This morning, the 2014 BAFTA nominations were announced.
Initial reaction?
Safe. In some categories, too safe…and they seem to discount some of the acclaimed films released mid-2013 (Stoker, The World’s End, Filth), drawing more of the attention on recent releases and critic favourites from the end of last year.
So, reaction…
American Hustle multiple acting nods are no surprise. Even though it is like déjà vu to last year’s Silver Linings Playbook, I feel that David O. Russell’s satire is more deserving of its acting nominations. I haven’t seen any film that has a cast ensemble as good as Hustle so I’m sure that it will do well not just here, but also in upcoming awards.
12 Years a Slave is no surprise, so it only builds up the anticipation when it is finally released on Friday. Nebraska, Behind the Candelabra and Blackfish are also welcome inclusions. Animated category is quite curious, as I think Disney’s Frozen can easily Pixar’s Monster’s University, after it upped its game with great songs and defined animation.
Gravity deserves all the love it gets. As my top film of 2013, I love the fact that Sandra Bullock is getting the praise she deserves and that the film is not solely singled out for the technical awards.
And what about Leonardo DiCaprio’s nomination? I still remember him when he appeared in William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet all those years (sending hearts a-fluttering during school…*sigh*) and now, he is overdue an award. Is he doomed to be the ‘Martin Scorsese’ of the acting world? I guess we’ll see.
So, now that I’ve mentioned who’s made the cut, what about everyone else?
June Squibb (Best Supporting Actress for Nebraska), Park Chan-wook, Wentworth Miller (Best Director; Best Original screenplay for Stoker), Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy and Richard Linklater (Best Original Screenplay for Before Midnight) are missed, and even though it is not high on my list of favourite films so far, I was surprised that Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom didn’t get more than the one nomination. It could have easily gotten in for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor or Best Actress. But I’m guessing BAFTA have other ideas…
Roll on 16th February.
Thanks for reading.
Musings of Guitargalchina 