Analysis,

The EE BAFTA Winners - Our thoughts

Sunday, February 10, 2013 Craig Grobler 0 Comments

ee baftas winnersIn a couple of hours I will be heading to the Royal Opera House, well, to the exterior of the Royal Opera House to cover the Red Carpet arrivals for the jewel in the crown of the British film year from what is promised to be a good view of the red carpet arrivals. - The EE British Academy Film Awards.

I have attempted to watch every BAFTA nominated film over the last couple of months and only missed a handful so I could chat about the BAFTA nominations with some credibility. Below are my thoughts on this year’s nominees and my hopes for the winners.

Hopefully I’ll be getting some great shots of the talent as they arrive and chat films with some of the nominees and guests. After the arrivals I’ll be heading to the official screening of the Awards Ceremony with a number of my esteemed colleagues for an evening sure to be filled with much debate over the nominees, winners, losers, those not nominated all  as it happens - I’ll be clogging up twitter using the official hashtag #EEBAFTAs –  much hilarity ensues.


6 First time performance nominees this year:
- Ben Affleck
- Bradley Cooper
- Hugh Jackman
- Jennifer Lawrence
- Anne Hathaway
- Helen Hunt

EE RISING STAR NOMINEES
2013 Nominees: Elizabeth Olsen, Andrea Riseborough, Suraj Sharma, Juno Temple, Alicia Vikander

Most Social Media Buzz*: Andrea Riseborough

2012 Winner: Adam Deacon beating Chris Hemsworth, Chris O'Dowd, Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston

Previous winners have included Tom Hardy, Kristen Stewart, Noel Clarke, Eva Green and James McAvoy, with 2012’s nominees including Chris Hemsworth, Chris O’Dowd, Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston and winner Adam Deacon.

I have not seen any of Elizabeth Olsen’s films so this sadly precludes from my summary. Surprisingly the buzz and I are in agreement I think recognition for Andrea Riseborough has been a long time coming and hope she moves onward and upward but Alicia Vikander talent and charisma is undeniable, like a bolt out of nowhere shining brightly in both A Royal Affair and Anna Karenina, sadly I have not seen Pure as yet. Alicia truly deserves all the credit she gets and I hope she takes the EE Rising Star Award home.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Alicia Vikander

EE BAFTA Rising Star Award 2013 Winner: Juno Temple
The EE Rising Star Award is the only publicly-voted award presented at the EE British Academy Film Awards, and a hotly contested accolade for up and coming acting talent. Juno was one of five international actors nominated for their exceptional talent and recognised as a true star in the making.

Juno Temple’s breakthrough came when she won the role of Cate Blanchett’s rebellious, brooding daughter in Notes on a Scandal. This led to her appearance in the BAFTA- and Oscar-winning film Atonement, opposite Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Saoirse Ronan. Since then a variety of well received film roles have followed, most recently opposite Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hirsch in the darkly comic Killer Joe.

In just a few years, Juno Temple has firmly established herself as one of the most versatile and talented young actresses in Hollywood. Her breakthrough arrived when she won the role of Cate Blanchett’s rebellious, brooding daughter in Notes on a Scandal. This led to her appearance in the BAFTA- and Oscar-winning Atonement, opposite Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Saoirse Ronan. Since then a variety of well received film roles have followed, most recently opposite Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hirsch in the darkly comic Killer Joe.

In just a few years, Juno Temple has firmly established herself as one of the most versatile and talented young actresses in Hollywood. Her breakthrough arrived when she won the role of Cate Blanchett’s rebellious, brooding daughter in Notes on a Scandal. This led to her appearance in the BAFTA- and Oscar-winning Atonement, opposite Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Saoirse Ronan. Since then a variety of well received film roles have followed, most recently opposite Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hirsch in the darkly comic Killer Joe.



EE BAFTA SHORT FILM AWARD
2013 Nominees: Unfortunately I have as yet not seen any of this year’s nominated short films listed below. So can’t really comment.

The Curse - Director: Fyzal Boulifa, Producer: Gavin Humphries
Fatine has ventured far from the village to meet her older lover. When she is caught by a small boy, all she wants to do is go home.

Good Night - Director/Writer: Muriel d’Ansembourg, Producer: Eva Sigurdardottir
Two teenage girls find themselves pushed to extremes on the streets of London when the boundaries between innocent play and dangerous seduction start to blur.

