The BAFTA Nominations: Our Take

The BAFTA Nominations: Our Take

Posted on Wednesday January 16, 2008, 12:47 by Olly Richards

Olly Richards: So we, dear Helen, are here to discuss the BAFTA nominations and the occasionally crazy ways of said body. I feel a little silly that my big gripe with this year’s BAFTA nominations is in the special effects category, but, seriously, no Transformers?! The film wasn’t great, but you’re telling me that Spider-Man 3 – which actually took a step back from the previous film in terms of CG – and The Golden Compass were more of an achievement than that? Maybe it’s still residual fury at the Oscar Foreign Film nominations (MORONS!), but that angered me. Other than that, there are many nods I’m pleased to see. I’m particularly glad to see The Bourne Ultimatum recognised. Although, in what way was that British?

Helen O'Hara: You’re such an AV geek. But I agree on Transformers, and think that The Golden Compass should be disqualified for cynically showing nary a drop of blood during the bear fight to ensure a PG rating. But that’s a whole other issue. I think Bourne counts as British principally because it was shot (a bit) here and because of Greengrass – who I would love to see win Best Director, much as I adore the other candidates. He’s one of the most influential filmmakers in the world right now, and some awards body should acknowledge that. The only other big surprise I can spot is the complete omission of Hot Fuzz – a home-grown hit like that would usually do quite well.

Olly: That is a shame, but it’s not surprising, since it’s not a typical awards film. I’m sure the huge box office will comfort Edgar Wright. Talking of British, are we at all surprised to see Atonement topping the list? It’s currently looking like a bit iffy in the Oscar race, but I think it really deserves awards attention. It was technically magnificent. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that it’s going to sweep the board – I know, I’m ker-azy. I actually think, we might see all the big prizes go to Brits this year. The cynic in me might say that part of that would be because the writers strike makes it unlikely that any American stars will show up and BAFTA voters are staunchly patriotic, but there’s a really strong showing here. Daniel Day Lewis will obviously win for There Will Be Blood (he couldn’t have acted more) and I’d put Best Actress between Christie and Knightley, even though my heart says Ellen Page. In fact, my heart makes Juno type noises generally. Yay, Diablo Cody!

Helen: It’s no surprise at all to see Atonement leading the nominations, but I don’t think it will sweep the wins. I loved it, thought it was absolutely fantastic, but I just don’t think that BAFTA can ignore There Will Be Blood or No Country in the big categories and be considered a serious awards show. Lives Of Others feels like last year’s news and shouldn’t win anything but Foreign Film and American Gangster just isn’t good enough, so I feel like we can ignore those two, but the other three deserve their Best Picture shot. I think, by the by, your heart and its Juno-type noises may, as Celine Dion would say, go on, cause it doesn’t look like she has a whole lot of competition for Original Screenplay. In Adapted Screenplay, I’d go for No Country For Old Men – that was a storming translation to the screen. How about Best British Film?

Olly: Well, I’m still thinking Atonement will take Best Film. But I think This Is England or Bourne will take Best British film, in one of those odd situations that happen at the BAFTAs. One Atonement nomination I’m really pleased with is Saoirse Ronan (whose name I always want to pronounce as Seahorse). A lot of the Supporting Actress category is questionable in its British bias, but she’s been overlooked too often. Baffled as to how Helena Bonham Carter got overlooked for Sweeney Todd, since she’s British and spectacular in the movie. But if I start on my Sweeney Todd gripes, we’ll be here all day. See also The Assassination of Jesse James By The Amazing Casey Affleck Who Should Have Won.

Helen: Also titled The Great Injustice Of Jesse James Getting Pretty Much Ignored By All The Awards Shows, yes. I agree that Atonement will probably take Best Film (British, epic, period piece) but I’m not going to storm the stage as long as American Gangster doesn’t win. Actually, I probably won’t even storm the stage then, but I’ll definitely tut. And yes, something else will then get Best British Film – possibly Control, as that’s often the category where they reward the indie contender. I’d love to see Saoirse win Best Support too (If you were Jade Goody you’d get in a lot of trouble for not being able to pronounce that) although if Cate Blanchett is in the running for an award, it should be that one and definitely not Best Actress for Elizabeth, which was a less-than-worthy film for a win. Best Actor should really be Daniel “Draaaaaaiiiiinnnnaaaaagggge!” Lewis and Best Actress – Christie I guess, but where’s Angelina Jolie?

Olly: I know how to pronounce it and I love all my brothers and sisters of Irish origin – except you and Chris Hewitt. Right, my picks for what will win are: Atonement for Best Film; Paul Thomas Anderson for Best Director; Daniel Day Lewis for Best Actor; hmmm…Keira Knightley for Best Actress (I don’t get the attention for Christie in Away From Her, which I really didn’t think was an especially taxing role, despite the subject matter. She just had to look a bit confused and smile beatifically. I’m possibly in a minority); Javier Bardem for Best Supporting Actor; and Saoirse Ronan for Best Supporting Actress. My true feelings would replace Ronan with Tilda Swinton in the otherwise ordinary Michael Clayton (or Bonham Carter for Sweeney Todd or Jennifer Garner for Juno, who nobody seems to realise pulled off an astoundingly difficult character arc – but nobody nominated them), Knightley with Page, for making me forget she was acting, and Atonement with something, but there are too many good ones this year for me to choose. You?

Helen: Atonement’s most likely for Film, but I’d be equally happy to see one of the Westerns up there instead. Best Director – I’m going to go with my heart and say Greengrass, not so much for this film as the last several, although I suspect you might be right. Best Actor, Daniel Day Lewis. Best Actress, it’d be Christie as a career acknowledgement as much as for Away From Her itself, but Marion Cotillard probably gives the most impressively chameleonic performance of the year so I’ll go for her. Best Supporting Actor has got to be Javier or I really will rethink that whole not-storming-the-stage plan, and Best Supporting Actress…that’s really tough. Four Brits, and the other one’s an honorary Brit because she does the accent so well, so no helpful national bias. I don’t get the Kelly Macdonald thing really – she was great but it was a tiny part – so not her; Tilda Swinton was great too but I don’t think the film was all that (unlike every awards body ever, it seems); I’m Not There may have more appeal in the States than here, and Morton’s been less talked up than Sam Riley (the man who should but probably won’t win Rising Star) so I’m going to, at long last, agree with you and say Ronan. Oh, and Ratatouille will win Best Animated Film. I don’t know why they even bothered nominating two others – at least those two others. I guess Persepolis missed the deadline somehow. But I’m looking forward to it – the BAFTAs are always an amusing night for us and it’s fun to see what crazy decisions the voters come up with.

Olly: I’ll bring the torches, you bring the pitchforks.