Oh yes, it’s that time again! With the Golden Globes already behind us, the next one up is the British Academy awards formal known as BAFTA. This year we have already seen some truly stunning features, from ground breaking visual effects to great performances that will make you laugh and cry, 2013 was certainly a good year for the industry.
So here goes – along with a list on nominations I have predicted who I think will go home with the trophy and a quick reason why.
Inside Llewyn Davis - Bruno Delbonnel
Captain Phillips - Barry Ackroyd
Nebraska - Phedon Papamichael
Gravity - Emmanuel Lubezki
12 Years A Slave - Sean Bobbitt
My Prediction: Gravity
The cinematography in Alfonso’s Gravity blew my head off! The camera work alone drew the viewer into the world that Sandra Bullock was experiencing, including the motion sickness with jerky, handheld movements. Definitely one for the IMAX.
Film | Costume Design in 2014
Behind The Candelabra - Ellen Mirojnick
American Hustle - Michael Wilkinson
The Invisible Woman - Michael O'Connor
The Great Gatsby - Catherine Martin
Saving Mr. Banks - Daniel Orlandi
My Prediction: The Great Gatsby
Now this was a tough one, all of the above fit the bill for their time period but Baz Lurhman’s Gatsby was the one that stood out for me. Ellen Mirojnick’s work for Behind the Candelabra will not go un-noticed I’m sure, albeit the Roaring Twenties was captured down to a T by Catherine Martin here.
Film | Director in 2014
Paul Greengrass - Captain Phillips
David O. Russell - American Hustle
Steve McQueen - 12 Years A Slave
Martin Scorsese - The Wolf Of Wall Street
Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity
My Prediction: David O.Russell
Director is always a tricky one. With names like Scorsese and McQueen this is a list of names bursting the experience and talent. Yet new kids on the block (kind of) Cuaron and Russell really out did themselves this year. I think I will have to give this one to David O. Russell simply for the realism that was American Hustle instead of the use of technology with the 3D used in Gravity – but I won’t be surprised if any of these names are called out!
The Act Of Killing - Joshua Oppenheimer
The Armstrong Lie - Alex Gibney
Tim's Vermeer - Teller, Penn Jillette, Farley Ziegler
We Steal Secrets: The Story Of Wikileaks - Alex Gibney
Blackfish - Gabriela Cowperthwaite
My Prediction: The Act of Killing
A documentary that showed us that these things do happen and they are real. Sometimes in film we forget and we automatically think everything is just a construction and it isn’t really happening. The Act of Killing reminds us that the harsh times these Indonesian death squad leaders dealt with was very much real. A very compelling documentary.
Film | EE Rising Star in 2014
Dane Dehaan
Lupita Nyong'o
George Mackay
Will Poulter
Lea Seydoux
My Prediction: Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years a Slave.
Her performance was breathtaking and she definitely deserves this. Expect good things from this one in future.
Film | Editing in 2014
Captain Phillips - Christopher Rouse
Gravity - Alfonso Cuaron, Mark Sanger
12 Years A Slave - Joe Walker
The Wolf Of Wall Street -Thelma Schoonmaker
Rush- Dan Hanley, Mike Hill
My Prediction: Thelma Schoonmaker for The Wolf of Wall Street
This woman has consistently shown us over the years that she can edit practically anything that Scorsese decides to do next. And Wolf of Wall Street is no different. Her fast-paced, ruthless yet stylish edit gave this brutal tale a sexy shine. This is what editing is all about, taking the rushes and showing us what you can do with them, even if it’s editing a raunchy sex scene or a domestic Schoonmaker wins this category by a long way.
Film | Film in 2014
12 Years A Slave - Anthony Katagas, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen
American Hustle - Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Megan Ellison, Jonathan Gordon
Captain Phillips - Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca
Philomena - Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan, Tracey Seaward
Gravity - Alfonso Cuaron, David Heyman
My Prediction: American Hustle
I know I know, how could I not choose 12 Years A Slave, well simply because I thought overall, American Hustle had it all. The overall production values soared to the stop, however I do have a feeling that this could be given to the critics favourite!
Blue Is The Warmest Colour - Abdellatif Kechiche, Brahim Chioua, Vincent Maraval
The Great Beauty - Paolo Sorrentino, Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima
The Act Of Killing - Joshua Oppenheimer, Signe Byrge Sorensen
Wadjda - Haifaa Al-Mansour, Gerhard Meixner, Roman Paul
Metro Manila - Sean Ellis, Mathilde Charpentier
My Prediction: The Great Beauty
I’m sure that Blue is Warmest Colour is going to get a lot of votes, but The Greaty Beauty as a beauty to behold (pun intended!) .