Swimmer - Writer/Director: Lynne Ramsay, Producer: Peter Carlton, Producer: Diarmid Scrimshaw
The film enters the mind of an endurance swimmer on a journey through Britain's waterways, using sound and images to penetrate his thoughts, feelings, dreams, nightmares, memories, escape.

Tumult - Writer/Director: Johnny Barrington, Producer: Rhianna Andrews
A tribe of Norse warriors traipse across a barren land after battle. Bloodied and wounded, their chief is near death. He is about to hand over power to his son when an army of a completely different kind descends upon them.

The Voorman Problem - Director: Mark Gill, Producer: Baldwin Li
A psychiatrist is sent to a prison to examine an inmate with a peculiar affliction – he believes he is a god.

EE BAFTA Short Film 2013 Winner: Swimmer - Lynne Ramsay, Peter Carlton, Diarmid Scrimshaw
Keep an eye on http://www.bafta.org/film/news-and-events/2012-bafta-nominated-short-films-on-tour,3597,BA.html  for the 2013 BAFTA-Nominated Short Films on Tour



EE BAFTA SHORT ANIMATION FILM AWARD
2013 Nominees: Again unfortunately I have as yet not seen any of this years’s nominated short animation films.

Here to Fall - Director/Writer: Kris Kelly, Co-Writer/Producer: Evelyn McGrath
When a girl receives a call from her father she is set on a frantic journey through a chaotic world.

I'm Fine Thanks - Eamonn O'Neill
Are you okay?

The Making of Longbird - Writer/Director: Will Anderson, Co-writer: Ainslie Henderson, Producer: Donald Holwill
A behind-the-scenes look at an animator as he struggles with his character.

Short Animation 2013 Winner: The Making Of Longbird - Will Anderson, Ainslie Henderson

Keep an eye on http://www.bafta.org/film/news-and-events/2012-bafta-nominated-short-films-on-tour,3597,BA.html  for the 2013 BAFTA-Nominated Short Films on Tour


EE BAFTA SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS AWARD
2013 Nominees: The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Life of Pi, Marvel Avengers Assemble, Prometheus

2012 Winner: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 beating The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn, Hugo, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, War Horse

Truly a tough category as every film nominated deserves to win. I am partial to The Dark Knight Rises, Prometheus and Life of Pi but The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was a visual effects treat from start to finish.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

EE BAFTA Special Visual Effects 2013 Winner:  Life Of Pi  - Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer, Donald R. Elliott



EE BAFTA SOUND AWARD
2013 Nominees: Django Unchained, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Skyfall

2012 Winner: Hugo beating The Artist, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse

Another tough category as all the nominees should win for the efforts and Les Misérables leads for me and ultimately the irony of Berberian Sound Studio not being nominated in this BAFTA Sound Category is not lost on me. Berberian Sound Studio should have won this category.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Berberian Sound Studio Les Misérables

EE BAFTA Sound 2013 Winner: Les Misérables - Simon Hayes, Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Jonathan Allen, Lee Walpole, John Warhurst



EE BAFTA MAKE UP & HAIR AWARD
2013 Nominees: Anna Karenina, Hitchcock, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Les Misérables, Lincoln

2012 Winner: The Iron Lady beating The Artist, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2, Hugo, My Week With Marilyn

Sadly I have not seen Hitchcock as yet. Another tough category as all the nominees are exceptional and Anna Karenina’s entire production design should be recognised as well The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Les Misérables. But Lincoln was flawless subtle enough to be incredibly real while looking like it wasn't trying.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Lincoln

EE BAFTA Film Make-Up And Hair 2013 Winner:  Les Misérables - Lisa Westcott



EE BAFTA COSTUME DESIGN AWARD
2013 Nominees: Anna Karenina, Great Expectations, Les Misérables, Lincoln, Snow White and the Huntsman

2012 Winner: The Artist beating Hugo, Jane Eyre, My Week With Marilyn, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Great Expectations is precluded as I have not seen it yet. All the nominees are exceptional but led by Les Misérables and Lincoln but Anna Karenina’s costumes possibly not really relevant to the period but absolutely superb never the less.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Anna Karenina

