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« Melissa McCarthy Robs the Box Office Blind | Main | I Think I'm Going to Link It Here »
Sunday
Feb102013

BAFTAs "live"

David here, bringing you the least live 'live blog' in TFE's history. Nowhere on the planet are the British Academy Film (and Television) Awards broadcast live - not even in their home country. No, we Brits struggle along with the rest of you as the BBC stubbornly refuses to move with the times and shows the edited ceremony two hours after its begun.

But let's make the best of it. Over the next few hours I'll bring you a melange of results and commentary, mostly surmised until the ceremony comes in, which will hopefully have some individual flavour worth reporting. The celebrities have already walked up the foaming red carpet in London's famous torrential rain, so, to kick off, here are a few highlights from the BBC's brief coverage so far.

Chilled to the rust and boneMarion Cotillard couldn't even muster a brave face as she was persuaded to stop racing down the carpet and pose for a few photos. Has it ever NOT rained on BAFTA night?

Marion's here tonight as a Best Actress nominee for Rust & Bone - BAFTA also nominated Helen Mirren, leaving Quvenzhane Wallis and Naomi Watts on the sidelines for tonight - but it's Emmanuelle Riva, who wisely skipped the long route into the building, who I've got my fingers crossed for tonight. Can she add a little flavour to the Best Actress race by surprising J-Law here?

Helen Mirren. Pink hair. The interviewer here oddly didn't even attempt to ask what's going on with this. MORE...

One of the best things about awards season: unexpected photo ops! Bradley Cooper received the most deafening cheers of the fashion parade, possibly because George Clooney showed up with a beard. But anyway: look, Joaquin is smiling!

Meryl, you are not excused:

 

 

Stephen Fry's opening monologue includes a weirdly hilarious joke where he misprounces "Hug Jackman"'s name, and an instruction to J.Law to give the viewers some love, as Brad Pitt did last year:

"Right down the barrel of camera 9..."

Outstanding British Film, presented by Best Actor nominees Bradley Cooper and Ben Affleck (oh, yes, that happened), is up first. Many have decried the popularisation of a category that used to award independent British productions, but BAFTA have defiantly shifted into the Oscar prediction calendar and this category went with it. 

Les Mis is up for the main award too, but can it really deny the behemoth that is Skyfall? No. Bond takes a gong!

BAFTA winner 'Swimmer'Best Short Film and Best Short Animation have no Oscar crossover, and they'll almost certainly be edited from the broadcast and shoved into the coda at the end. Lynne Ramsay's (We Need To Talk About Kevin, the supreme Movern Callar) short for the Olympics, Swimmer, wins Best Short Film, which you might be able to watch here, if you're not in the UK, where it's been blocked by a UK broadcaster. Best Short Animation is award to The Making of Longbird.

The new Q Ben Whishaw and hasn't-happened-yet-but-keep-trying Alice Eve present Best Costume Design to the obvious winner, Jacqueline Durran for Anna Karenina. Can Joe Wright's film sweep the techs tonight?

Best Make-up and Hair is tonight's first award for Les Miserables as Lisa Westcott accepts the BAFTA. How many can Les Mis pick up tonight, and will it restore some grease to its Oscar wheels?

Wreck-It Ralph, the Oscar frontrunner, is absent from the nominees for Best Animated Film, allowing Pixar's Brave to get a foot back in the door. The race is still on here! (Come on, ParaNorman, slow and steady sometimes wins it...)

BAFTA don't split their opinion of sound in two, so Les Mis steps ahead in two more Oscar races as the team accept the award for Best Sound.

Best Editing now, often a good indicator of where the big prize might be headed. And Argo's William Goldenberg takes it! It could be another great night for Ben Affleck...

Ang Lee and BAFTA winner Claudio MirandaBest Cinematography could go to any of Anna Karenina, the British connaisseur's pick; Skyfall, the British populist pick; Life of Pi, the technical marvel with a monstrous UK box office tally; or Les Mis, tech leader thus far. (And there's Lincoln too.) But it's Claudio Miranda for Life of Pi who takes the prize! Could we have a tussle on our hands tonight? Life of Pi has been a huge success on these shores and this could be the beginning of its run for the big one.

