The B.A.F.T.As

So here it is, the award show that isn't the Golden Globes, but nowhere near the majesty of the Oscars. Winning a Bafta is much like winning a Silver medal at the Olympics, it's good, but you don't wear it around the house. Anyway, allusions aside, below are the original nominees with my take on who I think will win each respective awards. However, I'm not going to do 'Best Make-up' etc. because let's be honest, I don't care. Brilliant.

BEST FILM

THE ARTIST - Thomas Langmann

THE DESCENDANTS - Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor

DRIVE - Marc Platt, Adam Siegel

THE HELP - Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY - Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Robyn Slovo

My take: I reckon The Descendants will have this one. It is yet to be released in the UK, but judging by Clooney's Golden Globe win and the other posts I follow it seems that The Descendants has the potential to be a real great of 2012.

DIRECTOR

THE ARTIST - MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS

DRIVE - NICOLAS WINDING REFN

HUGO - MARTIN SCORSESE

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY - TOMAS ALFREDSON

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN - LYNNE RAMSEY

My take: It's got to go to the big man hasn't it? Scorsese's 'Hugo' is a spectacular family film and the direction is some of his best. However, I think Alfredson may have a steal from the master. Such fun.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

THE ARTIST - MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS

BRIDESMAIDS - ANNIE MUMULO, KRISTEN WIG

THE GUARD - JOHN MICHAEL MCDONAGH

THE IRON LADY - ABI MORGAN

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS - WOODY ALLEN.

My take: You can probably guess what I'm going to say here if you've read my Iron Lady post. Abi Morgan's script is fantastic, and if I'm honest I think The Iron Lady will take it, however, from other sources I'm told that Bridesmaids and Midnight In Paris are strong contenders. My money though stays with Morgan's biographical drama.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

THE DESCENDANTS - ALEXANDER PAYNE, NAT FAXON, JIM RASH

THE HELP - TATE TAYLOR

THE IDES OF MARCH - GEORGE CLOONEY, GRANT HESLOV, BEAU WILLIMON

MONEYBALL - STEVEN ZAILLIAN, AARON SORKIN

TINKER TAYLOR SOLDIER SPY - BRIDGET O'CONNOR, PETER STRAUGHAN

My take: Now I've only seen Tinker Taylor out of these, and I didn't think the script was anything special, so a Bafta seems unlikely. Judging by friend's and other blog's opinions, I'm going to say The Descendants. Big George has hedged his bets though hasn't he. Clever fella.

ANIMATED FILM

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN - STEVEN SPIELBERG

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS - SARAH SMITH

RANGO - GORE VIBINKSI

My take: Tintin. Hands down. Genuinely found myself engrossed in it, then again, life long fan of Tintin right here, bias? If not then Rango. If not that then Arthur Christmas. Nice.

LEADING ACTOR

BRAD PITT - MONEYBALL

GARY OLDMAN - TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

GEORGE CLOONEY - THE DESCENDANTS

JEAN DUJARDIN - THE ARTIST

MICHAEL FESSBENDER - SHAME

My take: I'll have a poke at Clooney for this, his Golden Globe success alongside Oscar rumours, who knows! Also, gonna say it because everyone is thinking it, Fessbender must have been so horrendously bullied at school.

LEADING ACTRESS

BERENICE BEJO - THE ARTIST

MERYL STREEP - THE IRON LADY

MICHELLE WILLIAMS - MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

TILDA SWINTON - WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

VIOLA DAVIS - THE HELP

My take: Streep. Anyone else is an insult.

SUPPORTING ACTOR

CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER - BEGINNERS

JIM BROADBENT - THE IRON LADY

JONAH HILL - MONEYBALL

KENETH BRANAGH - MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN - THE IDES OF MARCH

My take: Probably the toughest category, but I would have to say Broadbent who is phenomenal as Dennis Thatcher, his chemistry with Streep is sublime and I feel an Oscar may be in the waters.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

CAREY MULLIGAN - DRIVE

JESSICA CHASTAIN - THE HELP

JUDI DENCH - MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

MELISSA MCCARTHY - BRIDESMAIDS

OCTAVIA SPENCER - THE HELP

My take: Spencer I reckon, from what I've heard Dench is good, as always, but Spencer's Golden Globe win is gonna nab it.

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN - JOE LETTERI

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 2: TIM BURKE, JOHN RICHARDSON, GREG BUTLER, DAVID VICKERY

HUGO - ROB LEGATO, BEN GROSSMAN, JOSS WILLIAMS

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES - JOE LETTERI, DAN LEMMON, R. CHRISTOPHER WHITE

WAR HORSE - BEN MORRIS, NEIL CORBOULD

My take: Joe Letteri gets around eh? Erm, I'm not sure, quite a few strong contenders, I reckon Harry Potter just because it's Harry Potter, and in fairness, the special effects were pretty darn good.

Well there you go. Maybe not all the nominees but my knowledge of Production Design, Short Animation and Short Film is lacking so I'm not going to unload un-researched nonsense on you. Anyway, let's hope I'm not far off. Fingers crossed.

16.01.2012 - The Iron Lady.

The first time I became aware of this award-contender was whilst sitting in town. A bus drove past with a picture of Ms. Streep's face on it, proudly sitting next to the title 'The Iron Lady'. Upon this picture was a piece of black tape, tactically placed on her top lip. I think it is important to clear up as early as possible the fact that my political knowledge leaves much to be desired, and therefore initially my desire to see this film lacked. However, upon hearing only universal praise for this Oscar contender I was dragged to the nearest cinema.

The film depicts the turmoil of Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, the longest serving British Prime Minister, and her political and personal struggle. Superbly scripted by Abi Morgan (also writer of Shame, another potential Oscar nominee) the film displays Thatcher's ongoing turmoil and battle with dementia, whilst illuminating both the highlights and lowlights of her career as a politician.

Starring one of the silver-screen's greats, Meryl Streep (Kramer vs Kramer, Sophie's Choice), amongst other huge names such as Jim Broadbent (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1&2 , Iris) and, in my opinion, a highly underrated actor - Anthony Head (Free Agents, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), The Iron Lady presented a very strong cast, but as seen before a strong cast doesn't always come out with the best results *cough* Alexander *cough*. It has to be said, Meryl Streep is sublime in this film, her portrayal of an obviously confident, head strong woman throughout times of strife, extreme personal difficulty and also success shows how truly worthy she is of an inevitable Oscar nomination and last night's Golden Globe win. In the best role I have seen him, Jim Broadbent brilliantly shows the fact that "behind every great man stands a great woman" also works also in reverse, portraying Mr. Dennis Thatcher. Streep and Broadbent's chemistry on screen left the audience truly engrossed by their support for one another, and consequentially displayed the seemingly happy marriage of Thatcher's.

Another performance which I was impressed by was that of Alexandra Roach (The Suspicions of Mr Whicher - ... yeah, me neither) who played the younger Thatcher. A wholly unknown actress, at least in my understanding, gave a splendid performance as the aspiring teenage Thatcher and was a credit to Streep who was able to play off this base that had been set for her.

Regardless of all political standing, I (somewhat self-deprecatingly) was able to enjoy this film for all that it had to offer. It seemed to me that my lack of knowledge actually worked in my favour - I was able to enjoy this film for what it presented, as opposed to holding some previous hatred or love for Thatcher, and therefore allowing this to block my view. If one is able to dispel any prior feelings toward Thatcher or the conservative party, then this film offers one of the best modern day political performances by both Streep and Broadbent which should both be marvelled at.

Rating: 4.1/5.0