EE BAFTA Costume Design 2013 Winner:  Anna Karenina - Jacqueline Durran



EE BAFTA PRODUCTION DESIGN AWARD
2013 Nominees:  Anna Karenina, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Skyfall

2012 Winner: Hugo beating The Artist, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse

Another tough category as all the nominees are truly exceptional. I really want Skyfall to win for all their hard work but the staggering production of Les Misérables was breathtaking. The shipyard scene is still one of the most memorable scenes of 2013 for me.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Les Misérables

EE BAFTA Production Design 2013 Winner:  Les Misérables - Eve Stewart, Anna Lynch-Robinson



EE BAFTA EDITING AWARD
2013 Nominees: Argo, Django Unchained, Life of Pi, Skyfall, Zero Dark Thirty

2012 Winner: Senna beating The Artist, Drive, Hugo, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Every one nominated in the category should win with special mentions for Argo, Life of Pi and Django Unchained. Ultimately Django Unchained’s editing actually added to the overall feel of the film, bitter-sweet as this is the first Quentin Tarantino film not edited by the great Sally Menke.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Django Unchained

EE BAFTA Editing 2013 Winner: Argo - William Goldenberg



EE BAFTA CINEMATOGRAPHYAWARD
2013 Nominees: Anna Karenina, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Skyfall

2012 Winner: The Artist beating The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse

Every contender in the BAFTA Cinematography Award is sublime but there is one clear winner for me. The intelligence in revitalising the Bond franchise touched every aspect of the Skyfall and Roger Deakins’s work on Skyfall is exceptional and without peer.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Skyfall

EE BAFTA Cinematography 2013 Winner:  Life Of Pi - Claudio Miranda



EE BAFTA ORIGINAL FILM MUSIC AWARD
2013 Nominees: Anna Karenina, Argo, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Skyfall

2012 Winner: The Artist beating The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse

A difficult category for me comment on as all film music falls into 3 distinct categories for me – below par (they have to be really dire to end up here ), good or absolutely wonderful. The bulk of film music is good to me but the sublime really standout for me as do all the nominees music.

 The entire production design of Skyfall was top notch including the music particularly as there are so many quick shifts in the moods and scenes in a Bond film. Although it did not have Original music I can’t help but mention how awesome the sound and music of Les Misérables is. As was both the production design and music of Anna Karenina and Lincoln.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Skyfall

EE BAFTA Original Film Music 2013 Winner:  Skyfall - Thomas Newman


Judi Dench (Academy Fellow) has had 25 previous BAFTA nominations & 10 wins
Amy Adams has had 2 previous BAFTA nominations 
Sally Field has had 1 nominations


EE BAFTA SUPPORTING ACTRESS AWARD
2013 Nominees: Amy Adams - The Master, Anne Hathaway - Les Mis̩rables, Helen Hunt - The Sessions, Judi Dench РSkyfall, Sally Field - Lincoln

Most Social Media Buzz*:  Anne Hathaway - Les Misérables

2012 Winner: Octavia Spencer - The Help beating Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids, Jessica Chastain - The Help, Judi Dench - My Week With Marilyn, Carey Mulligan – Drive

Amy Adams really coming into her own with The Master and I suspect we are going to see some serious powerhouse performances from her moving so expect her involvement in a Biopic – probably political in nature, a  Gangster Crime Drama or a film focussed on human disabilities soon.  Sadly Helen Hunt’s erstwhile and down to earth performance in The Sessions didn't really shine and the whole film came across a bit flat despite John Hawkes performance.

Sally Fields in Lincoln was reliable and she brought her standard depth to the film. Many have criticised the inclusion of Dame Judi Dench’s nomination for Skyfall – as entertaining as it was I myself did not think it merited a nomination but if Melissa McCarthy could be included for Bridesmaids last year, Tarantino’s pop films can be nominated for anything other than a technical achievement and David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook can be nominated for anything full stop - then why the hell not? Clearly we are not been held to any sort of golden standard. Despite Anne Hathaway being in Les Misérables for about 15 minutes her performance brought me to tears and boy can the lady sing. Hopefully Hathaway will have some material put under her nose that challenges her and brings her talent forth rather than the usual alluring dreary popular money cash cows.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Anne Hathaway - Les Misérables