Almost the same fight is on for Best Original Film Music, although sub out Les Mis for Desplat's Argo scoring. Thomas Newman beats out the competition for his Skyfall score, and it's set to be a big night for Bond. Can he finally win an Oscar this year?

Sally Field, who looked rosy as ever on the red carpet earlier, is presenting Best Original Screenplay. Is this where Amour might make its move? With Django, Moonrise Kingdom, The Master and Zero Dark Thirty, it's hard to make a bad choice here. But it's my runt of the litter, Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained, who takes the prize. He looks all set for the Oscar, surely?

Our first acting award of the night is, as ever, Best Supporting Actor, and Jennifer Lawrence is up to present. Her co-star Robert De Niro isn't on tonight's roster, and, in an unpredictable (if still deadly boring) category, that could prove vital. Skyfall's Javier Bardem is his replacement in the line-up, and wouldn't a win for him bring some pizazz?

This is from 2010, but no one'll be able to tell.But BAFTA follow the Globes' lead and give it to Christoph Waltz, whose odds for another Oscar are narrowing fast. But... really?

The lenghtily-titled Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer award is up next. An odd bunch, sadly omitting the writers of Sightseers (but including the director of The Muppets! If Kermit appears, I'm down with that), but my guess is that The Imposter's Bart Layton and Dimitri Doganis take it. And I'm right! For once in my life, I'm right!

Chris Tucker - not often mentioned, but very good in Silver Linings Playbook - is presenting Special Visual Effects. We're yet to find out what makes them special. Life of Pi probably has this locked down, but one of the blockbusters can always surprise. (Prometheus, your only moment is here.) And, yes - Life of Pi is having that Oscar engraved now.

Anne Hathaway's about to have all her dreams come true, because presenting Best Supporting Actress is silver fox George Clooney. I've used up all my wishes on Emmanuelle Riva, but I'd love to see Hunt or Field surprise here. (Now you know Nat isn't writing this.) Obviously, Hathaway takes it. We'll have to wait to find out how many buckets of tears she wept during her speech, but I'll take your bets now.

Let's take a brief respite to bring you news of Helen Mirren's pink hair:

 

 

(Little Mix, for the unaware (that's all of you, probably), are the winners of the UK's X Factor from 2011. And style gurus, apparently.)

Not every actor O. Russell's worked with hates him! Amy Adams <3Simon Pegg and Jennifer Garner (WILL SOMEONE GIVE HER A GOOD PART ALREADY?) are up to present Best Adapted Screenplay. You may be aware that Garner's husband's film is up for this award, although since he didn't write it, the potential cringe has been avoided. And it goes to David O. Russell! Despite only garnering three nominations tonight, there's clearly love here for Silver Linings Playbook. The race for this Oscar is going to be tight.

Danny Boyle presents the award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema to Film4's Tessa Ross, who's headed the company through some very talent-rich years. Announced in advance, Ross had the chance to make a speech-of-sorts beforehand:

It’s a surprise and a great honour to have been given this award by Bafta. I owe it of course to the wonderful film makers I’ve had the privilege of working with – and to my team at Film4, with whom I share it. We’re very lucky to be so supported by Channel 4 and by David Abraham who continues to champion our work. There are incredibly talented people working within our industry, as well as outside it – and 30 years ago Film4 was built to find these people, nurture them and help contribute to our British film culture. It’s a privilege to try to keep this idea alive.

Tim Roth and Gemma Arterton are presenting what better be the duh award of the night: Film not in the English Language. BAFTA's rules for this are that it requires a UK release during the previous year, so probable 2014 Oscar nominee The Hunt is rubbing shoulders with Amour and Rust and Bone. Amour triumphs! But will that be its sole reward tonight?

