Well, The British Academy Film and Television Awards were aired last night in England, and I figured some of you might be a bit curious what that isle thought was so special. Good ol Chief Jawa, scourge of the forums, sent in a great report with the prerequisite amount of curse words and aggravations. So enjoy...
Hey big guy, Chief Jawa in the UK here. The BAFTA's (British Academy Film and Television Award's) have just been aired on the TV, I thought I give you the results and my thoughts...
British Impresionist Rory Bremner hosted the show, quite well in fact, the highlight was the Bill Clinton satellite skectch. :) Before I begine, an upfront apology, as I know many of the names that follow are not spelt right. D'OH.
Anyways, award number 1 was for OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM. It was presented by Liz Hurley and was awarded to NIL BY MOUTH. Now, this is I fil I urge you to see if you have not already done so Harry, directed and written by Gary Oldman.
The second award went to SIGOURNEY WEAVER for her BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS ROLE in THE ICE STORM. Well deserved I reckon, a film sadly overlooked at the Oscars, no? It was presented by Kevin Spacey, currently performing on stage over here, I must see that.
Juliet Binoche presented the BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR award to TOM WILKINSON for his role in THE FULL MONTY. Erm, he was good actually.
Billy Connely, who was hysterical, presented a SPECIAL AWARD to GOD, erm, I mean SEAN CONNERY. Much deserved, this man is king, see his crown!
The Joan Collins and Nigel Hawthorne cam on to present THE DAILY MAIL (Brit newspaper) MOST POPULAR FILM AWARD, voted for by the apers readers. It went to THE FULL MONTY.
Placido Domingo presented the ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC AWARD to the people behind WILLIAM SHAKESPEARS ROMEO + JULIET. In my opinion, it should have gone to Jerry Goldsmith for LA Confidential. Dang...
Sigourney Weaver presented the OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO FILM award to MIKE ROBERTS, a superb camera operator who has worked with the greats. Well deserved.
Good old Lee Evans, a British comedien who Americans would know most from Mousehunt present the waard for BEST VISUAL EFFECTS, and it went to THE FIFTH ELEMENT, which erm, Lee Evens also starred in briefly (he was Fog, a porter on the Fhloston Paradise ship). The film deserved this. Why no Oscar nom?
Tim Roth presented the award for BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY to GARY OLDMAN for NIL BY MOUTH. I'll say again Harry, see this film!
Julia Ormond gave away the award for BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY to WILLIAM SHAKESPEARES ROMEO + JULIET. I'll come straight out and say it. What a load of shit. Ok the film was good, but an award for simply taking Shakesperes text and plonking it in a modern day lifestyle? NO WAY! Perhaps if the dialogue too was converted to modern day? That may have been a good challenge to capture that story in our times.
Julia Roberts presented the award foe BEST ACTOR. It went to ROBERT CARLYLE for THE FULL MONTY. Hmmmmm, yes he was good, but Kevin Spacey was better in LA Con.
Robert Duval presented the BEST ACTRESS award to JUDI DENCH for her role in MRS BROWN. Ahhhhhh, yes, yes, and YES as Meg Ryan screamed in that movie. Dench deserved this, why did Helen Hunt get the Oscar and not Judi?
Finally, Michael Caine gave out the award for BEST FILM, it went to THE FULL MONTY. My opinion? Naaaaaaaaa, good enjoyable film yes, but again, LA Confidential shoulda' won.
On the whole then, the BAFTAS praised the biggest british film of the year (Full Monty) while the Oscars praised the bigest American one (Titanic). Oh well...
LA Confidential did also pick up awards for Editing and Sound too. The Wings of The Dove one for Cinematography. Because the ceramony is not shown live, these last 3 awards were not shown on tv due to time. MAKE TIME!
So, to end this, if you have not, see Nil By Mouth, Mrs Brown and Twenteyfourseven. The latter of these was nominated for a few, but alas, did not receive. These three films are some of the best of British! :)
Chief Jawa (UK)
