Skip to Content

BAFTAs 2014 – and the winner is… (Part 1)

BAFTAs 2014 – and the winner is… (Part 1)

It’s that time of the year again when the British Academy of Film and Television Arts celebrates the best of the cinematic world.  With the awards taking place just shy of a month before the Academy Awards, it is time to start making those all-important predictions.

ee_bafta_film_awards_logo

Part 1 will cover:

– Best British Film
– Best Director
– Best Adapted Screenplay
– Best Original Screenplay
– Best Animated Feature

Best British Film

Gravity
– Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
– Philomena
– Rush
– Saving Mr Banks
– The Selfish Giant

gravity
It is strange not to see Mandela and Saving Mr Banks more heavily featured in this year’s awards season, especially the former as it centres around such a prolific person.  Aside the debate that it isn’t a “British film”, Gravity has made the most impact worldwide, winning the hearts of critics and film fans around the world.

 

 

Best Director

– Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)
– Paul Greengrass (Captain Philips)
– Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)
– David O Russell (American Hustle)
– Martin Scorsese (Wolf of Wall Street)

Alfonso-Cuaron-Sandra-Bullock-George-Clooney-Gravity-set

The nominees have dominated the Director category, aside from Greengrass, who was strangely snubbed from the Academy Awards.  From the chaotic joy of Wolf of Wall Street to American Hustle’s glitz and glamour, nothing can match Alfonso Cuaron’s artistic vision in Gravity.

Best Adapted Screenplay

12 Years a Slave
– Behind the Candelabra
– Captain Philips
– Philomena
– Wolf of Wall Street

12 years a slave

Even though it would have been great to see Before Midnight amongst the nominees, it is still a strong category with multiple nominees, including a surprise inclusion for Behind the Candelabra.   British screenwriter John Ridley has been reaping the awards for his work on 12 Years a Slave and I think he will scoop the prize on the night.

Best Original Screenplay

American Hustle
– Blue Jasmine
– Gravity
– Inside Llewyn Davis
– Nebraska

Justin-Timberlake-Oscar-Isaac-and-the-Coen-brothers-on-set-of-Inside-Llewyn-Davis-585x390
Spike Jonze’s Her cruelly snubbed, the Best Original Screenplay is one of the few major BAFTAs that includes critics’ favourite Inside Llewlyn Davis amongst its nominees and it has to contend with films that have made an impact during this year’s awards season.   As American Hustle is loosely based on true-life events, it doesn’t have as much originality as its other nominees – I would like to see Nebraska take home the prize, but Inside Llewlyn Davis could triumph.

Best Animated Feature

– Frozen
– Despicable Me 2
– Monsters University

November 1st, 2013 @ 20:51:56
The nominees are all critical and financial success, all three films amongst the top ten highest grossing films in UK during 2013.  Monsters University is fun, as is Despicable Me 2, but Frozen is beautiful, musically memorable and the only non-sequel film in the category.

 

*****

PART TWO