Wreck-It Ralph may have been omitted from the Animation category, but promo for the film - which just opened here - goes on as John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman present the Rising Star Award. A wonderful set of nominees - Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander (my pick), Juno Temple, Andrea Riseborough and Suraj Sharma - here. The usual pattern of it going to a young, urban British male (Noel Clarke, Adam Deacon) is off the table here, while Sharma has the biggest hit. But Juno Temple takes it! Her star has been rising for a few years now, and, after a stunning turn in Killer Joe and a very busy Sundance, this is very well deserved.

Most genuine shocked reaction of the night?

It's almost 9:00pm here in London, which is when the BBC start broadcasting the ceremony - things are about to get rather confusing.

Searching for Sugar Man continues its march towards the Oscar with a win in Best Documentary Feature.

Next up, Tom Hiddleston and Saoirse Ronan present Best Production Design. Surely set for Anna Karenina's intricate theatrical settings, but Les Mis or Life of Pi could start running away with the big tally right here. And Les Miserables snatches it! The Brits are getting behind their own.

We're getting to the nitty gritty now as Ian McKellan presents Best Director. The score: Ben Affleck, Kathryn Bigelow, Quentin Tarantino IN, Steven Spielberg OUT. Can one of the two mainstays, Ang Lee or Michael Haneke, make a stand for their film here?

No. Ben Affleck continues the march for Argo and takes the last prize he's up for this season. Can he match it later with the Best Film award?

Jeremy Renner is presenting Best Actress. Will the Silver Linings Playbook spill over and give starlet Jennifer Lawrence her expected triumph? Can Jessica Chastain get a foot back in the door? Can the Emmanuelle Riva march start here? Please?

EMMANUELLE RIVA WINS BEST ACTRESS FOR AMOUR!

There it is, then, ladies and gents: we officiallly have a race for Best Actress. BAFTA responds to the sublime performance of French veteran Emmanuelle Riva, and suddenly Jennifer Lawrence may be on the backfoot. (Contrary to earlier suggestions, Riva is not at the ceremony, so Renner can savour this one for a bit.)

Meanwhile, Sarah Jessica Parker, of all people, is here to present Best Actor to Daniel Day-Lewis. Probably. Obviously. Yes. Lincoln's Daniel Day-Lewis wins and now has enough awards to build a lifesize replica of the Kodak Theatre.

Samuel L. Jackson, who I'm glad to learn hasn't actually started to look like his character in Django Unchained, has the honour of presenting Best Film. Can BAFTA kick this race about a bit too, or will Argo practically seal the deal?

ARGO WINS. Well. Is that the Oscar a done deal then?

The final award is the Fellowship, in which BAFTA inducts a member into their hallowed halls in a manner that isn't nearly enough like a cult in my opinion. We already knew this was going to Sir Alan Parker, who Nat celebrated a few days ago in his wonderful Posterized series.

And, with that, I'm going to actually go and watch the show now. As soon-to-be Oscar® Winner Emmanuelle Riva might say: au revoir.

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Reader Comments (57)

Is Emmanuelle really there? I thought she said she's saving herself for the Césars and the Oscars, because she's really exhausted.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered Commenterdinasztie

A hope more than a fact, dinasztie, though I did see a tweet (reliable, I know) saying that she is.

February 10, 2013 | Registered CommenterDavid Upton

Meryl is totally skipping the whole season. Good for her!

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy Sue

ha ha ha about the linking Streep cancelled flight with Prada drizzling!

Havent seen Riva yet, but that woman is old so travelling is very exhausting for her. Will she be at the Oscars? I really hope so

Letting / pushing the actors to pose in that dreadful weather is just mean, mean and mean

Helen Mirren is auditioning for a Cyndi Lauper bio me think

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterManuel

Enough Django love!

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy Sue

Pfft, Christoph Waltz 4eva! Haters to the left.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterAlexandra

@David -- I totally guffawed on my amtrak when i saw the gif from DEVIL WEARS PRADA. well done, david, well done.