EE BAFTA Supporting Actress 2013 Winner:  Anne Hathaway - Les Misérables


Alan Arkin has had 2 previous BAFTA Nominations & 1 win
Christoph Waltz has had 1 previous BAFTA Nomination & 1 win
Javier Bardem has had 2 previous BAFTA Nominations & 1 win
Philip Seymour Hoffman has had 4 previous BAFTA Nominations & 1 win
Tommy Lee Jones has had 3 previous BAFTA Nominations

EE BAFTA SUPPORTING ACTOR AWARD
2013 Nominees: Alan Arkin – Argo,  Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained, Javier Bardem – Skyfall, Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Master, Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln

Most Social Media Buzz*: Alan Arkin – Argo

2012 Winner: Christopher Plummer Beginners beating Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn, Jim Broadbent - The Iron Lady, Jonah Hill – Moneyball, Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Ides Of March

Thankfully last year’s reverence for Brad Pitt’s Star power was not repeated and all the nominated performances are actually worthy of a BAFTA nomination. As with his small role in Fisher Stevens's Stand Up Guys Alan Arkin was sublimely entertaining in Argo and as always a pleasure to be seen on screen. I’m waiting for the day that Arkin lands another leading role in a film with intelligent script and we get to see this genius of his craft acting again. Christoph Waltz what can I say about the man that isn’t already blatantly obvious to anyone that has seen him on screen?  His brings his usual panache, intelligence and classic showmanship sadly lacking in modern performances.

Javier Bardem’s performance as Silva in Skyfall certainly cemented him as one of Bond’s greatest villains and charmed us like a snake but it is appropriately put into context by Philip Seymour Hoffman’s unbelievably charismatic turn as the leader of a movement in The Master. Last year Philip Seymour Hoffman was nominated in this same category and lost out to Christopher Plummer – I suspect that he is only a couple of films away from winning a BAFTA for Leading Man.

As much as I loved Christoph Waltz’s neo pop performance there is only one worthy winner in this category. Sadly Tommy Lee Jones performance in Lincoln was everything it should be and it is good to see Jones in meaty role that doesn't involve a gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse. In no way addressing Lincoln’s social relevance it was just lacking that little spark that could lift it from a good film to unforgettable as with Jones’s performance.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Either Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained or Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Master

EE BAFTA Supporting Actor 2013 Winner:  Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained



Emmanuelle Riva has had 2 previous BAFTA nominations
Helen Mirren has had 11 previous BAFTA nominations & 4 wins  
Jessica Chastain  has had 1 previous BAFTA nomination
Marion Cotillard  has had 1 previous BAFTA nomination &  1 win

Judi Dench is  the most nominated actress in Film, joint with Meryl Streep - both have 14 nominations

EE BAFTA LEADING ACTRESS AWARD
2013 Nominees: Emmanuelle Riva – Amour, Helen Mirren – Hitchcock, Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook, Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty, Marion Cotillard - Rust and Bone

Most Social Media Buzz*:  Jennifer Lawrence

2012 Winner: Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady beating Bérénice Bejo - The Artist, Viola Davis - The Help, Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady, Tilda Swinton - We Need To Talk About Kevin, Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn

Sadly as mentioned I have not had the pleasure of seeing Hitchcock as yet. For me there was only one without any doubt clear winner in this category:  Emmanuelle Riva – Amour.  Next in line would be  Marion Cotillard for her performance in Rust and Bone.


Previous nominee for Leading Actress from A Film Not in the English Language: Noomi Rapace for the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011).

Previous winners of Leading Actress from a film not in the English Language: Marion Cotillard - La Vie En Rose (2008) and Stephane Audran - Discreet Charm of the Bourgeosie (1974).

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Emmanuelle Riva – Amour


EE BAFTA Leading Actress 2013 Winner:  Emmanuelle Riva - Amour


Daniel Day-Lewis has had 5 previous BAFTA nominations & 3 wins
Joaquin Phoenix has had 2 previous BAFTA nominations

EE BAFTA LEADING ACTOR AWARD
2013 Nominees: Ben Affleck РArgo, Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook, Daniel Day-Lewis РLincoln, Hugh Jackman - Les Mis̩rables, Joaquin Phoenix - The Master

Most Social Media Buzz*: Ben Affleck

2012 Winner: Jean Dujardin - The Artist beating George Clooney - The Descendants, Michael Fassbender - Shame, Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Brad Pitt – Moneyball

