“I think I’m gonna have a heart attack and die from not surprised!”
The winners are announced then, and while I wouldn’t have predicted a sweep from The Hurt Locker initially, after the BAFTAs and the continued hyping by the media it wasn’t exactly shocking when it came away with another 6 awards. The Best Original Screenplay one intrigues me most of all, since there’s rumblings of a law suit from a soldier who says they’ve stolen his story. Not so original then.
Deperate to inject some drama, the news reports were most excited by the fact that Kathryn Bigelow is James Cameron’s ex-wife, with feminists counting a win for the team. I’m sure Jim is at home right now weeping into his $2.5billion.
As for the other winners, the Brits were in with much less of a shot across the pond and it’s no surprise that Jeff Bridges got the Best Actor award. Sandra Bullock on the other hand…I guess I’ll have to see the film to get it, ‘cos at the moment I just don’t. Especially against Mulligan and Sidibe.
The morning TV was citing a win for Christopher Waltz as a surprise, but again following the BAFTAs it seemed pretty obvious. Same goes for Mo’Nique…and the more I read throught the winners, the more obvious they seem.
So why didn’t I predict all of these back when the nominations were announced? Simple, I hadn’t seen the BAFTAs yet.
A while ago I wrote a post about the differences in the nominations between the BAFTAs and The Oscars, but when it comes down to it, the winners are always very similar. The greatest variation is always in the Best Actor/Actress category, with each nation favouring home grown talent.
The Oscars is the wrap party of the award season, but its later timing means that the winners tend to seem a foregone conclusion by the time we actually hear who they are. Kinda takes the drama out of it to be honest. It’s not even a surprise that Avatar only took home effects awards, because in the end, the effects were the major achievement of the film, and even if the media want some kind of outrage there, I think most people would agree that it took away the awards it deserved. I’m still not sure what I would have given Best Film to, but I wont restart The Hurt Locker debate.
And the winners are:
The Hurt Locker
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
BEST ACTRESS
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)
Mo’Nique (Precious)
El Secreto de Sus Ojos – The Secret in Their Eyes (Argentina)
Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker)
Up
Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)
Avatar
Avatar
BEST SOUND MIXING
The Hurt Locker
The Hurt Locker
The Weary Kind (theme from Crazy Heart) from Crazy Heart by Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett
Up (Michael Giacchino)
The Young Victoria
The Hurt Locker
Logorama
The New Tenants
Avatar
**Bonus points if you can place the quote**
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 5 so far )The Oscars are coming
Hey everyone.
I’m not going to write much about the Oscars, mainly because I’m away this weekend and will miss the big show, but I will try and get something up early next week.
I set out some predictions earlier when I was comparing with the BAFTAs, but if you want a more informed opinion (and to read my rambling comments about where I think they’re heading now that I’ve seen the BAFTAS) then head over to Saam’s blog.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )BAFTA thoughts
Biggest surprise of the night? The Hurt Locker came away with 6 awards. I haven’t seen it, so I can’t really argue, but I’ve heard so little about this movie other than it is just very…worthy. I’m a bit concerned that it’s the politically correct choice.
Avatar only managed two, which is less of a surprise, but I think it will do better in America. I’m still not expecting it to win Best Film, though.
Nicholas Hoult was robbed for the Rising Star award, but when you let the public vote anything involving the omnipresent “Twiglet” is bound to win.
Happy that Brits took the Best Actor/Actress masks, and bonus points to Colin Firth for making a speech about fridges. Hooray for Michael Giacchino’s win for the Up score, definitely one to watch for movie music in the future. Also loved that the first award of the night went to Duncan Jones, who cried.
Here’s the full list for those who are interested:
Best Film:
The Hurt Locker
Outstanding British Film:
Fish Tank
Director:
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Actor:
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Actress:
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Supporting Actor:
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Supporting Actress:
Mo’Nique, Precious
Original Screenplay:
The Hurt Locker
Adapted Screenplay:
Up in the Air
Film not in the English Language:
A Prophet
Animated Film:
Up
Cinematography:
The Hurt Locker
Costume Design:
The Young Victoria
Editing:
The Hurt Locker
Make-Up & Hair:
The Young Victoria
Music:
Up
Production Design:
Avatar
Sound:
The Hurt Locker
Visual Effects:
Avatar
Short Animation:
Mother of Many
Short Film:
I Do Air
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer:
Duncan Jones (director, Moon)
Orange Rising Star Award:
Kristen Stewart
Outstanding contribution to British cinema:
Joe Dunton
Bafta Fellowship:
Vanessa Redgrave
BAFTAs vs Oscars
Nominations are out for two of the biggest award cermonies on each side of the pond and I’m sure the designers are already getting over excited. There’s always a few interesting differences between the choices which highlight some taste variations between us Brits and our cousins across the Atlantic so I thought it might be worth taking a look. So far the biggest difference I’ve noticed is that all the Academy awards have ridiculously over the top names. I mean what the hell is “achievement in music written for motion picture?” What’s wrong with Best Original Score? That and the fact that we haven’t had some of the Oscar movies released over hear yet.
