ACTION adventure “Mad Max: Fury Road” was named the best film of 2015 Tuesday by the National Board of Review, a surprise choice by the New York-based body whose list traditionally kicks off the annual Hollywood awards season.

    Space drama “The Martian” won a best actor award for Matt Damon and best director for Ridley Scott and was also named one of the nine top films of the year.

    But Oscar hopefuls were left empty-handed by the Board of Review, which has a history of going against the mainstream. These included “Steve Jobs,” a film about Apple Inc.’s co-founder, Irish immigrant saga “Brooklyn” and Jennifer Lawrence’s much anticipated “Joy.”

    Instead, the 100-year-old organization, which comprises academics, filmmakers, students and professionals, chose popular fare such as boxing movie “Creed,” rap music film “Straight Outta Compton,” Catholic Church sex abuse tale “Spotlight” and psychological thriller “Room” among its top films of the year.

    Quentin Tarantino’s yet-to-be-released drama “The Hateful Eight” also fared well. It was included in the best-of-the-year list and won best screenplay as well as supporting actress for Jennifer Jason Leigh.

    The Board of Review is known for its sometimes idiosyncratic picks. Last year it chose the small independent drama “A Most Violent Year” as its best film of 2014.

    This year’s winner “Mad Max: Fury Road,” directed by Australian George Miller, starred Charlize Theron as a rebel leader in a post-apocalyptic future.

    The Board of Review will present its awards at a ceremony in New York on Jan. 5.(SD-Agencies)