I’m surprised that Jean-Louis Trintignant as Georges in Michael Haneke’s Amour didn’t crack a nod as his performance is just as good if not better than Emmanuelle Rivas.  Some tough love for Ben Affleck. I loved Argo and it deserves much praise sadly the same cannot be said for your performance. I can’t help but think that acting in the film was at the root of Argo’s lack of Oscar nominations.  Bradley Cooper is one of Hollywood’s most charismatic leading men and raises any film he is in. I enjoyed Silver Linings Playbook as entertaining as it is I can’t help but think that any nomination for SLP (apart from nods for De Niro or Weaver) were aimed at keeping the BAFTAs on the youth’s radar. It makes Moneyball seem like a half decent film.

Daniel Day-Lewis  not only a great man but an actor without par as brilliant as the film it is it lacked that magical thing that made it unforgettable for me.  Hugh Jackman was outstanding in Les Misérables, clearly these are the kind of roles he excels in (please leave Wolverine alone now) every scene he was in was instantly elevated and his singing abilities are astounding I really hope he gets the recognition he deserves.

Joaquin Phoenix’s turn in The Master was sublime he certainly on the way to being his generations Daniel Day-Lewis not only was his personality transformation in The Master uncanny  but his sloped shoulder physical metamorphosis was something to behold. Truly a stunning performance of epic proportions and matched with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adam’s  performance The Master was a film of astonishing talent.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner:  Joaquin Phoenix - The Master special mention for Hugh Jackman - Les Misérables

EE BAFTA Leading Actor 2013 Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln



Most Film Awards wins to date:
10 Woody Allen
7 John Williams
6 Judi Dench
5 Pedro Almodovar, Peter Finch, Ennio Morricone, Nick Park, Ken Ralston, Maggie Smith
4 Richard Attenborough, Eric Fellner, Ang Lee, Andy Nelson, Alan Parker (and others)

EE BAFTA ADAPTED SCREENPLAY AWARD
2013 Nominees: Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook

2012 Winner: Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy beating Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne & Jim Rash - The Descendants, Tate Taylor - The Help, George Clooney, Grant Heslov & Beau Willimon - The Ides Of March, Moneyball - Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian

I haven’t read any of the source material or screenplays for any of the films nominated, so my comments would be more irrelevant than usual. But the Life of Pi is generally accepted as near on un-filmable, so I’m guessing it should do quite well. Great to see Argo which was put on the Blacklist in 2010 picked up by Warner Bros and Affleck.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Argo

EE BAFTA Adapted Screenplay 2013 Winner: Silver Linings Playbook - David O. Russell

Below you can download every BAFTA nominated screenplay and the winner for your own enjoyment.
Download the Screenplay for Silver Linings Playbook  can be found here!
Download the Screenplay for Argo can be found here!
Download the Screenplay for Beasts of the Southern Wild can be found here!
Download the Screenplay for Life of Pi can be found here!
Download the Screenplay for Lincoln can be found here!


EE BAFTA ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY AWARD
2013 Nominees: Amour, Django Unchained, The Master, Moonrise Kingdom, Zero Dark Thirty

2012 Winner: The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius beating Bridesmaids - Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig, The Guard - John Michael McDonagh, The Iron Lady - Abi Morgan, Midnight In Paris - Woody Allen

Almost every film in this category deserves to win. However as fun as it was I can’t help but think that Django’s inclusion was more of an attempt to remain relevant and edgy than praise the finest in genre.

Zero Dark Thirty may have seemed an exciting prospect on paper however it was one of the worst films I saw in 2012 it fails on every level it is purportedly aiming for. Reducing the greatest manhunt in history to a failed attempt to clone Erin Brockovich. Not only does it not entertain but it does a disservice to the efforts of every person involved in real life events. It seems that back office procedural films are to this decade what dumb machine gun hero films were to the 80s. Shameless Hollywood at its worst. Frankly I'm shocked that it was even considered for nomination.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Amour

EE BAFTA Original Screenplay 2013 Winner: Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino

Below you can download every BAFTA nominated screenplay and the winner for your own enjoyment:
Download the Screenplay for Amour can be found here!
Download the Screenplay for Django Unchained can be found here!
Download the Screenplay for The Master can be found here!
Download the Screenplay for Moonrise Kingdom can be found here!
Download the Screenplay for Zero Dark Thirty can be found here!


