The 2014 BAFTA nominations came out this morning, which means that we have the nominations for every major awards show except for the Oscars. The Oscar nominations come out on the 16th – eight days from now, next Thursday. And in the past month or so, the other awards shortlists have done enough narrowing and winnowing that I think we have a pretty good idea of who will definitely get a nomination and who might get the shaft. Surprisingly enough, it’s looking more and more like Idris Elba is going to get the shaft – Idris failed to even get a BAFTA nom for his work in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, and you would expect the BAFTAs to go out of their way to recognize a British actor. It’s also looking more and more like Judi Dench is definitely going to be nominated for Philomena and Sandra Bullock for Gravity. Anyway, here are the big noms for the 2014 BAFTAs (you can see the full list here):
BEST FILM:
12 YEARS A SLAVE
AMERICAN HUSTLE
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
GRAVITY
PHILOMENA
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM:
GRAVITY
MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM
PHILOMENA
RUSH
SAVING MR. BANKS
THE SELFISH GIANT
DOCUMENTARY
THE ACT OF KILLING Joshua Oppenheimer
THE ARMSTRONG LIE Alex Gibney
BLACKFISH Gabriela Cowperthwaite
TIM’S VERMEER Teller, Penn Jillette, Farley Ziegler
WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS Alex Gibney
DIRECTOR
12 YEARS A SLAVE Steve McQueen
AMERICAN HUSTLE David O. Russell
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS Paul Greengrass
GRAVITY Alfonso Cuarón
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET Martin Scorsese
LEADING ACTOR
BRUCE DERN Nebraska
CHIWETEL EJIOFOR 12 Years a Slave
CHRISTIAN BALE American Hustle
LEONARDO DICAPRIO The Wolf of Wall Street
TOM HANKS Captain Phillips
LEADING ACTRESS
AMY ADAMS American Hustle
CATE BLANCHETT Blue Jasmine
EMMA THOMPSON Saving Mr. Banks
JUDI DENCH Philomena
SANDRA BULLOCK Gravity
SUPPORTING ACTOR
BARKHAD ABDI Captain Phillips
BRADLEY COOPER American Hustle
DANIEL BRÜHL Rush
MATT DAMON Behind the Candelabra
MICHAEL FASSBENDER 12 Years a Slave
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
JENNIFER LAWRENCE American Hustle
JULIA ROBERTS August: Osage County
LUPITA NYONG’O 12 Years a Slave
OPRAH WINFREY The Butler
SALLY HAWKINS Blue Jasmine
Sally Hawkins got the BAFTA nom because, I believe, she’s a British actress. She’s been ignored for almost everything else. I’m fine with Amy Adams, Christian Bale and even Jennifer Lawrence for American Hustle, but I really don’t believe Bradley Cooper should be nominated because he got a perm and acted like a cokehead (that’s just a normal Friday for him). He was the weak link in an otherwise good/decent movie. As for Tom Hanks… I didn’t see Captain Phillips, but I did see Saving Mr. Banks, and I’m actually sort of wondering if the big “surprise” with the Oscar noms next week will be that Tom gets shut out. I know the Academy loves him and everything, but I’m just wondering if Tom will get the shaft. Of course, Leonardo might get the shaft as well. I think the Best Actor race is in dire need of a major shake-up.
Also: I love seeing Matty Damon on the list! I guess Beyond the Candelabra got a theatrical release in England? Because in America, we just saw it on HBO and it’s not eligible for the Oscars. Which means Matty D’s nomination will go to Jared Leto.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Philomena is another film I should put on my short list.
You and me both.
Yep, Behind the Candelabra was a theatrical release here. I’m really happy for Matt Damon despite the category fraud (he’s even more of a lead than Michael Douglas!!), and hoping Michael Fassbender takes this one.
Dallas Buyers Club and Her totally shut out – they both come out in February here so it might be that, but the voters get screeners so clearly they just didn’t like it. For me the biggest snubs are Meryl Streep (Amy Adams was by faaaaaaaaar the weakest link in American Hustle for me), and Robert Redford for All is Lost (can’t believe Bruce Dern got in and not Redford – but then again, I thought Nebraska was boring as hell and thought Will Forte was infinitely better than Dern in it. And I can’t stand Will Forte!).
Amy Adams stans are going to attack you girl for saying she was a weak link. Watch your back. LOL. Whenever she don’t get nominated for anything they claim it’s Jennifer Lawrence’s fault. And now Amy was nominated over Meryl Streep which they will see as some sign that she’s on the same level as Meryl.
