season had already begun. Then I posted the 2015 IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards, which represents the honors from an organization that has been around for 25 years.

Big deal. Let's now look at the choices of a group that has been around for 106 years. The National Board of Review, which was founded in 1909, has been handing out awards since 1932 (its first Best film was "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang"). The NBR today named "Mad Max: Fury Road" as its pick for Best Film of 2015.

Kind of a surprising call for a supposedly stuffy group of effete critics and academics. 

Among other NBR awards: Best Director, Ridley Scott ("The Martian"); Best Actor, Matt Damon ("The Martian"); Best Actress, Brie Larson ("Room"). The group's Top Films list (which includes only nine choices) is as follows: "Bridge of Spies," "Creed," "The Hateful Eight," "Inside Out," "The Martian," "Room," "Sicario," "Spotlight," "Straight Outta Compton."

You can access the whole of the National Board of Review's 2015 awards by clicking here.

Remember: It's never too early to begin preparing for that Oscar pool.