Let's just say, the Avatar braintrust may be blue in more than appearance—while they spent this awards season as the kings of the world, they apparently couldn't hold a candle to the queen, as it was Kathryn Bigelow and The Hurt Locker which bested all comers, taking home a leading six BAFTA awards, including Best Film and Director.
"I would like to dedicate this to the cause of never abandoning the hunt to find a resolution for peace," an emotional Bigelow said.
James Cameron's epic adventure in motion capture ended up losing most, but not all, of its awards season momentum tonight, taking home just two technical prizes at the Orange British Academy Film Awards.
Neither, as per usual, went to the movie's stars. The leading and supporting acting honors instead went to A Single Man's Colin Firth (somewhere Jeff Daniels has broken into a sweat), An Education's Carey Mulligan, Inglourious Basterds' Christoph Waltz and Precious' Mo'Nique, respectively.
And at least three out of four of them seemed quite pleased.
"Supporting actor?" Waltz asked upon taking the podium. "Supported actor. No Quentin, no Inglourious Basterds. No Quentin, no Colonel Landa. No Quentin, no Christoph at the BAFTAs."
Or, incidentally, Oscars, for which Waltz is fast becoming the frontrunner and which take place just two Sundays from today.
Mo'Nique presumably felt similarly, though we'll never truly know, seeing as how she decided to skip tonight's ceremony. Precious' director Lee Daniels didn't, however, and accepted the award on her behalf.
Meanwhile, in its quest to effectively close the Pandora's box of Avatar's gold statue domination was The Hurt Locker, which took home the Best Original Screenplay award, among others. The nod is notable not only because it's one of the night's more prestigious prizes, but because none other than Robert Pattinson had the honor of handing out the award.
For those keeping track at home, and we assume that's plenty of you, it was quite the night for Twi-hards, as Kristen Stewart was also on hand to pick up her fan-determined Orange Rising Star Award. As if her competitiors stood a chance. And no, she didn't forget you.
"I have to thank all the fans of Twilight, for being the most devoted and attentive fans ever," she said.
Meanwhile, An Education, for all its homegrown talent—and tie with Avatar for receiving the most nominations heading into tonight—well, let's just say it played well with others, but failed to reach its true potential.
It missed out on the night's expected lock (other than the Special Visual Effects award, which for the purposes of this awards season may as well be renamed the James Cameron Prize), as Best British Film. Mulligan, it's ingénue turned venerable leading lady, ended up scoring the only award for the film, with her Leading Actress win.
As for other notable winners, the Outstanding Debut award went to Moon director Duncan Jones, a man not short on lineage: His father is David Jones, perhaps better known to pop culture enthusiasts by his stage name, David Bowie.
Here's the complete list of winners for the Orange British Academy Film Awards:
• Best Film: The Hurt Locker
• Leading Actor: Colin Firth, A Single Man
• Leading Actress: Carey Mulligan, An Education
• Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
• Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique, Precious
• Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
• Original Screenplay: Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
• Adapted Screenplay: Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, Up In the Air
• Film Not in the English Language: A Prophet (France)
• Animated Film: Up
• Outstanding British Film: Fish Tank
• Outstanding Debut By a British Writer, Director or Producer: Duncan Jones, Moon (director)
• Music: Michael Giacchino, Up
• Cinematography: The Hurt Locker
• Editing: The Hurt Locker
• Production Design: Avatar
• Costume Design: The Young Victoria
• Sound: The Hurt Locker
• Special Visual Effects: Avatar
• Makeup & Hair: The Young Victoria
• Short Animation: Mother of Many
• The Orange Rising Star Award: Kristen Stewart
• Academy Fellowship: Vanessa Redgrave
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Labels: Movies