My movie hit count is appalling this year, so most of my opinions here are based on hearsay, gossip, rumour and psychic ability, just so you know 😉
Going through all the awards would take me way to long so I’m just doing the biggies. No offence to all you make up artists, editors and short film makers out there.
Best Movie
BAFTA:
Avatar
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Precious
Up in the Air
Oscar:
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire (The Americans love to use that full title)
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air
No surprises that Avatar, Up in the Air and Precious make it onto both lists. I’m thinking it’s a shoe in for Avatar. There’s a lot more nominees for the Academy, including Up, which interestingly makes it onto the list for Best Film as well as Best Animated. Not often that a cartoon breaks through, and it’s well deserving of it’s nomination. It wont win this category though.
Best Actor
BAFTA:
Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
George Clooney (Up in the Air)
Colin Firth (A Single Man)
Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker)
Andy Serkis (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll)
Oscar:
Jeff Bridges
George Clooney
Colin Firth
Morgan Freeman(Invictus)
Jeremy Renner
Poor Andy Serkis. Never gets awards from the Academy, despite being robbed outrageously at the Oscars back in 02/03. OK, so Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll isn’t out in the US. And a biopic about Ian Drury isn’t exactly going to capture the Yankee imagination but he has to win an Oscar some day!
Other than that the only difference is Invictus which is only just coming out over here. As for predictions, I’ve got my fingers crossed for Andy over here, I’m not sure about America but ‘m thinking wither Renner or Freeman.
Best Actress
BAFTA:
Carey Mulligan (An Education)
Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones)
Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)
Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)
Audrey Tautou (Coco Before Chanel)
Oscar:
Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)
Helen Mirren (The Last Station)
Carey Mulligan
Gabourey Sidibe
Meryl Streep
I think my feelings for Sandra Bullock have been made quite clear so I’m gonna gloss over that one.
I reckon Sidibe has got both here from what I’m hearing about her performance. If not possibly Mulligan over here because An Education got a lot of very positive reviews.
Supporting Actor
BAFTA:
Alec Baldwin (It’s Complicated)
Christian McKay (Me and Orson Welles)
Alfred Molina (An Education)
Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones)
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)
Oscar:
Matt Damon (Invictus)
Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)
Christopher Plummer (The Last Station)
Stanley Tucci
Christoph Waltz
Quite a few differences here. I’m wondering if Christian McKay might win over here. Gotta say I’m shocked that Alec Bladwin is in there since everything I’ve heard about that movie is bad. I don’t think Matt damon is going to win an Oscar, but I’m not sure who is…
Supporting Actress
BAFTA:
Anne-Marie Duff (Nowhere Boy)
Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air)
Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)
Mo’Nique (Precious)
Kristin Scott Thomas (Nowhere Boy)
Oscar:
Penélope Cruz (Nine)
Vera Farmiga
Maggie Gyllenhaal (Crazy Heart)
Anna Kendrick
Mo’Nique
Again, I’m thinking Precious is taking this one. Two nominatons for Up in the Air from the Brits suggest one of those might get it if Mo’Nique doesn’t. Possibly an Oscar for Penelope Cruz…but I think she’s already had one right?
Best Director
BAFTA:
James Cameron (Avatar)
Neill Blomkamp (District 9)
Lone Scherfig (An Education)
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)
Oscar:
James Cameron
Kathryn Bigelow
Quentin Tarantino
Lee Daniels (Precious)
Jason Reitman (Up in the Air)
Another unsurprising list. I think James Cameron will probably get the Oscar, and is quite likely to get the BAFTA too, but he might just be pipped by someone like Blomkamp. No BAFTA nod for Precious….
Animation
BAFTA:
Coraline
Fantastic Mr Fox
Up
Oscar:
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Up
The Princess and the Frog is only just coming out over here so that explains it’s absence from the BAFTA list. Although I’m not sure it’s Oscar material from the few clips I’ve seen. Probably quite good, and about time Disney had a black heroine, but maybe that’s more the reason it’s getting nominated. I would like Up to win both.
Music
BAFTA:
Avatar (James Horner)
Crazy Heart (T-Bone Burnett, Stephen Bruton)
Fantastic Mr Fox (Alexandre Desplat)
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (Chaz Jankel)
Up (Michael Giacchino)
Oscar:
James Horner
Alexandre Desplat
The Hurt Locker (Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders)
Sherlock Holmes (Hans Zimmer)
Up
I do remember the music from Up being particularly good, and it’s taken a Globe already. Strangely, the score for Avatar left no impression on me and as someone who usually notices these kind of things that suggests it wasn’t that amazing. Having not seen the other films I can’t comment. The nominations seem to vary quite a bit between countries, but the same few films are popping up again and again.
Cinematography
BAFTA:
Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The Road
Oscar:
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The White Ribbon
This one really has to be Avatar. The whole point of that film is the cinematography and special effects. Interesting choice of Harry Potter by the Academy while once again over here we give a nod to District 9 which seems so far to be missing out across the pond.
Special visual effects
BAFTA:
Avatar
District 9
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Hurt Locker
Star Trek
Oscar:
Avatar
District 9
Star Trek
Avatar has this one all tied up. I thoguth the effects were really good in Star Trek but apparently BAFTA don’t agree with me.
