EE BAFTA 2015 Nominations
The full list of the 2015 BAFTA Film Awards nominations has been announced:
BEST FILM
BIRDMAN
BOYHOOD
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
THE IMITATION GAME
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
—
Solid choices with Birdman, Boyhood and The Grand Budapest Hotel which has garnered the most nominations out of all of this year’s films. The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything are well made films as well, but have definitely been given the edge over other strong contenders by their Britishness. I’d be very happy with Birdman or Boyhood, but not disappointed by The Grand Budapest Hotel.
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
’71
THE IMITATION GAME
PADDINGTON
PRIDE
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
UNDER THE SKIN
—
Under the Skin is so fantastic, it just has to win – but it’s more likely to be one of the two that are also nominated for Best Film.
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
ELAINE CONSTANTINE (Writer/Director) Northern Soul
GREGORY BURKE (Writer), YANN DEMANGE (Director) ’71
HONG KHAOU (Writer/Director) Lilting
PAUL KATIS (Director/Producer), ANDREW DE LOTBINIÈRE (Producer) Kajaki: The True Story
STEPHEN BERESFORD (Writer), DAVID LIVINGSTONE (Producer) Pride
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
IDA
LEVIATHAN
THE LUNCHBOX
TRASH
TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT
—
Everyone is raving about Ida. Out of these, I’ve seen Leviathan and Two Days, One Night which are both excellent. Money on Ida or Leviathan.
DOCUMENTARY
20 FEET FROM STARDOM
20,000 DAYS ON EARTH
CITIZENFOUR
FINDING VIVIAN MAIER
VIRUNGA
—
20,000 Days on Earth is more likely nominated for people’s love of its subject matter Nick Cave rather than the quality of documentary-making it exudes. I love 20 Feet From Stardom personally, but hear that Citzenfour is excellent.
ANIMATED FILM
BIG HERO 6
THE BOXTROLLS
THE LEGO MOVIE
—
It has to be The Lego Movie which is in many people’s top 10 films of the year lists, but Big Hero 6 is also a fantastic delight!
DIRECTOR
BIRDMAN, Alejandro G. Iñárritu
BOYHOOD, Richard Linklater
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, Wes Anderson
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, James Marsh
WHIPLASH, Damien Chazelle
—
Oddly, Whiplash is nominated in the Director and Original Screenplay categories but not in Best Film. Again, this could be due to being usurped by British contenders as Whiplash is far superior to most other films of this year. In fact, Birdman, Boyhood and Whiplash have made many top 3 lists, ours included. Outside of James Marsh, this is a very strong category and all films are directorial feats. Boyhood is unique in the amount of years, heart and soul that Linklater has poured into its making. The film has been sweeping other awards internationally because of this game-changing filmic experience he has created. Inarritu has done something also very unique with his inspired directorial style of Birdman, with long un-edited roving shots and the brave decision to use an improvised jazz drum score to mirror a character arc. First time feature film director Chazelle has also done something fresh with Whiplash as he’s made an inanimate object of drums come to life through blood, sweat and tears. Also, the editing of this movie to the music is fantastic – the only film to get a standing ovation at this year’s BFI London Film Festival. While The Grand Budapest Hotel is also amazing on all levels, Anderson has made something so Wes Anderson like, that even though it’s realizing his maximum potential, he almost makes it seem too easy. The Theory of Everything is good, but not at all on the same level as the others.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
BIRDMAN
BOYHOOD
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
NIGHTCRAWLER
WHIPLASH
—
Nightcrawler is probably the best suited for this category. Also a top 10 film of 2014, while not as well-directed or technically as interesting as the others, it has the most traditionally interesting narrative.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
AMERICAN SNIPER
GONE GIRL
THE IMITATION GAME
PADDINGTON
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
—
Just for being able to objectively adapt her own novel into a screenplay, Gillian Flynn should win for Gone Girl.
LEADING ACTOR
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, The Imitation Game
EDDIE REDMAYNE, The Theory of Everything
JAKE GYLLENHAAL, Nightcrawler
MICHAEL KEATON, Birdman
RALPH FIENNES, The Grand Budapest Hotel
—
Here’s where it gets interesting. It’s kind of anyone’s to take, although Michael Keaton is the top tip and probably the most deserving. Let’s break it down by nominee –
Benedict Cumberbatch: A very Cumberbatchian performance, great, well done, interesting, deserved, nothing unique.
