HOLLYWOOD—Its official Ben Affleck is the guy to beat. Affleck scored big at the BAFTA (BritishAcademyof Film and Television Arts) awards on Sunday, February 10 picking up two trophies: one for Best Director “Argo” and Best Picture “Argo.” The picture also walked away with the award for Best Editing. At this point I would say it’s a safe bet “Argo” will take the coveted Oscar for Best Picture in 2 weeks, but then again it could create some fatigue with voters who may sway to another picture “Lincoln” or “Silver Linings Playbook” anyone?
In the Best Actress race Emmanuelle Riva “Amour” won the prize over front-runners Jessica Chastain “Zero Dark Thirty” and Jennifer Lawrence “Silver Linings Playbook.” Could critics and audiences be in for a surprise upset come Oscar Sunday? It is indeed a possibility. Daniel Day-Lewis continues his awards sweep with his win for Best Actor for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in the biopic “Lincoln.”
In the Supporting Actress race, Anne Hathaway proved that she is unstoppable as she took home the award for her performance in “Les Misérables.” Without a doubt, she’ll be taking home the Oscar I would almost guarantee it. However, the Supporting Actor race continues to be a decisive one as Christoph Waltz took home the prize for “Django Unchained.” At this point I would say it’s a three-person race between Tommy Lee Jones, Christoph Waltz and Robert De Niro.
In the writing categories, Quentin Tarantino was triumphant in the Best Original Screenplay race for “Django Unchained” indicating that the rode to Oscar looks pretty good for the eccentric director. In the Best Adapted Screenplay race, David O. Russell picked up the prize for “Silver Linings Playbook.” This will be an interesting race at the Oscars as its looking like a duel between “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Lincoln.”
“Skyfall” proved that it is indeed the best Bond film ever as it walked away with the award for Best British Film. It also took home the trophy for Best Original Music. The Best Animated Film went to Disney’s “Brave,” while “Amour” won the prize for Best Film Not in the English Language.
The musical “Les Misérables” also won for Best Make-Up & Hair for Lisa Wescott and Best Production Design for Eve Stewart and Anna Lynch-Robinson. It also picked up the award for Best Sound. “Life of Pi” took home awards for Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects. “Searching for Sugar Man” was triumphant in the Best Documentary category, whileJunoTemplewas given the Orange Rising Star Award.
Only one more award show awaits us this season and that’s the Academy Awards which will take place on Sunday, February 24. Will the Oscars continue to bask in the midst of all the other awards this season, who knows, Oscar has been known to throw a few curve balls here and there so anything can happen.
By LaDale Anderson