Steven Spielberg (Academy Fellow) has had 11 previous BAFTA nominations & 3 Wins
Ang Lee has had 8 previous BAFTA nominations & 4 wins
George Clooney has had 8 previous BAFTA nominations
Quentin Tarantino has had 5 previous BAFTA nominations & 1 win
Michael Haneke has had 2 previous BAFTA nominations
Kathryn Bigelow has had 2 previous BAFTA nominations & 2 wins

EE BAFTA DIRECTOR  AWARD
2013 Nominees: Michael Haneke – Amour, Ben Affleck – Argo, Quentin Tarantino - Django Unchained, Ang Lee - Life of Pi, Kathryn Bigelow - Zero Dark Thirty

Most Social Media Buzz*: Ang Lee - Life of Pi

2012 Winner: The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius beating Nicolas Winding Refn - Drive, Martin Scorsese - Hugo, Tomas Alfredson - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Lynne Ramsay - We Need To Talk About Kevin

Tom Hooper should win this category or at the very least have been recognised for his marvellous Les Misérables I can’t help but dislike Zero Dark Thirty even more as it took a space that could have gone to Les Misérables.  But as Tom Hooper was not nominated - Tough choices remain as I absolutely loved Amour. What a film! But the logistics of making films like Argo and especially Life of Pi must have been mind boggling.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Argo

EE BAFTA Director 2013 Winner:  Ben Affleck – Argo



EE BAFTA ANIMATED FILM AWARD
2013 Nominees: Brave, Frankenweenie, ParaNorman
2012 Winner: Rango beating The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn, Arthur Christmas
Despite PR agencies best efforts I Unfortunately  have not seen any of the films in the Animated Film Category.

EE BAFTA Animated Film 2013 Winner: Brave - Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman



EE BAFTA DOCUMENTARY FILM AWARD
2013 Nominees: The Imposter, Marley, McCullin, Searching for Sugar Man, West of Memphis

2012 Winner: Senna beating George Harrison: Living In The Material World , Project Nim

Sadly as yet I have not seen Marley, McCullin or West of Memphis. The Imposter was an incredible piece of film making and genuine kudos to Bart Layton and Dimitri Doganis for pulling a film that engages, shocks and entertains whilst being a true account of events. The Impostor would have been my pick to win but it is going up against Searching for Sugar Man.

I grew up in South Africa and even though it may have been a little rough around the edges - every frame of Searching for Sugar Man delighted, shocked or filled me with nostalgia as my wife and I say along to the lyrics of every song featured.

 I can only describe finding out that Rodriquez was not a huge international star outside South Africa in my teens would be the equivalent of Banksy being revealed as Ken Livingstone. It’s the strange and touching story of an unsung hero of a lost generation of South Africans.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Searching for Sugar Man

EE BAFTA Documentary 2013 Winner:  Searching For Sugar Man - Malik Bendjelloul, Simon Chinn


Previous nominations and wins in the Screenplay categories for a Film not in the English Language include:
I've Loved You So Long nominated for Original Screenplay (2009)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly won Best Adapted Screenplay (2008)
The Lives of Others nominated for Original Screenplay (2008)
Inglourious Basterds nominated for Original Screenplay (2010)
Slumdog Millionaire won Adapted Screenplay (2009)

EE BAFTA FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AWARD
2013 Nominees: Amour, Headhunters, The Hunt, Rust and Bone, Untouchable

2012 Winner: The Skin I Live In beating Incendies, Pina, Potiche, A Separation

Sadly I have still not seen Untouchable / The Intouchables / Intouchables or The Hunt both of which I can’t wait to see  - but it is unlikely that either could overcome the dark beauty and truth of Amour. Rust and Bone is another of my favourite films of 2012 as well as Headhunters which deserves as much recognition as a Quentin Tarantino film but Armour was both one of my favourite films as well my favourite films of the year not in the English language.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner: Amour

EE BAFTA Film not in the English Language 2013 Winner:  Amour - Michael Haneke, Margaret Ménégoz


