BAFTAs Summary
The Leading Actress award was probably the most surprising as it was won by Emmanuelle Riva for “Amour” which also won the award for Film Not in the English Language. Michael Hanake’s film about an elderly couple confronting boldly the themes of death and getting old as Anne (Riva) steadily descends into dementia.
“Les Mis” missed out on Best Film to Ben Affleck’s “Argo” whose hostage rescue film was incredibly well put together and excruciatingly nail biting in the final scenes. Which other film but “Skyfall” could win Best British Film, not surprising since it features more of London and the inner workings of MI6 than any previous Bond films. He even spends some time on the tube chasing down Javier Bardem. This award does, however, put pressure on number 24 which will be filmed at the same time as 25. Judging by the final scene in “Skyfall” it’s getting off to a good start with Miss Moneypenny (currently Naomie Harris) back and a male ‘M’ in charge as it was in Connery, Moore, Lazenby and Dalton’s time.
Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” didn’t win any awards, not even Make Up and Hair which went to “Les Mis”, quite a surprise when thinking of how much time and effort went into creating each dwarf. Sadly Andrea Riseborough lost out to Juno Temple (“The Three Musketeer” (2011)) for the Rising Star award, voted for by the public. Joe Wright’s adaptation of “Anna Karenina” rightly won Best Costume Design.
"The Fall of the Essex Boys"
This is the fourth film depicting an infamous murder that happened in Essex in 1995, named the Rettenden Range Rover Murders, an event which fascinated the British media and the film industry for decades. On a rainy night in December three members of a drug gang were shot and killed in their Range Rover at the end of a farm track near the quiet country village of Rettendon. Newish director Paul Tanter’s film errs more on the side of gritty realism that is a bit too close to home. If you’re into a bit of British hooliganism then watch some of his other films like “The Hooligan Wars" (2012).
Tanter’s version centres the story on the police investigation which starts with a young girl in a coma from taking a bad ecstasy pill. Detective Inspector Stone (Ewan Ross) is in charge of the investigation which sometimes means acting outside the law.
“Essex Boys” (2000, starring Sean Bean) and “Bonded by Blood” (2010) are two other films that have their own take on the story surrounding the murders. Director Terry Winsor’s version is worth a watch as it is more light hearted and shows the glamorous side to gang life; namely the parties and women. It’s more like a Guy Ritchie production - “Snatch” (2000) or “RocknRolla” (2008). Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton (2007)) also stars.
Nicholas Holt
The star of teen zombie film “Warm Bodies” which has just been released is also set for a new, more serious project “Embankment”. It is an adaptation of Sebastian Faulks’ novel Birdsong set during the First World War. This is the second of his novels adapted for the big screen. ”Charlotte Grey” (2008) starred Cate Blanchett as a girl working with the French Resistance during the Second World War.
Hoult’s first big role was at the age of 16 in another novel adaptation “About A Boy” (2002) by Nick Hornby. Interestingly the film was written and directed by the Weitz brothers who did “American Pie” (1999). Will (Hugh Grant) attends a single parents group (despite not having any kids of his own) to try and meet vulnerable women but at a group picnic he meets Marcus (Hoult) and they form a dysfunctional relationship.
In “Embankment” Hoult plays Officer Stephen Wraysford who falls in love with a married woman after he sees her husband beating her. Eddie Redmayne, who has recently starred in “Les Mis”, found fame in the same role for a BBC TV adaptation which earned him a BAFTA award. Despite Redmayne’s success director Rupert Wyatt preferred Hoult for the role, saying he was ‘the holy grail’ in his search for an actor to play Stephen. Filming begins later this year in the UK and Belgium and is due for release late 2014.
Before being cast as Beast/Hank in “X-Men: First Class” (2011) he was better known in the UK as Tony in teenage drama series “Skins” for which he won two awards. He has a busy time ahead as he’s also starring in “Young Ones” a futuristic film with Michael Shannon and Elle Fanning.
Future Films
Emma Thompson (“Sense and Sensibility” (1995)), BAFTA winner for both her TV and extensive film work, is set to kick some ass in “Beautiful Creatures” released this month. There are two sides to her character, one is as interfering mother Mrs Lincoln and the other is Sarafine, a powerful Dark Caster. Basically she’s two faced and evil and definitely not to be trusted. If this was Snow White she’d be the wicked Queen.
Thompson has done well recently with smaller roles. In “Men in Black 3” (2011) as Agent O and head of present day MIB her eulogy was unforgettable, not for its stunning performance but for the ear splitting alien language she spoke in. She was also the voice of Queen Elinor in Pixar’s “Brave” (2012), Merida’s mother who is turned into a bear. She has also written the screenplay for and stars in “Effie” as Lady Westlake. The film, about a love triangle between some artistic types, is released in May and also stars Dakota Fanning (“The Runaways” (2010)) and James Fox (“Sherlock Holmes” (2009)).
Benedict Cumberbatch is making a name for himself as a serious film actor, already having a number of success on British television, 2013 looks to be a big year for him. His biggest role has to be as John Harrison, the new baddie in the next Star Trek movie released this summer. In 2004 he played Stephen Hawking in a BBC drama that looked at his early life at Cambridge University and how developing motor neurone disease affected his life at a young age. Cumberbatch is also making waves as Sherlock Holmes in “Sherlock” another BBC production, a role which has earned him an Emmy nomination. Apart from “Star Trek” his next role is the Necromancer and voice of Smaug the dragon in the next two “Hobbit” films.