Leonardo DiCaprio’s ‘One Battle After Another’ dominates National Board of Review awards

It’s one award after another for Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest film, which cleaned up at the prestigious National Board of Review (NBR) awards announcement on Wednesday.

The Oscar-winning actor stars in Warner Bros.’ “One Battle After Another” as “Ghetto Pat,” a washed-up, weed-smoking former revolutionary who’s dragged back into a fast-paced life of danger, as a corrupt military colonel (played by Sean Penn) relentlessly pursues his teen daughter.

The NBR honored the film with five prizes, the most of any this year, including best film, best director for Paul Thomas Anderson, best actor for DiCaprio (who previously took home supporting actor trophies for “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” and “Django Unchained”), best supporting actor for Benicio del Toro and a breakthrough performance award for newcomer Chase Infiniti.

After recent key victories for the film at the Gotham Awards and the New York Film Critics Circle, momentum around the movie from “Boogie Nights” auteur Anderson is at an all-time high, with many pundits predicting the film could similarly take top honors at the Academy Awards in March.

The movie’s been a hit among audiences and critics alike, earning a 94-percent “fresh” rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, and widespread acclaim for its central performances from DiCaprio, Penn, Infiniti, Del Toro, Teyana Taylor and Regina Hall.

“One Battle After Another” claimed the top spot at the box office when it hit theaters this September, and has since grossed over $200 million worldwide.

In addition to “One Battle After Another,” the NBR named 10 additional films as its best of the year: “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “Jay Kelly,” “Marty Supreme,” “Rental Family,” “Sinners,” Train Dreams,” “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” and “Wicked: For Good.”

Another major NBR winner was “Bridesmaids” and “Neighbors” star Rose Byrne, who was named best actress for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.” She stars as a mother struggling with her child’s mysterious illness, an absentee husband and a hostile relationship with her therapist, played by Conan O’Brien.

NBR honorees will be officially celebrated at a gala on Jan. 13 in New York hosted by NBC News’ Willie Geist, just two days after the Golden Globes in Los Angeles on Jan. 11.

The National Board of Review, founded in 1909 and made up of film enthusiasts, filmmakers and academics, is considered an early bellwether of awards success, with past big winners including “Wicked,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “The Social Network” and “Slumdog Millionaire.”

See the full list of NBR honorees:

Best Film: One Battle After Another

Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another

Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another

Best Actress: Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Best Supporting Actor: Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another

Best Supporting Actress: Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value

Best Directorial Debut: Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby

Breakthrough Performance: Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another

Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler, Sinners

Best Adapted Screenplay: Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, Train Dreams

Best Animated Feature: Arco

Best International Film: It Was Just an Accident

Best Documentary: Cover-Up

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sinners

Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk

Top Films (in alphabetical order):

Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Frankenstein
Jay Kelly
Marty Supreme
Rental Family
Sinners
Train Dreams
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Wicked: For Good

Top 5 International Films (in alphabetical order):

Left-Handed Girl
The Love That Remains
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sirāt

Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order):

2000 Meters to Andriivka
Come See Me in the Good Light
My Mom Jayne
Natchez
Orwell: 2+2=5

Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order):

The Baltimorons
Bring Her Back
Father Mother Sister Brother
Friendship
Good Boy
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
The Mastermind
Rebuilding
Sorry, Baby
Urchin