Last year, the BAFTA nominations were the one pre-Oscar award list that matched up perfectly with the Academy’s Best Picture nominations. And in the past, BAFTA has presaged acting nominations for the likes of The Aviator‘s Alan Alda. With that in mind, here are the biggest winners and losers from this morning’s nominations announcement.
WINNERS
An Education Yes, it makes sense that a smart British drama would do very well at the BAFTAs. But for An Education to tie Avatar and The Hurt Locker for the most nominations means that it’s the non-American film with the best chance at doing exceptionally well with the Academy. District 9 is a close second. Speaking of which…
District 9 Five tech nominations is one thing. But the vivid sci-fi film also made into the adapted screenplay and—most impressively—director races. Could Neill Blomkamp really score an Oscar nod too? I’d say it’s between him and Lee Daniels right now.
Alec Baldwin After being overlooked by the BFCA, SAG, and Golden Globes, the It’s Complicated scene-stealer muscled into Best Supporting Actor over Christopher Plummer and Matt Damon. With Invictus failing of late, he may be this year’s Alan Alda.
LOSERS
Invictus The Clint Eastwood drama landed on the Producers Guild top 10 but was completely shut out of the BAFTA nominations. No Morgan Freeman, no Matt Damon, nothing. Since No. 1 and No. 2 votes are the ones that will most likely count with the Academy, the film may be left out in favor of cult faves like District 9 or Star Trek. Or even The Hangover.
Helen Mirren & Christopher Plummer The Last Station pair seemed on their way to scoring Oscar nods after making the cut with the Globes and SAG. But for the Brits to ignore them means support for the film may be waning.
Jason Reitman Up in the Air landed six nominations, including Best Film and Best Adapted Screenplay, but despite earning Globe, BFCA, and DGA nods, Reitman was overlooked for directing, while Kathryn Bigelow and Lone Scherfig were included instead. If the Academy also wants to nominate two women for the first time, could he be in trouble?
Image credit: Kerry Brown
I really hope this means Oscar noms for An Education. I saw both Avatar and Up In the Air, and while one of those will probably end up winning, I think An Education was the best movie of the year.
I wonder if Dave Karger finally realizes that Star Trek does has nothing to do with these awards aside from Special Effects.
The only major nomination Invictus will get is for Morgan Freeman. And I would not be shocked to see him snubbed either (everyone has been saying Renner is in that 5th spot for the nomination (something I’ve never agreed with), but after today that is no longer the case.)
I actually think there is no such thing as 5th spot this year, because the Oscar Best Actor nominees are pretty much clear by now: Jeff Bridges, Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman, George Clooney, Jeremy Renner.
So, both, Renner and Freeman will be in.
Oh, and to Dave Karger: Christopher Plummer is from Canada, not Britain as you sort of hinted at when you called him and Helen Mirren British “countrymen”.
What a stupid mistake on my part. Thanks, Jul.
I think An Education will do very well with the acting awards, but I don’t think it will win Best Picture.
I said it just the other day… I liked “Invictus,” and I respect the film, but I didn’t passionately “love” the film, and I haven’t seen many people who do. Not in the same way some people here have passionately loved “(500) Days,” “District 9,” “An Education” or even “Star Trek.” With “Invictus doing so poorly at the box office, even with the big names in the film, and the marquee name of Clint Eastwood as director… it’s definitely on the bubble.
I read on another blog that those omissions that you mentioned happened because those films have yet to be release in the U.K. True or no?
Invictus and the Last station were eligible. A couple weeks ago, they released the long list for BAFTA nominations with 15 nominees in each category and Invictus was on for Picture, Actor and Supporting Act and Mirren and Plummer were also on the list. They just didn’t make it to the short list. The Blindside was one of the movies yet to be release in the UK, so Sandra was not eligible.
I loved ‘An Education’. I know Carey Mulligan is young and has a long career ahead, but dammit, I really hopes she wins Best Actress.
Me too! I hope she wins!
Definitely! Although I think Sandra Bullock’s going to win the Oscar.
My heart is set on Streep. She was great as Julia Child and it’s just friggin’ way past time she was awarded (again). That said, kudos to both Mulligan and Bullock.
I hope UP gets a Best Picture nom and pulls a crazy upset. “BUT IT’S A TALKING DOG!!”
You missed the biggest loser: Bright Star. Made the top 5 chapter nominations in 5 categories, and was on the long list in 10 categories, yet ends up with Costumes only
Spot on, Andrew – Bright Star robbed of nods for Ben Wishaw and Abbie Cornish in not only the lead categories but also the Rising Star award – certainly Ben should have been listed there! This year’s awards season is shaping up to be filled with twists and turns if Globes results are an indicator.
Can we really look at the BAFTA showing for a film as British as An Education and see any Oscar portents?
I’m not particularly high on any of the potential Best Supporting Actor nominees except Christoph Waltz, who’s in no matter what. But I do think it would be a damn shame if Alec Baldwin (though I love him) gets nominated for a trifle like It’s Complicated. But I was never really feeling Christopher Plummer as a nominee.
Seriously. It’s Complicated should not be an Oscar bait movie. Especially for acting; didn’t everyone pretty much play themselves? I feel similarly about the Hangover and Star Trek being potentially enjoyable films, but not being award-worthy. Enjoyable does not equal best.
I think “Hurt Locker”, “Inglorious Basterd” & “Up in the Air” are all soooooooooooooo Overated. I don’t understand the lack of buzz for “Where the wild things are”. It’s a shame. Really…
It’s because Where the Wild Things Are was basically critically panned and was terrible, to say the least.
Critically panned? Not with a RT score of 73 and a Metacritic score of 71. Sure there are those who hated it, but obviously many more liked or loved WTWTA.
“An Education” is absolutely terrific — just saw this a couple days ago and can’t believe it hasn’t gotten more attention. Carey Mulligan’s going to be a big star, if there’s any justice.
Carey Mulligan is ridiculously overrated in An Education.
I know. She was good but it was nothing special. Just a typical coming-of-age performance.
Except that it wasn’t.
Well, a lot of men liked her as her character. Hmm.
No Bright Star, how can this film still be ignored!
Does this mean Sandra Bullock is losing her momentum in the Best Actress race?
I hope so. I love Sandra Bullock and I think she’s given a lot of great performances, but her performance in The Blind Side- while pretty good- wasn’t the best performance by an actress this year.
Guys! Read this; Blind Side was NOT elgible for the BAFTAs because it has NOT premiered in the UK yet! So…no! Sandra is not losing momentum and she’ll probably be nominated next year!!!
Does everyone understand now?
I can’t believe Alec Baldwin is getting attention for ‘It’s Complicated.’ I like him VERY much and find him incredibly funny and always entertaining, but his performance in ‘Complicated’ was certainly nothing special. I found him rather annoying and, to be honest, a tiny bit creepy.