NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Daniel Day-Lewis took a break from retirement to present the award for best director at the National Board of Review Awards in midtown Manhattan on Thursday night.
Scorsese's Osage epic, 鈥� ,鈥� was the top honoree at the 95th NBR Awards. In but handed out Thursday, 鈥淜illers of the Flower Moon鈥� was the group's pick for best film, along with best director for Scorsese and best actress for Lily Gladstone.
The night's biggest surprise guest was Day-Lewis, who quit acting after and has since largely avoided public life. Day-Lewis sat next to Scorsese throughout the gala at Cipriani鈥檚 42nd Street before presenting the directing award.
鈥淚 was a teenager when I discovered Martin's work,鈥� Day-Lewis said. "With a light of his own making he illuminated unknown worlds that pulsed with a dangerous, irresistible energy 鈥� worlds that were mysterious to me and utterly enthralling. He illuminated the vast beautiful landscape of what is possible in film and he clarified for me what it is that one must ask of one self to work in faith."
Day-Lewis, who starred in Scorsese's 鈥淕angs of New York鈥� (2002) and 鈥淭he Age of Innocence" (1993), called working with the director 鈥渙ne of the greatest joys and unexpected privileges of my life.鈥�
When Scorsese took the stage and accepted the award, he returned the compliment, calling working with Day-Lewis 鈥渙ne of the greatest experiences of my life.鈥�
鈥淢aybe there's time for one more,鈥� added Scorsese with a grin as the crowd gasped at the possibility. Day-Lewis, standing to the side of the stage, smiled and held out his hands.
Much of the appeal of the NBRs is the pairing of presenters and honorees. Laura Linney introduced best supporting actor Mark Ruffalo, a reunion of the 鈥淵ou Can Count on Me鈥� stars. Patti Smith presented Lily Gladstone with the best-actress award.
鈥淥f course this is not a dream to be sitting in between Patti Smith and Daniel Day Lewis,鈥� joked a staggered Gladstone.
The night鈥檚 most moving moment came earlier in the evening when Michael J. Fox took the stage with Davis Guggenheim, the director of the documentary winner The crowd gave Fox a rousing standing ovation before the actor reflected on how Parkinson鈥檚 disease has changed his life for the better.
鈥淧arkinson鈥檚 has been a gift. It鈥檚 been a gift that keeps on taking,鈥� Fox said. 鈥淚t's been a gift because it's given me an audience to talk about what's possible."
Fox worked in jokes throughout his speech but returned to that theme, noting Parkinson's has been more meaningful to him than his success in entertainment.
鈥淚t just opened my eyes in a way I didn鈥檛 expect,鈥� Fox said.
Bradley Cooper, recipient of the Icon Award for 鈥淢aestro,鈥� also paid tribute to Fox as he recalled watching 鈥淪ecret of My Success鈥� and 鈥淔amily Ties鈥� while growing up.
鈥淚 felt like he was my friend,鈥� Cooper said.
While there was little suspense to the ceremony, given that the awards had been announced earlier, a clue was dropped to one of awards season鈥檚 biggest mysteries.
French director Justine Triet, whose 鈥淎natomy of a Fall鈥� was honored for best international film, provided a hint for moviegoers debating whether , was guilty of the murder she is tried for in the film.
鈥淚 have one advice: Watch the dog," Triet said. 鈥淗e's an animal. He has instincts. Maybe he knows.鈥�
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Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
