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Clash of the Titans: Welcome to Awards Season 2013

BAFTA Award

Awards season is well and truly upon us. The Golden Globes took place last month, but February is where they whack the really important statues out. Make way for the big guns, it’s BAFTA and Oscar time. This Sunday, 10th February sees the arrival of 2013’s BAFTA Awards ceremony, with the 85th Academy Awards taking place on 24th.

 

It’s been an interesting year for awards, with most of the nominees having only been released over the past few months in both the UK and US. Leading the pack for both BAFTAs and Oscars is Spielberg’s historical drama, Lincoln, starring Daniel Day-Lewis as the president on a mission to abolish slavery during the Civil War. Fabulously so, might I add. It’s a great historical piece and will most definitely appeal to any American history buffs, but it really wasn’t for me. I can certainly see why it’s nominated for so many Oscars; because it’s an American film about American history, appealing to an American awards panel. That’s right, it’s very American. However, I was quite shocked at the amount of attention it’s received with the BAFTA panel.

LincolnLincoln is closely followed with its nominations by Ang Lee’s Life of Pi and Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables. Life of Pi is a beautiful piece of cinema, which I think will let Lee take home some of the more technical prizes such as Best Cinematography and Visual Effects, perhaps event best Adapted Screenplay if Lincoln doesn’t steal it away. Les Miserables is a sure winner for Anne Hathaway as Best Supporting Actress, which she already claimed at the Golden Globes last month. For anyone that didn’t shed a tear or get goose bumps during Hathaway’s harrowing performance as poor Fantine, you’re dead inside. I think that Les Miserables will have better chances at the BAFTAs this weekend, and is a strong contender for Best Picture.

So that’s the top three for both BAFTA and the Oscars, let’s take a look at the films that are trailing behind. Again, it’s very similar for both the UK and US awards, with Skyfall, Argo, Django Unchained and Zero Dark Thirty. The Brits are obviously favouring Skyfall, but I can’t see it winning much despite its eight nominations. Argo might pick up a few awards, but despite huge critical reception, I don’t really think Affleck has made much of a mark.

Django Unchained
Tarantino’s splatterfest of a Western, Django Unchained, is in my eyes the sole contender for Supporting Actor and Tarantino might even take home Best Original Screenplay.  Christoph Waltz’s performance in Django is by far one of my favourite performances of the year. He picked up the Golden Globe for his role as the German bounty hunter and I’d be shocked if he doesn’t take home both the BAFTA and Oscar this year as well.

Then there’s Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty, a film about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. I think it could go either way for Bigelow, who won big with The Hurt Locker back in 2010. She was the first female director to win an Oscar, and took home six awards from both the BAFTAs and the Oscars, including Best Picture. Jessica Chastain could easily take home Best Actress, as there’s little competition, and I think it’s the main rival against Django for Best Original Screenplay. I reckon the Brits just might give Bigelow or Tarantino Best Director as well.

 

the-hobbit_2409864k

In the world of geekery, nominations are extremely lacking this year. Some were surprised at the lack of the nominations for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which unfortunately was just released at the wrong time. There’s been too much competition for Jackson this year, and he’s only looking at a chance for awards in Hair and Make-Up or Visual Effects. Avengers Assemble and Prometheus are also contenders for both BAFTAs and Oscars in the effects category, as is The Dark Knight Rises for a BAFTA.

So there you have it, my awards predictions for 2013. I could go on, (and on) but there are so many categories and it’s been a great year for cinema. Enjoy the rest of the awards season kicking off this weekend, the BAFTAs are usually a great watch, I’ll probably end up shouting at the television like a deranged sports fanatic To finish off, here’s a brief prediction summary for Best Picture and Best Director for those who might have skimmed a little of my ranting.

 

BAFTAs

Best Picture: Lincoln / Les Miserables
Best Director: Tarantino – Django Unchained / Kathryn Bigelow – Zero Dark Thirty

Oscars

Best Picture: Lincoln
Best Director: Steven Spielberg – Lincoln

Hani Fearon
Hani Fearon
I'm an aspiring film journalist living in Chester. Into all kinds of geekery from N64 to Xbox, graphic novels, cosplay anime and more. I have an unhealthy obsession with Pokémon and the Legend of Zelda series. So much so that I have two Zelda tattoos and various Pokémon lurking all over my house. In my spare time when I'm not busy being a real person and working, I'm writing or making retro games jewellery. I'm also obsessed with pandas. They're fabulous.

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