@Everyone -- I kind of love Helen Mirren's pink hair. I love it when old ladies are like "i'm too old for this? F*** you!" (see also that time when Judi Dench did the reddish hair with the henna tattoo)

@Peggy Sue -- AGREED. I thought by now people would have woken up and seen how Django only got all that attention at first due to timing and now that it's not brand new it's really not one of Tarantino's best so QUIT IT PEOPLE.

February 10, 2013 | Registered CommenterNATHANIEL R

I feel like Chistoph Waltz is basically doing the same thing he did in Basterds, but I guess all the voters missed seeing that.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterBia

i like Waltz and all but him winning a second Oscar is a bit much (if it happens)

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered Commenterrami (ramification)

Waltz is the new Wiest.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered Commenter3rtful

Not In A Thousand Years.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy Sue

Well, at least the Best Director Oscar winner will be a surprise this year.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterK

Live stream anyone?

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterTom

Oui!

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy Sue

Oh, please, let the best actress Oscar follow suit!

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterMike in Canada

I'm in the anyone but Lawrence club.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered Commenter3rtful

Omg!!! Emmanuelle Riva! I predicted she'd win the BAFTA, I'm so happy she did! Let her march onto that Oscar so J Law doesn't get it!!!

I can't believe Christoph Waltz won tho ... like, really? Like two/three years after he last won, and for a similar character in another revenge film from the same director? He played the good guy this time, and did a fine job, but a two-time Oscar winner for that? I hope not.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterPhilip H.

Riva cancels out the Django wins. Hallelujah!

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterPaul Outlaw

Those screenplay wins for Django and Silver Linings are atrocious. Even if one likes both movies, I can't see how you can defend those were the best choices in each category. Really. So silly.

I'd also like to say congrats David, you kept it entertaining and sweet all throughout. Your live blog + the tweets from The Playlist folks made my day.

My two highlights of their live coverage:

RT @ThePlaylist "BAFTA confuse 'Most Screenplay' with 'Best Screenplay,' give Original Script to Tarantino's DJANGO UNCHAINED

and

RT @ThePlaylist BAFTA: Despite looking stagier than the set-in-a-theatre Anna Karenina, LES MISERABLES wins Best Production Design

Ha!

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterJorge Rodrigues

Those screenplay wins for Django and Silver Linings are truly atrocious. I don't know, even if you're a fan of both movies, how you can defend those wins in each category. I really don't.

Plus, thank you David for your entertaining coverage. You and the Playlist live tweets made my day.

Two highlights from them:

RT @ThePlaylist "BAFTA confuse 'Most Screenplay' with 'Best Screenplay,' give Original Script to Tarantino's DJANGO UNCHAINED

and

RT @ThePlaylist BAFTA: Despite looking stagier than the set-in-a-theatre Anna Karenina, LES MISERABLES wins Best Production Design.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterJorge Rodrigues

Thank you for that. I wish there was some sort of live stream but this was the next best thing.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterHenry

50% of that Best Music win for Skyfall has to go to Adele, right? Ha ha.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterJorge Rodrigues

I would be surprised if Jennifer lost the Oscar, I still think she is too far ahead and has many advantages over Riva with campaigning and Harvey.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterBia

/3rtful -- except that Weist's two wins for the same director's films were about as polar opposite in characterization as you could possibly come by which can't be said of Waltz with Tarantino. It's still shocking to me how much versaility that woman has,even within one director's filmography. In addition to her two woody allen-related Oscar wins she's totally different in the other Woody's she's in too (Purple Rose, September). such a great great actress.

Bia -- i tend to agree with this. I think Lawrence got such an early lead and fits so well into What Oscar Loves/Values that it's still hers to lose.

February 10, 2013 | Registered CommenterNATHANIEL R

Why can't we appreciate today for what it is? BAFTA voted Emmanuelle Riva's performance the best by a lead actress this year. That's a terrific accomplishment, Oscar be damned.

