So, as I sit, waiting for the BAFTAs to begin, and curse, once more the wireless service that BT provide, here are some predictions. Of course, as my wireless is crap, you’ll have to trust me, as I can’t publish from in front of the TV.
BEST FILM: THE HURT LOCKER
BEST DIRECTOR: KATHRYN BIGELOW
BEST ACTOR: COLIN FIRTH
BEST ACTRESS: CAREY MULLIGAN
BEST BRITISH FILM: AN EDUCATION
BEST FILM IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE: A PROPHET
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: MO’NIQUE
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: CHRISTOPHER WALTZ
For the Oscars™ I plan to be doing detailed predictions in the two or three days leading up to the ceremony – assuming, once more, that I have finished my Best of the Decade work.
So, this is a live – stream of consciousness kind of thing. Jonathan Ross’ opening gags are about James Cameron and Elton John. And, crucially, not funny.
God love Dustin Hoffman, who is in the audience.
Rupert Everett – too much surgery.
First award presented by Colin Firth:
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER:
Nominees
Sam Taylor Wood (NOWHERE BOY)
The directors and producers of MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN
Stuart Hazeldine (EXAM)
Duncan Jones (MOON)
Eran Creevy (SHIFTY)
Either of the last two would be worthy winners – and the award goes to Duncan Jones, for one of the year’s very best debuts – MOON. He’s David Bowie’s son, you know. Nice speech, he appeared genuinely moved.
Second award presented by Nick Frost and Mackenzie Crook:
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
Nominees:
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
DISTRICT 9
AVATAR
STAR TREK
THE HURT LOCKER
As good as the other nominees are, nobody but AVATAR could win this, and the award goes to Cameron’s epic. Rightly so, I would say.
Third award presented by Anna Kendrick
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Nominees:
Christian McKay: ME AND ORSON WELLES
Stanley Tucci: THE LOVELY BONES
Christoph Waltz: INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
Alec Baldwin: IT’S COMPLICATED
Alfred Molina: AN EDUCATION
As much as I love Baldwin, and as good as Molina is, Waltz is the most deserving candidate, by far. And he wins, how lovely. He was best known as a soap actor a year ago, what a turn-around. Oddly, his clip showcased the wonderful performance from Melanie Laurent, who should have been nominated for her work, but Waltz was the best thing about the film, by far. Nice speech.
Fourth award presented by Anil Kapoor and Claire Danes
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Nominees:
THE YOUNG VICTORIA
BRIGHT STAR
A SINGLE MAN
AN EDUCATION
COCO BEFORE CHANEL
Hard one to call this, I’d love to see BRIGHT STAR win, but would expect A SINGLE MAN to take the award. But the winner is, THE YOUNG VICTORIA. It’s ironic (Alanis) that the winner looks like a tramp.
Fifth award presented by Romola Garai and Matthew Goode
BEST MAKE UP AND HAIR
Nominees:
AN EDUCATION
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR PARNASSUS
COCO BEFORE CHANEL
NINE
THE YOUNG VICTORIA
I suppose I would expect NINE to win, but it’s THE YOUNG VICTORIA that takes the award. That’s THE YOUNG VICTORIA 2, AVATAR 1, if you’re keeping count. Could this be the night’s biggest winner? Well, no.
Sixth award presented by Matt Dillon
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Nominees:
Kristin Scott Thomas: NOWHERE BOY
Anna Kendrick: UP IN THE AIR
Mo’nique: PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
Anne-Marie Duff: NOWHERE BOY
Vera Farmiga: UP IN THE AIR
No way that Mo’nique doesn’t win, surely? It’s the most dominant performance of the year, full stop. Maybe Anne-Marie Duff, to follow her London Critics Circle Award? The award goes to Mo’nique, who isn’t there, which is a real shame. Lee Daniels, the director of the film will accept on her behalf.
Seventh award presented by Rupert Everett
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM, IN HONOUR OF ALEXANDER KORDA
Nominees:
NOWHERE BOY
MOON
FISH TANK
AN EDUCATION
IN THE LOOP
I’m pretty sure that AN EDUCATION will win, but there’s a small chance that it could go to any of the others. And, indeed, Andrea Arnold’s FISH TANK wins. It’s a fine film, and I’m delighted for Arnold, who is lovely. Could be ominous for AN EDUCATION, good speech from Arnold.
Eighth award presented by Robert Pattinson
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Nominees:
Pete Docter and Bob Peterson: UP
Joel and Ethan Coen: A SERIOUS MAN
Quentin Tarantino: INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
Mark Boal: THE HURT LOCKER
Jon Lucas and Scott Moore: THE HANGOVER
I assume Quentin Tarantino is about to ramble for five minutes, but no. THE HURT LOCKER takes the award, won by Mark Boal. Pretty impressive to beat Tarantino and the Coen brothers. Jeremy Renner looks really glum.
Ninth award presented by Rebecca Hall and Jonathan Rhys Meyers
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Nominees:
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS
AVATAR
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
DISTRICT 9
God, I hate Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Got to think AVATAR will win here, although I would favour INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS. The award goes to AVATAR, though. All of the snippets of the score are reminding me of how pissed I will be if they win Best Score.
Tenth award presented by Noel Clarke
THE RISING STAR AWARD – voted for by the public.
