Herewith a few comments about the just-announced British Independent Film Awards. You may recall that last year they heavily favored The King's Speech and strangely snubbed Mike Leigh's Another Year in Best Film.
BIFA loved "Kevin" but wasn't crazy about "Weekend"
I should warn you up front that I'm apt to spend the whole time bitching about the strange snubbing of Weekend in all but two categories.
British Independent Film
Senna
Shame
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Tyrannosaur
We Need To Talk About Kevin
They unfortunately snubbed the acclaimed gay romance Weekend (Dear reader, I did warn you. DEAR NOTE, I SHALL HIT THEE FREQUENTLY!) which was a perfect fit given the "British" and the "Independent"... not to mention that it's a better film than some of these titles. But then, that's award season for you. Right from the start there will be winners and losers and unexpecting favoring of certain titles that nobody was expecting major awards runs from. Not sure what to make of the lineup other than that the deep preferencing for Shame, Tyrannosaur, and Kevin reminds us that when seeking kudos, ambitiously arty but thunderously grim depression can be an easier path to glory than optimistic and delicately carved miniatures. Again, where is Weekend?
Best Director
Ben Wheatley, Kill List
Steve McQueen, Shame
Tomas Alfredson, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Paddy Considine, Tyrannosaur
Lynne Ramsay, We Need To Talk About Kevin
Best Debut Director (The Douglas Hickox Award)
Joe Cornish, Attack the Block
Ralph Fiennes, Coriolanus
John Michael McDonagh, The Guard
Richard Ayoade, Submarine
Paddy Considine, Tyrannosaur
Paddy Considine directs Olivia Colman to greatness in "Tyrannosaur"
I am of the opinion that when one separates directing categories one should not be eligible for both. More direction and acting nods after the jump...
It robs suspense and also feels stingy to those who were snubbed to make room for Paddy twice over. Not that we aren't fond of Paddy Considine. We've always loved him as an actor (he's so funny in Submarine, and now in competition with his own director) and if Tyrannosaur proves anything it's that he is, no surprise, great with other actors.
Best Screenplay
John Michael McDonagh, The Guard
Ben Wheatley and Amy Jump, Kill List
Abi Morgan and Steve McQueen, Shame
Richard Ayoade, Submarine
Lynne Ramsay and Rory Kinnear, We Need To Talk About Kevin
Strange to honor Shame and Kevin here over Weekend since I'd argue that neither of the former films derive their major strength from the screenplays but from the auteur's aesthetics and from the haunted nearly possessed lead performances. I haven't yet seen Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy so I'm not sure what to make of its exclusion.
Best Actress
Rebecca Hall, The Awakening
Mia Wasikowska, Jane Eyre
MyAnna Buring, Kill List
Olivia Colman, Tyrannosaur
Tilda Swinton, We Need To Talk About Kevin
The only one of these women that's currently Oscar buzzing is Olivia Colman, though she's a dark horse for a long shot at best (double unlikelihood! but god she's good in that film). But we sure wish Mia & Tilda would also gain a little heat. Best Actress -- and any category actually -- is always more fun and interesting when it stays competitive. That way voters have to really weigh their options (as they always should) rather than just vote from habitual preferences.
Finally, it's fun to see Rebecca Hall here so soon after listening to Craig and David talk about her film.
Best Actor
Brendan Gleeson, The Guard
Neil Maskell, Kill List
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Peter Mullan, Tyrannosaur
The Guard recently arrived in my mailbox so perhaps it's time to put it in the player and absorb. Mullan is powerful in Tyrannosaur but if you ask me the film absolutely belongs to Colman, who finds much more range within her characterization.
Most Promising Newcomer
Jessica Brown Findlay, Albatross
John Boyega, Attack the Block
Craig Roberts, Submarine
Yasmin Paige, Submarine
Tom Cullen, Weekend
Craig and Yasmin were quite amusing together in Submarine, so alike externally and such romantically clashing spirits internally. But if we're going for couples, why on earth isn't Chris New here for Weekend, Andrew Haigh's romantic drama which thrives on its duet. Shame (not Shame).
Attack the Block, like The Guard, has also arrived in screener form. Must get to that. 'tis awards season at last.
Best Supporting Actress
Felicity Jones, Albatross
Vanessa Redgrave, Coriolanus
Carey Mulligan, Shame
Sally Hawkins, Submarine
Kathy Burke, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Best Supporting Actor
Michael Smiley, Kill List
Tom Hardy, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Benedict Cumberbatch, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Eddie Marsan, Tyrannosaur
Ezra Miller, We Need To Talk About Kevin
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy really cleaned up in terms of acting nominations (four all told) and it seems fitting that it's Hardy and Cumberbatch, since they seem to be hogging the kuods that aren't Oldman-related. Can either of them get Oscar traction in that field that's currently crowded with "lifetime achievement" types? I'm a bit surprised to see Ezra Miller on the list, given what he's asked to do in We Need To Talk About Kevin but then, they really just went for the film.
Best Technical Achievement
Chris King and Gregers Sall for the editing of Senna
Sean Bobbit for the cinematography of Shame
Joe Walker fro the editing of Shame
Maria Djukovic for the production design of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Seamus McGarvey for the cinematography of We Need To Talk About Kevin
Best Achievement in Production
Kill List
Tyrannosaur
Weekend
Wild Bill
You Instead
Best Documentary
Hell and Back Again
Life in a Day
Project Nim
Senna
TT3D: Closer to the Edge
Best Foreign Independent Film
Animal Kingdom
Drive
Pina
A Separation
The Skin I Live In
"A Separation" continues on its path to... Oscar?
Foreign Film prizes are always so peculiar. They constantly reminded us of the batty release schedules 'round the world. Animal Kingdom premiered almost 24 months ago! But we love it so, yay! We like all of these movies quite a lot in fact so this category totally trumps their Best Picture category.
The Raindance Award
Acts of Godfrey
Black Pond
Hollow
Leaving Baghdad
A Thousand Kisses Deep
Best British Short
0507
Chalk
Love at First Sight
Rite
Tough Skin
The Richard Harris Award (Outstanding Contribution to British Film)
TBA
The Variety Award
TBA
The Special Jury Prize
This award will be announced at the actual ceremony on December 4th, 2011.