An Academy that awarded 'Crash,' Sandra Bullock for 'The Blind Side,' and Roberto Begnini for 'Life is Beautiful' is not one that should be taken seriously, anyway.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterMike M.

Exactly. Wiest is probably one of the best two-time Oscar winners ever. I would even vote for her in Parenthood.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy Sue

Gosh, enough is enough. I'm a bit tired of this fashionable trend of bashing Jennifer Lawrence. The sudden hatred towards her or her performance is just too much. You think Riva is more deserving? Well, great for you. That doesn't mean you have to hate on JL for that matter or act as she doesn't deserve it too. Most of you are acting as if her nomination was a joke. She gave a great perfomance in a great film, and she is more than deserving (IMO of course). Have you seen any Riva bashing in this post? Criticsm is ok, but is has to be articulate and respectful, and I see less and less of that as the award season progresses. Just saying.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterJavier

Javier: 3rtful's comment aside, I'm not really seeing Lawrence-bashing in either my post or the comments below? Obviously I was in Riva's corner, but I didn't say anything against Jennifer. She'd actually be my second choice for the win.

To be honest, we're so far into the season - which has been so peculiarly long this year - that articulate criticism has all been played out and all that's really left is reiteration, which inevitably leads to generalisations and cruder statements of people's points of view.

Oh, and thank you, Henry, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully BAFTA will wake up within the next year and show the ceremony live, somewhere.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterDavid

If Riva wins Oscar, the Silver Linings acting winner will be Deniro. And O Russell could win screenplay too. Tarantino could also win his screenplay category.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterJoseph

Sorry David, I wasn't referring to you or your article in particular, but to some other posts in the comments section. And maybe I got carried away because I was reading Awards Daily and the Film Experience at the same time during the Baftas, and people are down right mean to JL. But you can't deny the trend is there, and everytime a best actress article appears here or there, JL haters appear all of the sudden. I know we are too far into the awards race, but that doesn't mean you have to put someone down to lift another one up. For example, my bf adores JL, hasn't seen Amour yet, and tonight he was like: that fucking old french lady, how dare she? And I was like: You haven't even seen the movie, you dumbass. And Jennifer Lawrence is my first choice, that doesn't mean I have to throw Riva under the bus.
Just wanted to make a point. Sorry if you found it disrespectful.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterJavier

Best Actress commentary isn't for the weak. If you can't handle anyone not caring for your nominee to be the victor, you're better off staying away from any posting concerning this category.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered Commenter3rtful

Waltz winning Supporting Actor seems more and more possible. Which would be rather remarkable, really. After Inglourious Basterds, which was essentially his debut as far as most of the world was concerned, he's made only three more movies, none of them really notable (though through no fault of his). It's a slender resume for a two-time Oscar-winner, particularly a two-time male Oscar winner, where there's always more roles available to compete with. The closest comparison would probably be Hilary Swank, who won two Oscars (deservedly, in my opinion) for what are basically the only two movies she's been in that people really care about.

Depending on how the dice fall, multiple films could win more Oscars than a BP-winning Argo, which most people see as topping out at BP, Editing, and Screenplay (real wildcard would be an Arkin win, but I don't think that's on the table). Conversely, you could (as the BAFTAs did) give Les Miserables Supporting Actress, Sounding Mixing, Production Design, and Makeup; and Life of Pi could easily come away with Visual Effects (done deal), Cinematography, and some combination of Score, Sounding Editing, and Director.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterSean C.

Get a grip 3rtful. I'm perfectly fine with Jennifer Lawrence not winning the Oscar. I'm just stating that people like you like to put down certain performers to champion your faves. And if weak means respectful, well yeah, I might as well stay away from actress conversation.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterJavier

Not at all, Javier - I didn't think you were referring to me, but just covering that base. Rule #1 for a sane awards season: never read Awards Daily. I definitely see where you're coming from, and I don't think there's ever an excuse for such basic aggression towards the awards' contenders, but it's become so routine over the years. I did slightly join the Hathaway mockery in my post, but I try and do it in humour the people themselves would be okay with.

