Basically Everyone (Uma, Quentin, Brad, Timothée) Was at the National Board of Review Awards

Wednesday night’s National Board of Review Awards was a full-circle moment for Renée Zellweger, who received the best actress prize for her performance as Judy Garland in the biopic Judy. A lot’s changed since Zellweger was first honored by the New York City–based organization with its breakthrough-performance award more than 20 years earlier for Jerry Maguire.

“I haven’t been here since 1996, and it’s a thousand times bigger,” Zellweger told Vogue. “I wasn’t nervous, but then I just walked into this room and thought, Wait, where are we? This isn’t the National Board of Review! The National Board of Review is in the little garden room at Tavern on the Green!”

Alongside Zellweger’s own ascent to superstardom over the past two decades, the National Board of Review has continued to grow into one of the tentpole events of awards season in the lead-up to the Oscars. Swapping out Tavern on the Green’s little garden room for Cipriani’s midtown Manhattan location, a starry crowd of actors, writers, directors, and more turned out to celebrate the best of film in 2019.

Quentin Tarantino (best director), Kathy Bates (best supporting actress), and Adam Sandler (best actor) delivered heart-tugging speeches that won over the room, aided by the fact that all of the honorees were introduced by a dear friend or colleague (or in most cases, both). “I love this man so much, and I have always believed in him,” Drew Barrymore said of Sandler, her former Wedding Singer costar. “I know that everyone is rooting for you because you have earned everyone’s respect. You deserve the best, you give the best, and you are the best. I love you very much.”

Timothée Chalamet (and his new goatee) came out to present the award for best original screenplay to the team behind Uncut Gems, while Bruce Springsteen praised Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese before handing them the best film award for The Irishman. Another highlight came courtesy of Brad Pitt and Bradley Cooper, who was awarded best director at last year’s ceremony but was on-site to present the best supporting actor award to Pitt. After Cooper introduced the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star as “a filmmaker’s dream,” Pitt returned the favor with a sentimental tribute to his dear friend: “Bradley just put his daughter to bed and then rushed over to do this. I got sober because of this guy, and every day’s been happier ever since.” It was a touching moment buoyed by Pitt’s effortless charm; he gazed at his award while quipping that it would be nice to leave the ceremony “carrying something other than George Clooney” for once.

Suited up in a black pantsuit with a plunging neckline, Jamie Lee Curtis took the stage with her Knives Out costars to accept best ensemble. While director Rian Johnson announced that he’s already working on a follow-up to the hit whodunit centered on Daniel Craig’s Southern detective, Benoit Blanc, the British actor played coy. “News to me!” Craig told Vogue when pressed about a potential sequel. “Jamie Lee Curtis says it’s true, so it must be!”

While the nearly four-hour event could be seen as something of an endurance test, the open bar and starry company made for an engaging evening of entertainment to help kick off a month of nonstop awards shows, red carpets, and teary-eyed speeches. After spending the past decade in self-imposed semiretirement, Zellweger especially cherished the opportunity to reconnect with so much of her industry at these events.

“I get to see some of my girlfriends, so it’s happy reunions everywhere!” said Zellweger, whose award was presented by Salma Hayek. “I’ll see Salma Hayek later tonight, and I haven’t seen her in such a long time. I also get to meet so many new people and be a fangirl standing on these carpets—it’s so much fun!”