Have you kept up to date with all the movie news this year? It’s been an exciting time with a fine selection of new films to entertain and inspire us. Here’s our bite-size round-up of the Oscar and Bafta awards 2013.
THE 85TH ACADEMY AWARDS(r) – GENERAL – Oscars(r) for outstanding film achievements of 2012 are being presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24 (8:30 p.m., ET/5:30 p.m., PT), at the Dolby Theatre(tm) at Hollywood & Highland Center(r), live on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Rick Rowell)
DANIEL DAY LEWIS, JENNIFER LAWRENCE, ANNE HATHAWAY, CHRISTOPH WALTZ. Via Flickr.com.
The Baftas 2013, Sunday 10th February
Witty and wise Stephen Fry hosts the evening as gracefully as ever, the audience in the palm of his hand, roaring with laughter. First to win a ‘death mask’ (explained below) is the brilliant Skyfall winning Outstanding British Film, to no-one’s surprise. Other key points from the first part of the evening are: the cinematography and visual effects awards going to Life of Pi with its mesmerising, stunning 3D visuals; Skyfall triumphing over Les Miserables for Best Original Music; Anne Hathaway croaks her thank you speech as she collects her award for best supporting actress in Les Misérables; a swaggery Tarantino grins ear to ear as he wins Best Original Screenplay for Django Unchained. Billy Connolly get a belly laugh with his referring to the Bafta award as a ‘death mask on a stick’; a spot on description!
The big ones begin and first to sweep an award is Ben Affleck for Best Director. The Argo director talks ten to the dozen through his speech, thanking, thanking, thanking. On to Best Actress: Emanuelle Riva, the 85-year-old star of Amour who’s not present to collect her award. Quickly on to the next, Best Actor. Daniel Day-Lewis, the favourite for his rock-hard, rich performance as Abraham Lincoln, gives a dignified speech as he claims the prestigious award. Finally, Ben Affleck’s Argo takes the Best Film Bafta, solidifying a tremendous night for the film.
THE 85TH ACADEMY AWARDS(r) – GENERAL – Oscars(r) for outstanding film achievements of 2012 are being presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24 (8:30 p.m., ET/5:30 p.m., PT), at the Dolby Theatre(tm) at Hollywood & Highland Center(r), live on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Rick Rowell)
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS
The Oscars 2013, Sunday 24th March
Later in February, we see Daniel Day-Lewis reach a whole new level of acting achievement as he wins his third Best Actor Oscar, for Lincoln. A surprise for some, Lincoln loses out to the Best Picture and Best Director prizes which go to Ben Affleck’s stranger-than-fiction true story Argo and Ang Lee’s beautiful Life of Pi, respectively. Ben Affleck’s acceptance speech leaves not a dry eye the house as he emotionally thanks his wife and speaks of his Good Will Hunting Oscar early in his career. Jennifer Lawrence, at only 22, wins Best Actress for her strong-yet-vulnerable performance in Silver Linings. Despite living every actor’s worst nightmare of falling up the stairs on her way to collect the award, she handles the whole occasion with admirable grace. As at the Baftas, Tarrantino’s Django Unchained deservedly clinches Best Original Screenplay.
THE 85TH ACADEMY AWARDS(r) – THEATRE – Oscars(r) for outstanding film achievements of 2012 are being presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24 (8:30 p.m., ET/5:30 p.m., PT), at the Dolby Theatre(tm) at Hollywood & Highland Center(r), live on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
BEN AFFLECK. Via Flickr.com.
Overall, then: Daniel Day-Lewis made history and reigned supreme; Ben Affleck has proved himself on both sides of the camers; and there’s no landslide victory for one film but deserved recognition for the feats of Lincoln and Django Unchained amongst a highly impressive collection of films.
