The cinema awards season is getting into full swing, culminating with the Oscars in March.
Festivities kicked off this week with the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles, the only major event of its kind voted by the public.
Sweeping the People’s Choice Awards, Sandra Bullock was named Favourite Movie Actress, Comedic Actress, Dramatic Actress and shared the Favourite Movie Duo award with ‘Gravity; co-star George Clooney. The movie was voted Favourite Drama.
With 11 nods, Alfonso Cuaron’s space drama leads the nominations for this year’s British Academy Film Awards.
Other BAFTA nominees include ’12 Years a Slave’ and ‘American Hustle’, each bagging 10 nominations. Steve McQueen’s slavery epic is heading the nominations for the January 12th Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles.
“It’s going to be a very, very interesting Best Film title fight,” said film critic Mark Kermode.
Asked about ‘Gravity’ he said: “It has turned up not only in the Best Film category but also in the Outstanding British Film category because, of course, although it’s got Hollywood stars, it was made here. British technicians doing all those incredible effects, it’s the first 3D film I have ever seen where I have thought it really is better in 3D than in 2D. However, I have to say my affections are for ’12 Years a Slave’, which I think is an extraordinary piece of work with great direction by Steve McQueen.”
Another Best Film contender is Paul Greengrass’ piracy drama ‘Captain Phillips’, with nine nominations, including Best Actor for Tom Hanks in the title role.
“Paul Greengrass is a wonderful British director. It’s a true story. He tells it in a way which is brilliant, visceral, engaging and of course it’s great to see a Supporting Actor nomination for Barkhad Adbi, who really holds his own against Tom Hanks in that movie and provides such a crucial part of the drama,” said critic Kermode.
The fifth contender for Best Film is Stephen Frears’ ‘Philomena’, based on the true story of a mother’s search for her lost son, with three nominations including a 15th acting nod for Dame Judi Dench.
Another BAFTA frontrunner is ‘American Hustle’, with 10 nominations including Best Film and Best Director for David O. Russell. Christian Bale and Amy Adams are up for Best Actor and Actress awards for their roles as con-artists forced to work with federal agents on a government corruption sting.
And finally, veteran director Martin Scorsese is nominated for Best Director for his tale of American greed ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, also put forward for Best Actor.
Along with the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs are considered a top indicator of Oscar gold.
The BAFTA ceremony is due to be held in London on February 16.