Film | Leading Actor in 2014
Leonardo Dicaprio - The Wolf of Wall Street
Christian Bale - American Hustle
Chiwetel Ejiofor - 12 Years a Slave
Bruce Dern - Nebraska
Tom Hanks - Captain Phillips
My Prediction: Leonardo Dicaprio
Even though this man has been in the limelight for so long and for all the right reasons he has never won anything. That's right, not one thing until his win at the golden globes for Wolf of Wall Street. It would be fantastic to see him go home with a Bafta. There are some outstanding actors in this category and all have brilliant performances but Leo's trumps them all. In Scorseses latest drug fuelled narrative he goes through every emotion possible and gives the performance of a life time.
Film | Leading Actress in 2014
Amy Adams - American Hustle
Emma Thompson - Saving Mr. Banks
Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock - Gravity
Judi Dench – Philomena
My Prediction: Amy Adams
Let's just say this isn't no Lois Lane anymore! Amy Adams gives her best performance to date here in American a hustle and finally shows is exactly what she is capable of. Again there are some strong contenders in this category with Cate Blanchett giving it her all in Woody Allen’s new drama, but it would be a breath of fresh air to see her go home with the award.
Matt Damon - Behind the Candelabra
Bradley Cooper - American Hustle
Barkhad Abdi - Captain Phillips
Daniel Brühl - Rush
Michael Fassbender - 12 Years a Slave
My Prediction: Matt Damon for Behind the Candelabra
It would be very refreshing to see a star who is primarily an action one go home with this award. Matt Damon was, well he was outstanding in Behind the Candelabra. A hard role for any actor to persue and he and Michael Douglas nailed it. This wasn’t the sort of performance that made you think oh he can act when he shouts the house down or sits there and cries – this was in a league of it’s own. Fingers crossed for Matt Damon (and hold the Team American jokes!). Bradley Cooper and Fassbender were also very good.
Film | Supporting Actress 2014
Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle
Julia Roberts - August: Osage County
Lupita Nyong’O - 12 Years a Slave
Sally Hawkins - Blue Jasmine
Oprah Winfrey - The Butler
My Prediction: Lupita Nyong’o
Even though Jennifer Lawrence is the favourite here, I need not remind you of the harrowing scenes of being stripped and whipped in front of the entire cast and crew on set has to win when it comes to difficulty of performance. Lawrence’s talent is growing fast and she did one hell of a job, but Lupita Nyong’o went for it in her first ever Hollywood appearance.
Film | Make-Up And Hair in 2014
The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug - Peter Swords King, Richard Taylor, Rick Findlater
The Butler - Debra Denson, Beverly Jo Pryor, Candace Neal
Behind The Candelabra - Kate Biscoe, Marie Larkin
American Hustle - Evelyne Noraz, Lori McCoy-Bell
The Great Gatsby - Maurizio Silvi, Kerry War
My Prediction: The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug
How could these guys not get this? The sheer amount of time, effort and talent that went into the hair and make-up alone for this film is surely enough for the win. It shall be a real shame if they luck out this time.
Film | Special Visual Effects in 2014
The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug - Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, Eric Reynolds
Gravity - Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, David Shirk, Neil Corbould, Nikki Penny
Iron Man 3 - Bryan Grill, Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Dan Sudick
Pacific Rim - Hal Hickel, John Knoll, Lindy De Quattro, Nigel Sumner
Star Trek Into Darkness - Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann, Burt Dalton
My Prediction: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Keeping it strictly middle earth for a moment, the effects in Gravity were certainly up there, but the effects in The Hobbit trumped this category. Need I go on?
Captain Phillips- Henry Jackman
The Book Thief - John Williams
12 Years A Slave - Hans Zimmer
Gravity - Steven Price
Saving Mr. Banks - Thomas Newman
My Prediction: Hans Zimmer for 12 Years A Slave
Hans Zimmers fantastic score is a welcome addition to this already emotive narrative. Steve Price and Thomas Newman also stood out, but Zimmer nailed it in 12 Years A Slave.