Most Film Awards nominations to date (inc. this year)
23 Woody Allen
16 Tim Bevan
15 Eric Fellner
14 Stuart Craig, Judi Dench, Meryl Streep
13 Mike Leigh, Andy Nelson, John Williams
12 Richard Attenborough, Maggie Smith
11 Steven Spielberg, Richard Taylor (and others)

EE BAFTA OUTSTANDING DEBUT AWARD
2013 Nominees: Bart Layton, Dimitri Doganis - The Imposter, David Morris, Jacqui Morris – McCullin, Dexter Fletcher, Danny King - Wild Bill, James Bobin - The Muppets, Tina Gharavi - I Am Nasrine

2012 Winner: Paddy Considine, Diarmid Scrimshaw - Tyrannosaur beating Joe Cornish - Attack The Block, Sarah Brocklehurst, Tom Kingsley, Will Sharpe - Black Pond, Ralph Fiennes - Coriolanus, Richard Ayoade – Submarine

I have had to exclude David Morris, Jacqui Morris – McCullin, Dexter Fletcher, Danny King - Wild Bill, James Bobin - The Muppets and Tina Gharavi - I Am Nasrine as I have not seen their films.

Which only leaves my favourite; Bart Layton, Dimitri Doganis - The Imposter which I thought was a remarkable achievement and the fact that I put the effort into seeing it speaks for itself. Great to see Dexter Fletcher and Danny King nominated for  Wild Bill which I’ll be seeing as soon as possible.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner:  Bart Layton, Dimitri Doganis - The Imposter

EE BAFTA  Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director or Producer 2013 Winner: Bart Layton, Dimitri Doganis - The Imposter



James Bond films have had 11 previous BAFTA nominations including OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM FOR CASINO ROYALE (2007) & 2 wins
  
EE BAFTA OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM AWARD
2013 Nominees: Anna Karenina, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Les Misérables, Seven Psychopaths, Skyfall

Most Social Media Buzz*: Skyfall

2012 Winner: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy beating My Week With Marilyn, Senna, Shame, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, We Need To Talk About Kevin

If you read the Establishing Shot you know I am a Bondophile and if you read my review of Skyfall you know that I enjoyed it a lot and appreciated the amount of thought and work that went into every aspect of it. It would take an incredible film to top it. Both Anna Karenina and Les Misérables match its production design and technical achievement but Skyfall shining and re-exciting audiences as much as it has despite its 50 year heritage of having done it all possibly more than once speaks volumes of its greatness. Both The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Seven Psychopaths were remarkable films for different reasons - but Skyfall would be my choice of outstanding British film of 2012.

On a side note: Much has been made by the Bond camp about the amount of effort they are putting into Skyfall to celebrate the Bond film’s franchise 50th Anniversary/Birthday and this came together beautifully in a near perfect Bond film, possibly the greatest Bond film of the last 30 years or so and the most successful film in British box office history.

As with the final Harry Potter film which was way better than it predecessors I feel a little duped and wondering why the same level of commitment and effort is lacking in the other films of their respective franchises? The ticket prices are the same! If I have to wait another 50 years for a decent Bond film I may have to quit the franchise way before then.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner:  Skyfall

Steven Spielberg (Academy Fellow) has had 11 previous BAFTA nominations & 3 Wins
Ang Lee has had 8 previous BAFTA nominations & 4 Wins
George Clooney has had 8 previous BAFTA nominations
Kathryn Bigelow has had 2 previous BAFTA nominations & 2 Wins

EE BAFTA Outstanding British Film 2013 Winner:  Skyfall - Sam Mendes, Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan
Alan Arkin has had 2 previous BAFTA Nominations & 1 win EE BAFTA BEST FILM AWARD

2013 Nominees: Argo, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Zero Dark Thirty

Most Social Media Buzz*: Lincoln

2012 Winner: The Descendants, Drive, The Help, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Argo an idea so crazy, it has to be true was undoubtedly one of the most equally entertaining and dramatic films of the year but it is a bit throw away and not a BAFTA Best Film Winner. However when weighed up against the other nominees I can see why it would lead the charge.

 Life of Pi an outstanding cinematic achievement and a great film sadly it lacks heart and I believe much to have been lost in translation from book to film although on the surface It’s visually spot on. It lacks sufficient substance to be memorable.