Eddie Redmayne: He plays Stephen Hawking more compassionately and endearingly than Stephen Hawking himself. Kudos.
Jake Gyllenhaal: Where did this performance come from? Gritty, raw, exhilarating, fresh, immediate cult status.
Michael Keaton: A heralded comeback, he owns this category, but not without strong competition. He really IS Birdman.
Ralph Fiennes: Truth be told, I didn’t expect this nomination, but am so very pleased it happened! This is Fiennes’ best performance to date and I’ve been raving about it ever since I saw him in this film. YES!
LEADING ACTRESS
AMY ADAMS, Big Eyes
FELICITY JONES, The Theory of Everything
JULIANNE MOORE, Still Alice
REESE WITHERSPOON, Wild
ROSAMUND PIKE, Gone Girl
—
Again proving that there just aren’t that many good roles for women in film, here is a list of mediocre nominees plus the amazing Julianne Moore who by all means will win this award for her heartbreaking performance in Still Alice.
SUPPORTING ACTOR
EDWARD NORTON, Birdman
ETHAN HAWKE, Boyhood
J.K. SIMMONS, Whiplash
MARK RUFFALO, Foxcatcher
STEVE CARELL, Foxcatcher
—
The only one I did not expect here was Mark Ruffalo, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t deserved. It’s another tough category as it’s anyone’s to take. While I would be happy with any but Ruffalo, I kind of hope J.K. Simmons gets it for his ridiculously awesome role in Whiplash. Edward Norton is probably his closest competition and rightfully so.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
EMMA STONE, Birdman
IMELDA STAUNTON, Pride
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY, The Imitation Game
PATRICIA ARQUETTE, Boyhood
RENE RUSSO, Nightcrawler
—
Yet again reaffirming the lack of strong female roles in film, this category should go to Patricia Arquette who was ridiculously amazing in Boyhood.
ORIGINAL MUSIC
BIRDMAN, Antonio Sanchez
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, Alexandre Desplat
INTERSTELLAR, Hans Zimmer
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, Jóhann Jóhannsson
UNDER THE SKIN, Mica Levi
—
Birdman please! An improvised jazz drum score and nothing but! It just works!
CINEMATOGRAPHY
BIRDMAN
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
IDA
INTERSTELLAR
MR. TURNER
—
‘Snubbed’ for all of the major categories, British film Mr. Turner should probably get the cinematography award as it was the only good thing about the film! And it was a very good thing.
EDITING
Due to a tie in voting in this category, there are six nominations
BIRDMAN
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
THE IMITATION GAME
NIGHTCRAWLER
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
WHIPLASH
—
Whiplash please! It was SO well edited to the music! Birdman would not disappoint either, but Whiplash goes that extra mile.
PRODUCTION DESIGN
BIG EYES
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
THE IMITATION GAME
INTERSTELLAR
MR. TURNER
—
Budapest, Interstellar or Mr. Turner are probably most worthy due to their visual spectacle.
COSTUME DESIGN
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
THE IMITATION GAME
INTO THE WOODS
MR. TURNER
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
—
The Grand Budapest Hotel should get this one for the iconic looks they’ve created!
MAKE UP & HAIR
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
INTO THE WOODS
MR. TURNER
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
—
I like Guardians of the Galaxy for this one. Some nice looking aliens!
SOUND
AMERICAN SNIPER
BIRDMAN
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
THE IMITATION GAME
WHIPLASH
—
I have yet to see American Sniper, but Birdman or Budapest would keep me happy.
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES
INTERSTELLAR
X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST
—
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes surely deserves this most as they’ve masterfully created empathetic and realistic talking apes. If only Andy Serkis could get nominated for an award for his performance as Caesar!
BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
THE BIGGER PICTURE
MONKEY LOVE EXPERIMENTS
MY DAD
BRITISH SHORT FILM
BOOGALOO AND GRAHAM
EMOTIONAL FUSEBOX
THE KÁRMÁN LINE
SLAP
THREE BROTHERS
THE EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
GUGU MBATHA-RAW
JACK O’CONNELL
MARGOT ROBBIE
MILES TELLER
SHAILENE WOODLEY
—
Most of these people have been around for years and their stars have risen, but anyway…. Gugu & Jack are probably the freshest faces of the bunch, but after having seen Whiplash, Miles Teller gets my vote. Isn’t Shailene Woodley already a megastar??? If we’re going with actual “rising star” then Jack should probably win.
Read the full list of nominees.
