Red carpet rolled out for Britain’s BAFTA awards
Australian actor Cate Blanchett is in the running for the best
leading actress award at Britain’s showpiece movie awards in London
today for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth: The
Golden Age.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards have
taken on extra significance this year after the US writers’ strike
reduced the Golden Globes, traditionally the second biggest film
awards after the Oscars, to a mere news conference.
Blanchett is up against Julie Christie who is tipped to extend
her collection of awards in the leading actor categories.
Daniel Day-Lewis is tipped to win best actor for starring in
There Will Be Blood as a ruthless oil baron.
Atonement, the film adaptation of Ian McEwan’s award-winning
novel about life and love in World War II, leads the way with 14
nominations.
The romantic drama is up for the best film and best British film
gongs, with Keira Knightley and James McAvoy also up for best
actress and actor.
Joe Wright is nominated for best director while Saoirse Ronan
has a best supporting actress nomination.
Elsewhere, Joel and Ethan Coen’s bleak No Country for Old Men,
and Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood each have nine
nominations.
La Vie en Rose, about the life of legendary French singer Edith
Piaf, has seven, including a best actress nomination for Marion
Cotillard.
The Bourne Ultimatum, the third in the action series starring
Matt Damon, has six nominations, with American Gangster, The Lives
of Others and Michael Clayton getting five each.
Screen icon Christie also features for her acclaimed performance
as an Alzheimer’s sufferer in Away from Her.
The British Academy Film and Television Arts awards — which
normally play second fiddle to the Golden Globes — could be seen
as one of the film industry’s main events of the year due to the
industrial action by screenwriters in the United States.
Striking Hollywood screenwriters said Saturday they had agreed a
deal to settle their three-month old dispute and could be back at
work next week if it meets with union members’ approval.
The strike severely disrupted Hollywood’s annual awards season,
leading to the cancellation of the Golden Globes awards after
actors vowed to boycott the event, and casting a shadow over
preparations for the February 24 Oscars.
The BAFTA awards ceremony takes place at the Royal Opera House
in central London.
Nominees:
– Best film:
American Gangster
Atonement
The Lives of Others
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
– Best director:
Joe Wright — Atonement
Paul Greengrass — The Bourne Ultimatum
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck — The Lives of Others
Joel Coen/Ethan Coen — No Country For Old Men
Paul Thomas Anderson — There Will Be Blood
– Best leading actor:
George Clooney — Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis — There Will Be Blood
James McAvoy — Atonement
Viggo Mortensen — Eastern Promises
Ulrich Muhe — The Lives of Others
– Best leading actress:
Cate Blanchett — Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie — Away From Her
Marion Cotillard — La Vie en Rose
Keira Knightley — Atonement
Ellen Page — Juno
AFP
