Although snubbed by the Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a Best Director Oscar nomination, Ben Affleck, with cohorts George Clooney and Grant Heslov, won both Best Film and Best Director for their historical 1980 suspense drama “Argo” at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) ceremony this weekend.
Considering Ben Affleck’s sweep at the Golden Globes, the Director’s Guild and the Screen Actor’s Guild, these wins could give “Argo” the push it needs to be the favorite for Best Picture at the Oscars. But then whom will the Academy favor for its Best Director category? Perhaps Tom Hooper of “Les Misérables?” Will the Academy avoid splitting the Best Picture and Best Director vote by honoring David O. Russell or Steven Spielberg for their respective works wit
h “Silver Linings Playbook” or “Lincoln?”
Well one thing is for sure, with his BAFTA win and his continuing virtually unbroken record as best actor this season, Daniel Day-Lewis is most definitely the front-runner for Best Actor at the 2013 Academy Awards coming up this February 24th.
As for the other winners, BAFTA was more than happy to spread the wealth by honoring a diverse group of talent and films. In the leading actress category, 85 year-old French actress Emmanuelle Riva took top honors for her turn in “Amour,” besting her respective American and British rivals, Jennifer Lawrence of “Silver Linings Playbook,” Jessica Chastain of “Zero Dark Thirty,” and Helen Mirren as the wife of the infamous filmmaker in “Hitchcock.”
In the best supporting male actor category, Austrian actor Christoph Waltz won for his turn as a dentist turned bounty hunter in Quentin Tarantino’s lively spaghetti-western come slave-revenge film, “Django Unchained.” Beating out “The Master’s” Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Argo’s” Alan Arkin, and Javier Bardem’s disturbed Bond villain in “Skyfall.”
For women, Anne Hathaway nabbed best supporting actor for her musical play as beleaguered prostitute Fantine in “Les Misérables.” Narrowly beating Judi Dench of “Skyfall,” Helen Hunt of “The Sessions,” and Amy Adams of “The Master.”
In writing, Quentin Tarantino nabbed top honors for best original screenplay for “Django Unchained.” While David O. Russell won best-adapted screenplay for “Silver Linings Playbook.”
Sam Mendes and company won for best British film with the latest James Bond feature, “Skyfall;” and “Searching for Sugarman,” a tail of a musician’s failure and subsequent redemption, won for best documentary.
Argo is only getting awards because Hollywood is in love with itself. Such lackluster choices are very unbecoming of such a tremendous year for cinema. Where are the nominations for movies like The Grey, Jesus Henry Christ and Killing them Softly? Read about the Top 10 Movies of 2012 with reviews and other honorable mentions at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-10-movie-picks-of-2012.html
I agree that more genres should be considered for Academy Awards. There are some great science fiction and horror/fantasy films that have been overlooked throughout the years. But certainly you don’t dispute that most of the film nominated are worthy of the consideration. I haven’t seen Argo, so I can’t comment on it. That said, I imagine the screenwriting, acting and production values are first rate in the film. Moreover, I imagine the subject-matter is compelling.
I agree that more genres — especially science fiction and horror, because of the special effects and social themes they tackle — should be considered for
Academy Awards. But certainly you don’t dispute that most of the film nominated
are worthy of the consideration. I haven’t seen Argo, so I can’t comment on it.
That said, I imagine the screenwriting, acting and production values are first
rate in the film. Moreover, I imagine the subject-matter is compelling.