ENTERTAINMENT

Spike Jonze's 'Her' named best film of the year by National Board of Review

The Associated Press Published Wednesday, December 4, 2013 2:38PM EST

Joaquin Phoenix in the Spike Jonze film 'Her'

Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from the Spike Jonze film, "Her." Phoenix stars in the film as a recent divorcee who purchases and gradually falls in love with an artificial operating system named Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). The system, dubbed OS1, is something like a far more advanced version of the iPhone's Siri. (AP Photo/ Warner Bros. Pictures)

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NEW YORK -- Spike Jonze's futuristic romance "Her" has been named best film by the National Board of Review.

The board also named Jonze best director, giving "Her" an early awards season boost. The Warner Bros. film starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson is to be released later in December.

Alexander Payne's father-son road trip "Nebraska" took two acting awards. Bruce Dern won for best actor, and his co-star Will Forte won for best supporting actor.

Emma Thompson was awarded best actress for the "Mary Poppins" story "Saving Mr. Banks." Best supporting actress went to Octavia Spencer for "Fruitvale Station."

The National Board of Review is a group of film academics, students and professionals founded in 1909.