Film | Sound in 2014
All Is Lost - Richard Hymns, Steve Boeddeker, Brandon Proctor, Micah Bloomberg, Gillian Arthur
Captain Phillips - Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith, Chris Munro, Oliver Tarney
Gravity - Glenn Freemantle, Skip Lievsay, Christopher Benstead, Niv Adiri, Chris Munro
Rush - Danny Hambrook, Martin Steyer, Stefan Korte, Markus Stemler, Frank Kruse
Inside Llewyn Davis - Peter F. Kurland, Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff, Paul Urmson
My Prediction: Gravity
The sound in Gravity transported you up to the nothingness that is our infinite space. The booming levels on this one will have you immersed in seconds. Although we can’t ignore Inside Llewyn Davis can we?
Film | Original Screenplay in 2014
American Hustle - Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell
Inside Llewyn Davis - Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Gravity - Alfonso Cuaron, Jonas Cuaron
Blue Jasmine - Woody Allen
Nebraska - Bob Nelson
My Prediction: Inside Llewyn Davis
Yes, Woody Allen is a wonder but the Coen brothers shone through with one. They have created a truly unique and complex character alongside a killer of a screenplay, not to mention the songs (even if Justin Timberlake is in it!).
Film | Outstanding British Film in 2014
Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom - Justin Chadwick, Anant Singh, David M. Thompson, William Nicholson
Saving Mr. Banks - John Lee Hancock, Alison Owen, Ian Collie, Philip Steuer, Kelly Marcel, Sue Smith
Philomena - Stephen Frears, Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan, Tracey Seaward, Jeff Pope
The Selfish Giant - Clio Barnard, Tracy O'Riordan
Gravity - Alfonso Cuaron, David Heyman, Jonas Cuaron
Rush - Ron Howard, Andrew Eaton, Peter Morgan
My Prediction: Gravity
Strong contesters for this one but Gravity shows that British film can pull it off just as Hollywood can!
Film | Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director or Producer in 2014
Colin Carberry, Glenn Patterson - Good Vibrations
Kelly Marcel - Saving Mr. Banks
Kieran Evans - Kelly + Victor
Paul Wright, Polly Stokes - For Those in Peril
Scott Graham – Shell
My Prediction: Saving Mr. Banks
Kelly Marcel shows us exactly what she is about here. She produces a great script with a balance of witty humour with emotional depth, and does so without the fear of being too sappy or melodramatic. Let’s hope she brings that to the table when penning 50 shades!
The Great Gatsby - Catherine Martin, Beverley Dunn
American Hustle - Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler
12 Years A Slave - Adam Stockhausen, Alice Baker
Behind The Candelabra - Howard Cummings
Gravity - Andy Nicholson, Rosie Goodwin, Joanne Woollard
My Prediction: Gravity
The set design alone in Gravity was stunning, never mind the rest of the film. The detail and time that went into creating such spaces shuttles and the fact they tracked down actual NASA space suits put all the finishing touches in place. Other ones that stand out are, The Great Gatsby and Behind the Candelabra, both incredibly appealing to the eye.
…..And that’s it! Don’t forget to tune in to the BAFTA’S on BBC one and BBC three on Sunday 16th February. I know I will. Let us know your thoughts on the nomination’s in the comment box below.
My Prediction: Gravity
Strong contesters for this one but Gravity shows that British film can pull it off just as Hollywood can!
Film | Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director or Producer in 2014
Colin Carberry, Glenn Patterson - Good Vibrations
Kelly Marcel - Saving Mr. Banks
Kieran Evans - Kelly + Victor
Paul Wright, Polly Stokes - For Those in Peril
Scott Graham – Shell
My Prediction: Saving Mr. Banks
Kelly Marcel shows us exactly what she is about here. She produces a great script with a balance of witty humour with emotional depth, and does so without the fear of being too sappy or melodramatic. Let’s hope she brings that to the table when penning 50 shades!
Film | Production Design in 2014
The Great Gatsby - Catherine Martin, Beverley Dunn
American Hustle - Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler
12 Years A Slave - Adam Stockhausen, Alice Baker
Behind The Candelabra - Howard Cummings
Gravity - Andy Nicholson, Rosie Goodwin, Joanne Woollard
My Prediction: Gravity
The set design alone in Gravity was stunning, never mind the rest of the film. The detail and time that went into creating such spaces shuttles and the fact they tracked down actual NASA space suits put all the finishing touches in place. Other ones that stand out are, The Great Gatsby and Behind the Candelabra, both incredibly appealing to the eye.
…..And that’s it! Don’t forget to tune in to the BAFTA’S on BBC one and BBC three on Sunday 16th February. I know I will. Let us know your thoughts on the nomination’s in the comment box below.