After a big win for Best Picture at the 2018 Gotham Awards, The Rider has won yet another grand distinction after being named Best Picture by the National Society of Film Critics. It was also nominated for Best Picture at last year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards and won awards at Cannes, but this is the biggest honor the film has earned so far.
Director Chloé Zhao has made a name for herself with this poignant story of a young man whose dreams are crushed after a brutal head injury at a rodeo and must overcome tragedy to move forward. The film is based on the real life story of Brady Jandreau, who played himself in the film along with his family and friends making up the supporting cast.
Zhao was also in the running for best director, but lost out to Alfonso Cuarón. She recently signed on to Marvel’s The Eternals, which blends superheroes with ancient mythology.
Other winners from the National Society of Film Critics include Roma which swept up directing, cinematography, and foreign language film, plus Olivia Colman, Regina King, Ethan Hawke, and Steven Yeun.
The Rider has already had a good run this awards season, so we’ll see if it continues to go strong in future ceremonies.