A Most Violent Year, the latest movie from Margin Call and All is Lost director JC Chandor, has been named the best film of 2014 by the National Board of Review.

Each year the US organisation, whose best-of list is voted for by critics, film-makers and academics, casts one of the first stones in the annual awards season that culminates in the Oscars. Other early best-film prizes have gone to Boyhood, awarded by the New York Film Critics Circle, and Birdman, winner at the Gotham awards.

Chandor’s film stars Oscar Isaac as Abel Morales, a New York businessman trying to build a heating oil empire, and coming up against violent rivals as well as law enforcement. Isaac shared the best actor award with Michael Keaton for his performance in Birdman, while Isaac’s co-star Jessica Chastain took the supporting actress award. Writing in the Guardian, Xan Brooks described the film as “rigorous, resourceful and as smart as a whip. It surely can’t win [the best picture Oscar]; it’s too nuanced and sombre. But its canny tactical struggle remains a joy to behold.”

Also appearing in A Most Violent Year is David Oyelowo, the British actor tipped for awards season recognition in civil rights drama Selma, which won a Freedom of Expression award.

Other National Board of Review winners included Julianne Moore, who plays a woman suffering early onset Alzheimer’s in Still Alice, and Clint Eastwood, awarded best director for American Sniper. British actor Jack O’Connell won the Breakthrough performance award for his work in Starred Up and Unbroken.

The Lego Movie won the best original screenplay award, suggesting it might break out of the animated movie ghetto this season, while Chris Rock was given the special Spotlight award for writing, directing and starring in Top Five.

Full list of winners

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 and 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 and 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 awards: Rosewater and 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