Is your boyfriend David O. Russell, by the way?

https://twitter.com/sam_clements/status/300736180037746688

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterDavid

Saying I don't want her to win isn't putting her down. And weak in the manner of how I'm using it means you're too sensitive. Your feelings are easily hurt by the verbal hostility not directed at you but your candidate.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered Commenter3rtful

hahahahaha great timing David! No, he isn't David O. Rusell, but his face was basically the same

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterJavier

On a brighter note: Isn't it wonderful to have an excuse to wax about the greatness of Dianne Wiest?

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered Commenter3rtful

For what it's worth, two of the most notable acting upsets in recent memory--Alan Arkin in 2006 and Tilda Swinton in 2007--were both foreshadowed by the BAFTA's. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but Emmanuelle Riva is in this race. She's not the frontrunner, of course, but she's now clearly ahead of Chastain in terms of being the potential spoiler.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterEdwin

Why Helen dyed her hair pink (via People.com)...I'm dying!


“I saw it on America’s Next Top Model, so I decided to have a go,”

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterBia

Good job David!

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy Sue

Javier - I'm not hating on Jennifer out of no where haha, as soon as I saw SLP, I resented the fact that she was the frontrunner, and I've shed eloquent "criticism" on why already; I'm not going to repost that every time I talk about it. Sorry.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterPhilip H.

I love Helen Mirren I guess she is donning a wig for The Audience on stage so her real hair colour can stay pink!

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterRamification

Riva will be at the Oscars. She skipped out of the BAFTAs because the Cesars and Oscars are a higher priority for her, stating that in a rather blunt manner.

Oh boy, that David O. Russell reaction. People seem to forget that David O. Russell has had a checkered past with his temper, particularly very public on-set incidents with industry sweethearts, Clooney and Lily Tomlin. The guy is talented as hell (and I cannot wait for his ABSCAM movie cuz Megan Ellison producing and THAT CAST) but this was bound to happen. Surprising he has never remarked on his own past outbursts when talking about the film's subject matter of mental health (I don't think there is anything wrong with him but having rage issues that gets you punched in the face by a colleague is something of note).

Yay for Riva! I can deal with her beating Chastain (who I still think has a shot because there could be a Lawrence backlash among voters due to her age). I like Jennifer a lot but there is some metallic after-taste to the fact she is being pushed by Harvey Weinstein. And I found her character not as well-defined as the book and she is almost too beholden to the Bradley Cooper character (and in a quite different way Riva is to Trintignant in Amour). Not her fault at all. I blame Russell's adaptation of the book.

Russell winning screenplay makes me think the Adapted Screenplay is wide open. That may be his consolation prize if Spielberg and Lee take votes away from Best Director, and I still would not count him out there.

And regarding the J-Law hate. Jessica Chastain just posted on her Facebook page how irate and disappointed she was that something was published even suggesting those two have a personal rift and that the trend of people in entertainment journalism trying to find any fighting among women in film be it on movie sets or awards season she finds sad. I honestly did not hear of these stories and in fact, I think Lawrence and Chastain are the only people who get along among the ZD30 and SLP people (Harvey seemed like a major figure in the ZD30 plunge and has had run-ins with Bigelow and Ellison).

Searching for Sugar Man being a consensus pick is annoying but I am resigned to it winning rather than be surprised by something like Undefeated beating Paradise Lost: Purgatory. At least The Imposter (a much more complex 'mystery' doc than Sugar Man) won by way of Bart Layton honored as Newcomer.

Love Juno Temple. Her character was problematic as hell in Killer Joe but her scenes with McConaughey were dynamite.

It's true. Waltz is Quentin's Dianne Wiest. He was born to recite his dialogue. But I wish he could spread out his wings for more prestige work than Green Hornet/Three Musketeers films. My only issue is he is the biggest case of category fraud among ALL of the acting categories.

