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My Bafta film predictions

Oscar nominee Kate Winslet, star of The Reader and Revolutionary Road
  • Posted at 4:02pm
  • 06 February 2009
  • by AndrewCollins-RT
  • 1 comment

On Sunday, I'm due to attend the annual British Academy Film Awards (Sunday 8 February BBC1, BBC2, BBC3).

They'll be the Academy's 62nd Baftas, but my first.

The Baftas used to be a quaint, parochial afterthought in the movie prizegiving calendar, but since moving to February from April in 2001 they have become an international, star-spangled entrée to the Oscars, and a magnet for visiting superstars.

The dread phrase, "I'm afraid so-and-so couldn't be here tonight
. . ." is almost extinct. Heathrow needs that third runway just to cope with incoming Hollywood royalty.

The guest list remains under wraps, but seasoned star-spotters will be hoping to see the likes of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, Mickey Rourke, Sean Penn and Robert Downey Jr – as well as Kate Winslet, who's up against herself in the leading actress category.

I'm looking forward to breathing in their rarefied air on the night; however, I will be working. By which I don't mean working the room, but conducting interviews with the stars as they step off the red carpet into the foyer of the Royal Opera House, and with the winners as they come offstage clutching their coveted golden mask.

I'm doing this for Bafta, who are putting the exclusive footage online before the TV coverage begins – a first.

Don't feel too sorry for me, skulking in my Sunday best and shoving a big mic in the face of Marisa Tomei or Frank Langella, but I am quite nervous. I've never envied those who have to flag celebrities down and ask them who designed their frock, but I'm going to find out what it's like at the sharp end.

At the back of my mind will be the unfortunate interviewer who buttonholed Helen Mirren just after she'd accepted the award for leading actress in 2007 for The Queen and used her speech to pay tearful tribute to her friend, the actor Ian Richardson, who had just died.

The interviewer hadn't been able to hear Mirren's speech and, having no idea how upset she was, greeted her with enthusiastic but misplaced bonhomie. Oops.

Still, the great thing about working backstage at major awards ceremonies (and I did my time for Radio 1 in the 1990s at the Brits and the Mercury Music Prize) is that you get a laminated pass to wear proudly around your neck, which causes banks of security to part like the Red Sea.

This pass usually says "crew", which gives the impression that you are as hardworking and vital as those who fix monitors, scale those vertigo-inducing ladders to rig things, and speak into walkie-talkies.

When, in fact, you're Dennis Pennis. See you in the foyer.

My predictions (in bold text)

Best film

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best British film

Hunger
In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Man on Wire
Slumdog Millionaire

Leading actor

Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire
Sean Penn – Milk
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Leading actress

Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Kristin Scott Thomas – I've Loved You So Long
Meryl Streep – Doubt
Kate Winslet – The Reader
 Kate Winslet – Revolutionary Road

Supporting actor

Robert Downey Jr – Tropic Thunder
Brendan Gleeson – In Bruges
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Brad Pitt – Burn after Reading

Supporting actress

Amy Adams – Doubt
Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Freida Pinto – Slumdog Millionaire
Tilda Swinton – Burn after Reading
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler

Best director

Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry – The Reader
Clint Eastwood – Changeling
David Fincher – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon

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Comments

  • Posted on 07 February 2009
  • at 2:57pm
  • by Doughboy

I wonder if Angelina won't nick it - or are they going to be Brit-centric and pick all Brits or sentimental choices: Rourke/Ledger?

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