Nicholas Hoult
Tahar Rahim
Carey Mulligan
Kristen Stewart
Jesse Eisenberg
Kristen Stewart is bound to win, right? I’d like either Rahim or Mulligan, but have little doubt that Stewart will win. Which she does. The Twilight fans are mental. I think she’s a massive pothead. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Eleventh award presented by Guy Pearce
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Armando Ianucci et al: IN THE LOOP
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner: UP IN THE AIR
Geoffrey Fletcher: PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
Nick Hornby: AN EDUCATION
Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell: DISTRICT 9
I’m tipping AN EDUCATION to pip IN THE LOOP here, but UP IN THE AIR could win a token award. And, in fact, does. It’s definitely looking ominous for AN EDUCATION, now.
The montage: In order...
Jean Simmons, Charles H Schneer, Simon Channing Williams, Ken Annakin, Gerry Crampton, Jack Cardiff, Betsy Blair, Budd Schulberg, Karl Malden, Ian Carmichael, Keith Waterhouse, Jennifer Jones, Maurice Jarre, Edward Woodward, Margaret Unsworth, Rodney Holland, David Brown, Joseph Wiseman, Hercules Bellville, John Hughes, Gareth Wigan, Lionel Jeffries, Peter Newbrook, David Carradine, Clive Parsons, Tom Smith, Peter Rogers, Eric Rohmer, Natasha Richardson, Brittany Murphy and Patrick Swayze.
RIP
Twelfth award presented by Peter Capaldi
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Nominees:
CORALINE
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
UP
UP is sure to win. No doubt at all. And, of course, it does. Rightly so.
Thirteenth award presented by Carey Mulligan.
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Nominees:
BROKEN EMBRACES
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
THE WHITE RIBBON
A PROPHET
COCO BEFORE CHANEL
I’m a little in love with Carey Mulligan. Three great films here, and the work of two world cinema icons (Almodovar and Tautou). I’d be happy with any of the three great films winning, but think it will be A PROPHET. The middle three should all have been nominated for BEST FILM. The award goes to A PROPHET. Hooray. Tremendous film.
Fourteenth award presented by Clive Owen
BEST DIRECTOR in honour of Sir David Lean
Nominees:
Lone Scherfig: AN EDUCATION
Quentin Tarantino: INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
Neill Blomkamp: DISTRICT 9
Kathryn Bigelow: THE HURT LOCKER
James Cameron: AVATAR
This is a big one. Bigelow vs Cameron, with Tarantino lurking in the background, and excellent understated work from Lone Scherfig as well. Blomkamp is the rank outsider. And the award goes to: Kathryn Bigelow. Really pleased about that. Cameron manages to look gracious, fair play to him. Bigelow is a terrific director, could this be the year that the Academy gives the Best Director award to a woman, at last? Great speech. One thing, BAFTA isn’t shy about splitting Director/Picture, so still time for AVATAR to win there, no chance of anything other than AVATAR or THE HURT LOCKER now.
Fifteenth award presented by Kate Winslet (who looks great)
BEST ACTOR
Nominees:
Jeff Bridges: CRAZY HEART
Jeremy Renner: THE HURT LOCKER
Colin Firth: A SINGLE MAN
George Clooney: UP IN THE AIR
Andy Serkis: SEX & DRUGS & ROCK & ROLL
Firth all the way, I think, but there are five great performances here. The award goes to Colin Firth. A hometown winner, I don’t think he’s likely to win in two weeks time in Hollywood, but this is richly deserved. Terrific speech.
Sixteenth award presented by Mickey Rourke (who looks less great)
BEST ACTRESS
Nominees:
Audrey Tautou: COCO BEFORE CHANEL
Saoirse Ronan: THE LOVELY BONES
Meryl Streep: JULIE AND JULIA
Gabourey Sidibe: PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
Carey Mulligan: AN EDUCATION
Only the latter two are great performances, making Melanie Laurent’s absence more frustrating. Mulligan should win, making it a hometown double. The award goes to Carey Mulligan. I’m officially pleased. Don’t cry Carey. She didn’t.
Seventeenth award presented by Dustin Hoffman
BEST FILM
AN EDUCATION
THE HURT LOCKER
PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
AVATAR
UP IN THE AIR
I love Dustin Hoffman. He’s brilliant. THE HURT LOCKER, I think. And the award goes to THE HURT LOCKER. Well done BAFTA. Hard to argue with many of these awards.
For those keeping count at home, the league table looks like this:
3: THE HURT LOCKER
2: AVATAR
2: THE YOUNG VICTORIA
1: PRECIOUS
1: UP IN THE AIR
1: A SINGLE MAN
1: AN EDUCATION
1: A PROPHET
1: UP
1: FISH TANK
1: MOON
1: INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.
The evening’s final award is for Vanessa Redgrave, a BAFTA Fellowship for the great, luminous actress. The award is presented by Uma Thurman, with a little help from some balding oaf, the new President of BAFTA, Prince William. Lovely introduction from Uma. And great to see so much of her brilliant work showcased (and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE).
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, VENUS, MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS, OH! WHAT A LOVELY WAR, JULIA, MORGAN: A SUITABLE CASE FOR TREATMENT, BLOW UP, A MONTH BY THE LAKE, PRICK UP YOUR EARS, HOWARDS END, GIRL, INTERRUPTED, ATONEMENT. A great career, rightly recognised, with the evening’s only standing ovation. Nice speech, and a great end to a terrific evening.
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