The London Film Critics’ Circle can always be relied upon to throw a couple of wild cards into a nominee list of otherwise endlessly repeated names — demonstrating at least some awareness of life outside Oscar season. So it is this year, as their Best Director category is filled by Fincher, Aronofsky, Nolan, the Coens… and Apichatpong Weerasethakul, the Thai auteur behind Palme d’Or champ “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.”
Similarly, “Carlos” powerhouse Edgar Ramirez crashes the otherwise familiar Best Actor lineup of Bridges, Eisenberg, Gosling and Firth. (Note: no James Franco, and a solitary Best British Film nod for “127 Hours,” suggesting that the film’s stock may be falling on this side of the pond too.)
For the most part, it’s business as usual. “Another Year” and “The King’s Speech” top the list with six nominations apiece, though it’s interesting to see that neither film snagged a Best Director nod. (Indeed, five of “Another Year”‘s bids come in the performance categories — nice to see people recognizing that the film’s ensemble extends beyond Lesley Manville.)
Of course, counting nominations at the LFCC Awards is never a fair fight, since there are so many more categories restricted to British talent. (International actors don’t even get supporting categories, which at least means Hailee Steinfeld was correctly classified for once.) So “The Social Network” did well to place second with five nods, hitting all its expected categories.
Among the other pleasant surprises: Tom Hardy getting the season’s first acting bid for “Inception” and Rosamund Pike and Minnie Driver showing up for their strong work in “Barney’s Version.” Kris, meanwhile, must be pleased to note “The Way Back”‘s first awards mention of the entire season. The most unpleasant surprise: Helena Bonham-Carter somehow being promoted to lead for “The King’s Speech” in order to make room for her performance in “Alice in Wonderland.” Was that really necessary, my fellow Londoners?
Check out the full list at The Circuit.
Comments
15 responses to “‘Another Year,’ ‘King’s Speech’ lead London critics’ noms”
Yes, Guy, that was necessary. ;-) Nice to see the same manoeuver used to get Rosamund Pike the double nod as well.
Bale is placed in Lead here (Best British Actor), but Firth is the only actor nominated in Best Actor and Best British Actor. Hmm…
Okay, can someone explain to me why Helena Bonham Carter STILL has such an unstoppable path to an Oscar nomination? Is there some influential critic I haven’t met yet who raves on her in either film (besides maybe “Oh my god, there’s something redeemable about Alice in Wonderland!”)?
There seems to be zero passion for her performances, and yet her awards prospects have been the most consistently bright besides maybe Melissa Leo. What gives?!?
Did this group not see The Fighter, or did they see it and snub it?
Odd that they’d nominate True Grit for Actor, Actress, Screenplay and Director and yet it still missed out on Picture.
The Franco snub is the most odd though, why nominate it for Best British Film but not him when he basically is the movie?
HBC is apparently very good in the role, but not a stand-out supporting role that gets “nominations”. It’s not loud. It’s not in your face.
Ebert & James Berardinelli say (paraphrasing) that she blends humor, sharp wit, & heartfelt emotion. Sounds good to me.
It seems like she’s riding the ‘King’s Speech’ wave, but she’s apparently very, very nice in the role anyway. I don’t think voters want to leave her out when they’re bound to do Firth/Rush, as well.
And … with vote splitting (Adams, Leo), newcomers (Steinfeld, Kunis), or relative unknown from an Australian movie (Weaver) … I wonder if she could just sneak out a win, as well – if she’s nommed at Oscars.
I’m not discounting that the other nominees aren’t superior to her (they are excellent – that I’ve seen – or apparently excellent), I’m just trying to think quantifiably as a 6,000 person mass.
Helena Bonham Carter has been my pick to win since I saw The King’s Speech. Not my prediction, mind you, but my favorite. She’s not riding the wave of the film’s success, but rather the wave of goodwill for her entire career up to now. It’s by no means a flashy performance, but it’s the backbone of the film. She’s funny, charming, subtle and altogether endearing. And after her run of weirdo roles, it’s a breath of fresh air.
I don’t get this – I’ve been reading everywhere that Bonham Carter is really unremarkable in her role yet she is being nominated EVERYWHERE.
She even bet Manville at the Baftas for gods sake.
*Sorry BIFA’s – getting ahead of myself
Haven’t seen The Kings Speech yet but Helena Bonham Carter is one of my favourite actresses. I’ve loved pretty much everything she’s done so far so any awards love she gets is ok by me.
Maybe you guys should see “The King’s Speech” first before complaining! Bonham Carter is sublime in it, and it’s the quintessential definition of a Supporting actress role.
HBC is very good in “The King’s Speech.” She does the best with her role that I think anyone could have, and part of that (at least in my opinion) is supporting the two main characters in the film. I think this is keeping her in everyone’s mind, because as Paul said, she truly is the backbone of the film.
She instigates the entire plot of the film, and she brings the initial lightness to it that carries through teh film, separating it from other Brit-royalty pics.
I think that’s how Helena Bonham Carter works… She portrays her role in a subtle manner that will make herself a stand out.. In Sweeney Todd, she’s also not that loud, but even though, her portrayal is heartfelt, just like in The King’s Speech… Even in the Harry Potter movies, villain–but still convincing…
I think her eyes have lots of emotions and does the acting…
I hope she gets recognize in her supporting role for TKS because acting for me is not just about loud and showy performances…
I’m happy to see Another Year getting the recognition it deserves, although frankly I cannot understand how Mike Leigh is missing in the directing category.
I’m afraid they’re thinking it’s ‘just’ another good slice of life from Leigh, but nothing new. It might be true, but it’s no reason to snub him.
Another Year is simply the best film of 2010:
http://www.imitationlife.com/home/2010/12/23/review-another-year-a-film-by-mike-leigh.html