LONDON (AP) ? Silent movie “The Artist” had a night to shout about Sunday, winning seven prizes including best picture at the British Academy Film Awards.
Britain’s equivalent of the Oscars rewarded the French homage to old Hollywood over a homegrown favorite, espionage thriller “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.”
“The Artist,” a black-and-white picture that has charmed audiences around the world since its Cannes debut in May, was named best film, and its rubber-limbed star Jean Dujardin took the male acting prize. Its filmmaker, Michel Hazanavicius, won prizes for directing and his original screenplay.
Dujardin said it was “incroyable” ? incredible ? to win a prize in the homeland of acting titan Laurence Olivier, William Webb Ellis ? the inventor of rugby ? “and Benny Hill.”
Hazanavicius thanked presenter Brad Pitt for pronouncing his name correctly ? and academy voters for recognizing that his silent film even had a screenplay.
“So many people thought there was no script because there was no dialogue,” he said.
Another homage to early cinema, Martin Scorsese’s Parisian fantasy “Hugo,” took prizes for sound and production design.
John le Carre adaptation “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” went into the ceremony with 11 nominations compared to 12 for “The Artist,” but won just two prizes, for British film and for adapted screenplay.
Writer Peter Straughan dedicated the screenplay award to his wife and co-writer Bridget O’Connor, who died of cancer before the film was completed.
“She wrote all the good bits and I made this coffee,” Straughan said. “So, Bridget ? I love you, I miss you. This is for you.”
The British prizes, known as BAFTAs, are considered a strong indicator of likely success at Hollywood’s Academy Awards, to be held on Feb. 26.
The trophies give more momentum to “The Artist,” which has already won three Golden Globes, and has 10 Oscar nominations.
Dujardin, who plays a silent screen icon eclipsed by the talkies, said the appeal of “The Artist” lay in its accessibility.
“It’s a simple story,” he said. “It’s a love story. It’s universal. And there’s a cute dog” ? Jack Russell terrier Uggie, who almost steals the film from his two-legged co-stars.
“The Artist” also won prizes for cinematography, costume design and for Ludovic Bource’s sprightly musical score.
As predicted, Meryl Streep was named best actress for her depiction of Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister, in “The Iron Lady.” The film also won a well-deserved prize for hair and makeup.
“The ambition of this film was to look at the life of the Iron Lady from the inside out, and to locate something real ? maybe hidden but truthful ? in the life of someone we’ve all decided we know everything about already,” Streep said.
The supporting actor prize went to Christopher Plummer, as an academic who makes a new start late in life in “Beginners.” Octavia Spencer was named best supporting actress for her turn as a fiery maid in Deep South drama “The Help”
Spencer said “The Help” had been called “an American movie about American problems and American history.”
“I am so grateful to you for seeing past that,” she said. “Because surely oppression knows no gender, no sexual orientation, no country.”
George Clooney, Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Colin Firth and Judi Dench were among the stars who braved the London cold and bouts of sleet to walk the red carpet before a televised ceremony, hosted by comedian, writer and actor Stephen Fry, at the Royal Opera House.
Many of the frocks were in muted or pastel tones, though “The Help” star Viola Davis, a best-actress nominee, arrived in a pink Valentino “eco gown” made from recycled plastic bottles.
Presenting the award for special effects, Cuba Gooding Jr. paid tribute to singer Whitney Houston, who was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel on Saturday.
“Whitney, I will always love you,” he said ? a reference to one of her best-known songs.
The effects prize went to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ? Part 2,” the final film in the magical franchise and the top-grossing British movie of the year.
Actor-turned-director Paddy Considine and producer Diarmid Scrimshaw took the best British debut prize for the wrenching domestic drama “Tyrannosaur.”
“Kidulthood” actor Adam Deacon won the rising star prize, the only category selected by public vote.
“Senna,” a portrait of the short, sensational life of race car driver Ayrton Senna, was named best documentary and also won the editing prize.
Scorsese received the BAFTA Fellowship, a lifetime achievement prize, for his “outstanding and exceptional” contribution to cinema in films including “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull.”
Veteran British actor John Hurt was given an honor for outstanding British contribution to cinema for a career that includes memorable roles in “Elephant Man,” ”The Naked Civil Servant” and “Alien.”
Hurt said his advice to young people would be the same as Noel Coward gave to him when he was an aspiring actor: “Press on.”