And that’s all folks. Let me know your thoughts on the nominations. I’m thinking if Avatar doesn’t sweep then we’ll be seeing big wins from Precious and The Hurt Locker in both ceremonies and Inglourious in America.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 10 so far )Well I wasn’t expecting that!
I can admit when I’m wrong. As Mad Hatter tried to warn me, The Globes don’t make sense. First of all, a world where Sandra Bullock wins a Best Actress award for a straight role while Meryl Streep gets hers for comedy just confuses me. I think the Yanks finally got bored of giving awards to Helen Mirren.
I probably should’ve guessed that Avatar would win best film but so far all I hear is that it looks great but has little substance (kind of the bimbo model of the movie world) so I’m still not seeing an Oscar for it. I was right about Director though.
I cannot believe The Hangover beat Nine. That seems to make no sense, and I don’t think anyone predicted Jeff Bridges for Best Actor. I haven’t even heard of the film, but that’s probably because I have been hideously cut off from the cinema for months. I am glad Robert Downey Jr won for Sherlock which I will see soon if it kills me and I predicted that Up would get the Animated prize. I also was right in hoping Giacchino would beat Horner for the score 🙂
Here’s the full list for those who care. Sorry fo rthe stream of consciousness writing.
Best film (drama)
Avatar
Also nominated:
The Hurt Locker
Precious
Up In The Air
Inglourious Basterds
Best film (musical or comedy)
The Hangover
Also nominated:
(500) Days of Summer
It’s Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine
Best director
James Cameron (Avatar)
Also nominated:
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
Clint Eastwood (Invictus)
Jason Reitman (Up In The Air)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglorious Basterds)
Best actor (drama)
Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
Also nominated:
George Clooney (Up In The Air)
Colin Firth (A Single Man)
Morgan Freeman (Invictus)
Tobey Maguire (Brothers)
Best actress (drama)
Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)
Also nominated:
Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria)
Helen Mirren (The Last Station)
Carey Mulligan (An Education)
Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)
Best actor (musical or comedy)
Robert Downey Jr (Sherlock Holmes)
Also nominated:
Matt Damon (The Informant!)
Daniel Day-Lewis (Nine)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer)
Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man)
Best actress (musical or comedy)
Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)
Also nominated:
Sandra Bullock (The Proposal)
Marion Cotillard (Nine)
Julia Roberts (Duplicity)
Meryl Streep (It’s Complicated)
Best supporting actor
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)
Also nominated:
Matt Damon (Invictus)
Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)
Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones)
Christopher Plummer (The Last Station)
Best supporting actress
Mo’Nique (Precious)
Also nominated:
Penelope Cruz (Nine)
Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air)
Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)
Julianne Moore (A Single Man)
Best foreign language film
The White Ribbon (Germany)
Also nominated:
Baaria (Italy)
Broken Embraces (Spain)
The Maid (Chile)
A Prophet (France)
Best animated feature film
Up
Also nominated:
Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr Fox
The Princess and the Frog
Best screenplay
Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner (Up In The Air)
Also nominated:
Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell (District 9)
Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker)
Nancy Meyers (It’s Complicated)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)
Best original song
The Weary Kind (Crazy Heart)
Also nominated:
Cinema Italiano (Nine)
I Want To Come Home (Everybody’s Fine)
I Will See You (Avatar)
Winter (Brothers)
Best original score
Michael Giacchino (Up)
Also nominated:
Marvin Hamlisch (The Informant!)
James Horner (Avatar)
Abel Korzeniowski (A Single Man)
Karen O, Carter Burwell (Where The Wild Things Are)
I am so behind!
You may have noticed that compared to last year there is a deplorable lack of awards chatter on this blog. I blame my job. But since it’s the Golden Globes tonight I’m determined to get a few lines up about the upcoming awards. Unlike l
ast year, there’s no obvious front runner to sweep the trophies this year; no Slumdog, no Benjamin Button, so the competition is kind of wide open. We all know the Globes are a good indicator of The Oscars, so tonight we’ll be getting a pretty good idea of what’s to come. Incidentally, if anything does sweep, I think it might be Nine.
A few predictions then. In the Best Movie (Drama) category I’m thinking probably the wonderfully spelt Inglourious Basterds with the Best Musical/Comedy going to Nine. Best Actress I expect to go to Helen Mirren, because she always wins, but I think that anyone in that category (except Sandra Bullock) is in with a shot. Best Actor I’m thinking George Clooney and Best Animated absolutely has to be Up (that’s getting the Oscar too). I can’t really guess about the Supporting Role awards since I haven’t seen any of the films(!) and Best Director is a tricky one, but I think they just might give it to James Cameron for being brave enough to make Avatar. Michael Giacchino should be in with a shot for his score of Up, but James Horner (Avatar) is stiff competition (I haven’t even heard the score yet but the fact that he wrote it means I have no doubt it’s brilliant).
As for the telly awards, that’s kind of wandering off point a bit, but in my book House wins everything. Except musical, that’s Glee.
I’ll try to keep a bit more on top of these awards. Let me know your predictions!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 8 so far )
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