The writing, in case you hadn’t already read it, is on the wall.
In the biggest BAFTA haul for a non-British production since “American Beauty” a decade ago, Kathryn Bigelow’s Iraq drama took six awards at the Royal Opera House, including Best Film, Director and Original Screenplay. Next up: Oscars. And plenty of ’em, I’m guessing.
I did respectably enough in my predictions, nailing 15 out of 21 categories, though I missed the big one, thinking homegrown favorite “An Education” would come out on top. The Brits did, however, vote local in the lead acting categories, with Colin Firth and Carey Mulligan taking well-deserved honors — probably their last of the season.
“An Education” lost both the top awards it was up for, as the ever-selective Best British Film committee once more looked to the fringes to reward Andrea Arnold’s “Fish Tank” instead. I’m thrilled to see a major award for my #2 film of last year, after it was blanked entirely in the general categories. Continuing a good night for my pet films, meanwhile, “A Prophet” took foreign-language honors.
Besides “The Hurt Locker,” the night’s only multiple winners were “Up,” “The Young Victoria” and “Avatar,” each of which took a pair of awards. James Cameron will at least be pleased that he improved upon that embarrassing BAFTA donut for “Titanic” twelve years ago.
Speaking of all things embarrassing, the ceremony was its usual lame self, hindered by some truly abysmal quips cooked up for host Jonathan Ross. Compounding the flatness of the whole affair, the BBC, in its wisdom, couldn’t even be bothered with a live broadcast this year — not acceptable under any circumstances.
Still, some nice moments survived, including an infectiously teary acceptance speech by “Moon” director Duncan Jones (taking the Carl Foreman Award), a dryly witty one by Firth and this fantastic opener from foreign film winner Jacques Audiard: “Thank you, I love you, you’re all so well dressed.” Ain’t that just awards season in a nutshell?
Check out the full list of winners at The Circuit.
Comments
72 responses to “‘The Hurt Locker’ sweeps BAFTA Awards”
“I didn’t expect this at all so I didn’t prepare anything to say.”
Well then you are an idiot Mulligan, get with it. Exepcted a much better speech from her.
Awesome that Colin Firth finally won something. I loved his performance in A Single Man.
Right who isn’t tearing up at Uma’s tribute?
I thought it was a great show. Happy with many of the winners.
Now just make it live next year!
There was no need for the relegation of the supposed technical categories and the shorts. I think we could have put up with a further 15 minutes of Wossie.
The Hurt Locker, Best Cinematography? Really?
I think I still have an 8mm Camera in the Basement…
Go out and make something, then.
All the main categories are just locked. So playing the game at this time is quite boring.
I would turn my attention to the tech and artistic categories, surprises will come in those spaces on Oscar night.
You know which category is really unpredictable? Foreign film. Im feeling that votes will split between Germany and France, leading to a surprise win by the third most likely to win: El Secreto de sus Ojos, a great detective story.
So glad for Colin Firth, and for Carey and Kathryn B. BAFTA got it right. Academy, take note!
Thrilled for Firth. He has been passed over and over again for another “career achievement” award for Bridges.
I ‘ve enjoyed many performances by Bridges, but his work in “Crazy Heart” just isn’t something we haven’t seen before. The 2 true Best Actor performances belong to Firth and Renner.
Ditto Speaking English on “A Serious Man” screenplay > “Inglourious Basterds” screenplay > “The Hurt Locker” screenplay. Though I must confess, I’m continually ambivalent by whether what I got out of Tarantino’s screenplay was actually what he *wanted* me to get out of it.
Nevertheless, while I love “The Hurt Locker” immensely and think it’ll probably win the original screenplay category at the Oscars, I really haven’t been able to shake the feeling that everything else about the film — from the directing to the acting to the sound to the editing to the camera work — stands out as a more apparent winner than the screenplay. Not that the screenplay isn’t worthy (running smoothly, realistically, and without incident counts for something in a war drama, not to mention Boal’s extensive research). But, yeah, the Coens would have my vote.
On screenplays (among the three in question):
1) Basterds
2) Serious Man (a VERY close second)
3) Hurt Locker
Sorry, Guy, but I’m just not seeing it. Though I really did love Guy Pearce’s “cheeseburger” line. Brought humanity to the beginning scene.
Alth0ugh I’ve never seen a Best Picture winner I flat-out disliked, so there’s always a first for everything I suppose. It had to happen sooner or later, and it seems in two weeks time I’ll just have to deal with it and move on!
BAFTA Interviews with the winners:
youtube.com/user/Baftaonline
Wow, this is a big boost for The Hurt Locker. It looks like it may just have the edge it needs to get that Screenplay prize over Tarantino.
Avatar looks like a non-starter to be honest. So does Inglourious Basterds.
Hurt Locker looks set to take the most Oscars home on Oscar night?
Wow English. Never seen a Best Picture you didn’t like?
Let me see….
A Beautiful Mind
Titanic
Braveheart
Forrest Gump
Dances With Wolves
Driving Miss Daisy
Rain Man
Oliver
The Sound of Music
My Fair Lady
I better stop now….
I absolutely love Titanic, Dances with Wolves, Forrest Gump, and Oliver!
I like Rain Man and A Beautiful Mind, while Braveheart is currently my least favorite but still somewhat enjoyable.
And I actually haven’t seen the other ones. :/
I agree Guy, the ceremony was a nigh disaster. The category introductions were horrible, people either rote learning it or blankly reading it off the tele-prompter. Truly awful ceremony in every way. No wonder they are the second-rate cousins of the Oscars. And for people who were fooled into believing that even the British care for their awards, An Education & A Single Man dvd covers are not gonna say Best Actress or Actor Bafta winner, they are still gonna say Oscar nominee.
I was watching the red carpet on BBC world and the reporter just said a million times that the baftas have been growing in stature and importance every year!!!
Atleast they got (most of the)the winners right. I suppose the Oscars could do the opposite, smashing ceremony but all the wrong winners.
I’d recycle Ricky G’s one successful Globes pun about Mel Gibson to be reiterated 20 different ways in exchange for the extraction of Jonahan Ross’s vocal chords. His “humor” is insufferable!
So is Mickey Rourke. In general. What an eyesore and earsore.
On the brighter side of the spectrum: hooray for THL! I completely agree that ASM is superior to both THL and IB in screenplay (and the latter as a film in its entirety, quite frankly), but if it takes a screenplay win to solidify its BP chances, then so be it, I say. I would not only love to see Bigelow and the film win, but for it to rake in the most wins. It would just be a great gotcha to the gaggle of bashers and Negative Nancys over at AwardsDaily. But I’m not selfish….I’ll still be satisfied regardless so long as K-Big wins.
Mulligan winning the BAFTA means little since Bullock wasn’t nominated. I still think Bullock will win the Oscar. I also think Streep’s chances are null.
I agree about the ceremony. It was lame and lacklustre. It felt so rushed and amateurish. And, I hate Jonathan Ross. He’s an arsehole. They should get Stephen Fry for next year or someone with class.
I was really hoping An Education would win the Best Picture. Hurt Locker’s continued steamroll through Award Land is becoming excruciating. It doesn’t help that I thought the movie was a bit boring (and the plot holes a little too big to ignore).
@ JP: Such as…?