“Press on, and don’t let anybody get in the way of your instincts,” Hurt said.
In recent years, the British awards have helped underdog films gain momentum for Hollywood success.
In 2010, Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire” won seven BAFTAs, including best film; it went on to take eight Oscars. Last year “The King’s Speech” won seven BAFTAs and four Oscars, including best picture.
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Online: http://www.bafta.org/film/awards
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Jill Lawless can be reached at: http://twitter.com/JillLawless
Associated Press
Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-02-12-EU-Britain-Film-Awards/id-e349c32de4bc462ebf6135f699d3bdd3
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Arthur Christmas is a beautiful and fun Christmas movie that is sure to be a holiday classic. The story follows Arthur who is the son of Santa Clause, his brother Steve is a smart but at times inconsiderate role model who is second in command to Santa, and when a little girl has a gift that did not get sent Arthur does everything he can to make sure this girl has a Merry Christmas. The plot of the movie is funny and a great lesson to be told about Christmas and children, and what i learned from this movie if anything is that every child needs to believe in Santa, because there is nothing better than believeing that there is somebody who loves you that whill bring you a present on Christmas day, and the characters of the film were good but i found the characters to be a little selfish at times besides Arthur who was a incredibly kind and good charcater and he saved the film in a way from being just a bunch of selfish men wanting to be a star. The voice cast was great, James McAvoy was perfect for the character, Hugh Laurie was also was a well done choice as Steve, Jim Broadbent was good as the voice as Santa, and Bill Nighy was also a great choice for his role, what else can I say for voice actors other than I liked them. The animation was incredible, I could really tell they worked hard to make a beautiful Christmas film and it really payed off big time, I loved the beauty in this film. Arthur Christmas had some few problems that kept it from being a perfect Christmas film, but those were minor compared to the things that they got right that made it a great Christmas film and that will make it remembered for years to come.
December 30, 2011
Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/arthur_christmas/
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All Critics (108) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (99) | Rotten (9)
“Senna” makes a fascinating subject in a pretty entertaining film about a sport that isn’t followed that closely by most Americans. But our very ignorance of that subject helps the film and adds to its impact. We don’t know this story by heart.
A psychologically intriguing if at times too hagiographic portrait of a man who often held pole position in his profession and felt nearer to God because of it.
There’s not an ounce of fat or a wasted shot throughout.
You don’t have to know anything about car racing at all. Instead, you simply have to like a great story, one that has all the elements: drama, inspiration, competition, victory, defeat, betrayal and, looming above it all, tragedy.
It’s stripped of narration, talking heads, and anything else that might threaten to slow it down.
Even if you can’t tell Formula One from Grecian Formula, Senna is pretty exciting stuff.
“Senna” is a streamlined piece of filmmaking, completely immersing the viewer in Senna’s world and never losing momentum as it moves from one breakneck race to another.
It’s impossible not to be impressed by how director Asif Kapadia and writer Manish Pandey have managed to craft a biographical film completely out of archive footage.
Uses an astonishing wealth of racing and interview footage – including film shot by in-car cameras during races – to chart in a compelling way the dramatic rise and heart-rending end of the Brazilian legend.
The film is a snapshot in time of an imperfect, interrupted life more than a gateway drug to racing enthusiasm.
There’s no doubt Senna was a great driver, but this competently executed highlights reel doesn’t tell us much beyond that.
…an entertaining, absorbing and inspiring documentary celebrating a champion’s talent.
Ayrton Senna was a phenomenon, and as such, he was filmed, interviewed, and photographed repeatedly throughout his career, images now assembled as the documentary Senna.
Even those with no interest in Formula One – and I count myself amongst such people – will be captivated by this phenomenal motion picture.
“Senna” is simply the greatest sports film I have ever seen.
Kapadia fosters a distinct ‘you are there’ feeling for the races by composing his visual storytelling entirely of vintage footage, mostly derived from the Formula One archives.
Exhilarating in the extreme.
Undeniably gripping stuff.
I simply didn’t care about it, and unless you already know who Senna is and are curious to know more, I doubt if you will, either.
It’s hard to see how anyone wouldn’t be absorbed by this fascinating film about a formidable driver and man.
“Senna” is carefully edited and makes sometimes spectacular use of extensive home movies and videos.
More Critic Reviews
Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/senna/
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