Ponderance

BAFTAs

The other major predictor before the Oscars, the British Academy Film Awards, was yesterday. Return of the King walked away with four main awards--Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography and Visual Effects--and the audience voted Orange Film of the Year. Peter Jackson, despite the Best Picture award, lost to Peter Weir for Best Director; Master and Commander also picked up Production Design, Costume Design and Sound. Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray deservedly picked up best Actor and Actress both for Lost in Translation. The big loser for the evening was Cold Mountain only picking up Supporting Actress for Renee Zellweger and Best Music. The full awards:

Best Film: "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson
Alexander Korda Award for British film of the year: "Touching the Void," John Smithson, Kevin Macdonald
David Lean Award for achievement in direction: Peter Weir, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"
Performance by an actress in a leading role: Scarlett Johansson, "Lost in Translation"
Performance by an actor in a leading role: Bill Murray, "Lost in Translation"
Performance by an actress in a supporting role: Renee Zellweger, "Cold Mountain"
Performance by an actor in a supporting role: Bill Nighy, "Love Actually"
Original screenplay: Tom McCarthy, "The Station Agent"
Adapted screenplay: "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," Fran Walsh, Phillippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
Best film not in the English language: "In This World,"Andrew Eaton, Anita Overland, Michael Winterbottom
Anthony Asquith Award for achievement in music: Gabriel Yared, T-Bone Burnett, "Cold Mountain"
Cinematography: Andrew Lesnie, "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
Production design: William Sandell, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"
Costume design: Wendy Stites, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"
Editing: Sarah Flack, "Lost in Translation"
Sound: Richard King, Doug Hemphill, Paul Massey, Art Rochester, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"
Achievement in special visual effects: Joe Letteri, Jim Rygiel, Randall William Cook, Alex Funke, "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
Makeup & hair: Ve Neill, Martin Samuel, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"
Short film: "Brown Paper Bag," Natasha Carlish, Mark Leveson, Michael Baid Clifford, Geoff Thompson
Short animation: "JoJo in the Stars," Sue Goffe, Marc Craste
The Orange Film of the Year Award: "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (Audience Vote)

With the Oscars only a fortnight away, Return of the King is a sure bet for Best Film, likely for Best Director, while the other categories all appear a bit more flexible. I'd still love to see Keisha Castle-Hughes pick up Best Actress, but I fear Charlieze Theron is more likely. Similarly, Bill Murray was excellent in Lost in Translation, but I suspect Sean Penn might be 'due' an Ocsar (although his politics have miffed the Academy in the past, so we'll have to wait and see!).