Ang Lee or David O. Russell for the Best Director Oscar.

And finally, ARGO. When did this spontaneous, random act of going against the grain of the Academy become the new consensus? Argo as BP was never a consensus (SLP, LoP, ZD30, and Lincoln leading up to it had strong cases with various award indicators) until we ended we transitioned from Critics Choices pre-Oscar nods to guilds post-Oscar nods. What an incredibly boring choice. I was hoping that the year in directing would have a more spread out winners too like PTA, Anderson, Bigelow, and Haneke getting deserved love. No, people like Ben. Brave, brave, Ben. Heslov, Clooney, and Ben are a triage of charm that could be a renewable energy source (yet with the same after-taste as a Weinstein campaign).

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterCMG

I actually wouldn't mind a second Oscar win for Christoph Waltz. To me, he was the highlight of Django Unchained, and no, I don't think he's playing the same character as Inglourious Basterds. Similar, maybe, but Hans Landa never had as much compassion as Dr. King Schultz has. Hans Landa was polite, but always a threat, always someone who is looking out for his own interests and even ends the war because he realizes it benefits him the most, while Dr. Schultz, even though he's also a killer and pretty dangerous, you always knew where his heart was. What I love about Waltz in both movies is that he made me fear and loath him in Inglourious Basterds, and he made me love and root for him in Django Unchained, to me those are polar opposites. Also, I think Waltz is fine in the supporting category. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but to me the lead in Django Unchained is Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz is initially his enabler and then his sidekick. To me, a lead is the film's protagonist and his main antagonist (which doesn't necessarily mean villain, but someone challenging the protagonist, like Jennifer Lawrence in SLP), not the sidekick. Those are my two cents on that one.....

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterRichter Scale

David, you are most welcome.

Waltz has been the cocktail party talk all season, so I'm not surprised that he is taking supporting form the more mature voting blocks. I think Riva stands a chance at Oscar gold for many reasons: J Lawrence's role is not a screen burner in the mold of a Sophie's Choice, Norma Rae, etc., and with her talent, she will have another chance. Ditto Chastain. Next year is looking more and more like Watt's to lose and cute as Wallis is, she's a child. Supporting actress is still up for grabs in my book. The only acting lock I see is DDL.

I was surprised by adapted screenplay. Really never doubted Lincoln. Tarantino will win for original. For one thing, it truly is original and tackles one of the trickiest subjects in modern culture in a mostly successful manner and Tarantino is loved.

And Diane Wiest deserved her gold. Such brilliant performances. Don't speak. Don't speak.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterHenry

The Baftas get Stephen Fry as host? I'm jealous.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered Commenteradri

"@Peggy Sue -- AGREED. I thought by now people would have woken up and seen how Django only got all that attention at first due to timing and now that it's not brand new it's really not one of Tarantino's best so QUIT IT PEOPLE."

Just because Django isn't as good as Inglorious Basterds (it isnt) and Waltz was bettter in Inglorious (he was) doesn't mean they aren't better than their competition this year. That is how yearly awards work - it's for the year - you don't (or shouldn't have to) compete against your own filmography!

Besides if voters actually felt like Django was Tarantino's best, it'd be a threat to win best picture (it's not).

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterAnonny

Off-topic (sorry) - but you really should do a post where you rate/list/compare the best QT performances.

So many gems (including actors making big impressions in small parts - Honey Bunny).

& I'd agree that I think it'd be a stretch to put anyone from Basterds in the top 10 (except for maybe Jackson?- Idk). With that said, this year's supporting line=up is not nearly that compettivie!

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterAnonny

The O. Russell reaction to Riva's reward should be gif'd it's so awesomely classless.

February 10, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterArkaan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37u99sEhfKY

The still at 2:46 pretty clearly shows David O. Russell in bitter disbelief. It's hard to say what Jennifer Lawrence is thinking, but she's definitely not smiling.

February 11, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterEdwin
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