Lincoln is a heavyweight film with powerhouse performances with Daniel Day Lewis as the titular man towering above all others. Unfortunately it’s not very entertaining and neither should it be.
Zero Dark Thirty the less said the better, other than if BAFTA deigned to nominate Zero Dark Thirty why didn’t they nominate Prometheus?

I’ve only ever seen one of Tom Hooper’s films - The King’s Speech, not particularly partial to musicals, if anything the subject matter shouldn’t work as a musical - but Les Misérables is absolutely outstanding with brilliant performances. I was in awe of the grand sets and production design and it all came together beautifully.  Hugh Jackman is astonishing as Jean Valjean and his talent shone at every turn.  The fact that Hooper chose to use the actors real singing voices rather than studio record made the film all the better allowing Russell Crowe to bring a certain 30 Odd Foot of Grunts charm. For me Les Misérables is the winner of the EE BAFTA BEST FILM AWARD.

The Establishing Shot’s Winner:  Les Misérables

EE BAFTA Film 2013 Winner: Argo - Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, George Clooney



EE BAFTA FELLOWSHIP
2013: Sir Alan Parker

2012: Martin Scorsese

Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Fame, Shoot the Moon, Pink Floyd The Wall, Birdy, Angel Heart, Mississippi Burning need I say more?

Awarded annually by BAFTA, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film. Previously honoured Fellows include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor, Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave and Christopher Lee. Martin Scorsese received the Fellowship at the Film Awards last February.

John Willis, Chairman of the Academy, said: “Sir Alan Parker is a hugely distinctive filmmaker, and a man of uncompromising vision and personality. He has made an immense contribution to the British film industry, receiving a wide range of critical and public acclaim for his writing, producing and directing across almost 40 years of filmmaking. It’s almost impossible to highlight any one moment of his career, but the incredible 19 BAFTAs his films have won indicate the esteem in which he is held by his peers, as well as the outstanding nature of his work. I’m delighted that the Academy has taken this opportunity to recognise Sir Alan with the Fellowship this year.”

Sir Alan Parker added: “When you make your first film, you’re sure it will be your last. And then you squeeze your eyes together and suddenly, forty years later, you’re at BAFTA getting an award like this. I’m of course enormously flattered and honoured.”

Knighted in 2002 for services to the British film industry, Sir Alan’s career as a writer, director and producer has been much garlanded: his films have won nineteen BAFTAs, ten Golden Globes and ten Oscars. His first feature film as writer and director was Bugsy Malone in 1975: Sir Alan was BAFTA-nominated for Direction and Screenplay, and won the Screenplay award. 1977’s controversial Midnight Express won him the BAFTA for Direction and John Hurt the award for Supporting Actor. Other works include The Commitments, Shoot The Moon, Pink Floyd The Wall, Mississippi Burning and, more recently, Evita, starring Madonna, Angela’s Ashes, and The Life of David Gale, starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet.



EE BAFTA OUTSTANDING BRITISH CONTRIBUTION TO CINEMA
2013: Tessa Ross

2012: John Hurt

The Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award is presented annually in honour of Michael Balcon. Previous recipients include Mike Leigh, Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jarman, Mary Selway, Ridley and Tony Scott, Working Title Films, Lewis Gilbert, and the Harry Potter series of films. Last year’s recipient was John Hurt.

John Willis, Chairman of BAFTA, said: “Tessa Ross has made an immense contribution to British cinema during her time at Channel 4. Tessa’s impeccable taste, and her passion for great writing and directing has shone through every film she has been involved with; she is an extremely worthy recipient of this important Award.”

Tessa Ross says: “It’s a surprise and a great honour to have been given this award by BAFTA. I owe it of course to the wonderful film makers I’ve had the privilege of working with – and to my team at Film4, with whom I share it. We’re very lucky to be so supported by Channel 4 and by David Abraham who continues to champion our work. There are incredibly talented people working within our industry, as well as outside it – and 30 years ago Film4 was built to find these people, nurture them and help contribute to our British film culture. It’s a privilege to try to keep this idea alive.”

Tessa is the controller of Film and Drama at Channel 4, heading up feature film division Film4, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in November last year. Tessa and Film4 have built a reputation for developing and financing some of the most innovative and acclaimed British films which between them have amassed a large number of prestigious awards.


* according to the Meltwater Group BAFTAs Social Media Buzz Indicator


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