I wasn’t even aware Amy had stans lol To be fair, I like her a lot. I think she’s a great actress, and I think she was robbed when Melissa Leo won for The Fighter. I just didn’t like her in AH. It’s not totally her fault, it’s part the direction (I’m so not a fan of O. Russell) and partly the script, that just completely messes up her character from about the middle of the film on. And it is a bit of Jennifer Lawrence’s fault for her not being nominated for stuff – her (Amy’s) better scenes are with Jennifer, and Jennifer STEALS every scene! It’s Jennifer’s fault for being such a great actress.
But in any case, she’s nowhere near the level of Meryl Streep.
Man, I love Amy Adams. I thought she was robbed for The Fighter, but Melissa Leo was good in that movie as well. I would have given it to Amy, but, oh well.
Ugh. Really hoping Lupita wins over Jennifer, I love both of them but Jen’s performance did not come close to Lupita’s at all, I’m not much of a crier (I don’t even cry at funerals, I internalise pretty much everything), but Lupita’s performance really hit me hard. If she doesn’t win, it’ll be heartbreaking.
Tom was excellent in Captain Phillips. I haven’t seen Saving Mr. Banks yet.
Good to see Daniel Bruhl and Barkhad Abdi get noms.
Bradley Cooper needs to sit down. So does Oprah. I get that almost everyone is up her butt, but I don’t think she’s that great.
I do love Bradley Coop, however, I feel that Jared Leto’s performance in TDBC was the most outstanding in the category and much better than BC.
Brits being ignored at the baftas isn’t anything new they’re basically the GG just wanting Hollywood at the event
also cooper was the best thing by a mile in that movie
We must have not watched the same film. Bradley Cooper is consistently the weakest part of these ‘serious roles’ he keeps pursuing (Place Beyond The Pines, anybody?). If I am not mistaken this is his only nom and I wouldnt be surprised if it was thrown in because BAFTA organisers want to ensure some star wattage, Di Caprio and co. could skip the event but not Cooper. The man has zero shame, hell he’ll even pretend like he is really a contender and give pointless interviews.
WORD!
And where is Idris Elba?
There is absolutely no diversity in this list and I can just imagine it being worse for the Oscars. And I’m not just talking about more people of different races but even different actors for gods sake !! Don’t get me wrong, I adore jlaw but the supporting actress award should have gone to someone else. She was a weak link in that movie I found even more than Bradley Coop. this list looks exactly like the list last year and the year before that and so on and so forth. The fact that only a small group of actors get to play in these big roles time and time again is so exhausting.
totally agree with you. it seems to be just the most high profile ones get nominated.
You hit the nail on the head.
Because award shows aren’t about recognizing the best performance, they’re a popularity contest.
I agree so much. Case in point: Jen’s nom. I feel like it’s more about her being ~THE~ Jennifer Lawrence than it is about honest-to-god, stellar acting. I didn’t hate her performance but I can’t deny that I was a little disappointed after the countless reviews saying how amazing she was.
@Dani2,
Jennifer Lawrence wasn’t just nominated for flashy TV awards, she has been nominated and won many critics groups awards. They consider her acting stellar. It’s o.k. if you don’t. But don’t act like she’s being nominated just for star quality. Lupita Nyong’o too has been getting the same nominations/awards wins and she’s not famous. You just disagree with the critics that’s all. Oh and Jennifer’s nomination is not the reason Idris Elba wasn’t nominated, have you seen Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom?
Have to agree. I like JL, but I felt like Amy Adams was over looked by reviewers for some superb work. As someone who works with actors, I know it is much harder to get subtle than large and frantic. I am always telling actors to go big and then cut back to find the sweet spot. JL is a superb actor, but that role was not that challenging. I did not feel she was the scene stealer – far from it. Amy’s ability to project readable subtly pulled much more focus for me in her scenes with Jennifer Lawrence. In the end, Amy’s character was the one I feel I could encounter in real life, Jennifer’s felt more like caricature.
I feel like there is an odd tendency to go at Jlaw even if she isn’t in competition with the people commentators on this site think should have been nominated.For the record, this is Bradleys only nom and very few critics have mentioned his performance in their end of year list so the big surprise here is Bradley, not JLaw, who so far has been nominated for every major award.
I agree about diversity, but the performances that have been in the running by black actors have been Michael B Jordan, Idris Elba and Forest Whitaker and they are in the best male category so the question is not why is Jlaw on the short list but why is Leo Decaprio for instance? Especially as this is the British Academy they could have honoured one of their own such as Idris over a hollywood heavy hitter like Leo. They don’t seem to have a problem doing this when it comes to Judi Dench.
No Diversity? What about Barkhad Abdi, Chiwetel Eijifor, Steve McQueen, John Riddley, Lupita Nyong’o? Are they not considered Black enough?
If you read her comment, she asks about diversity of actors rather than races meaning year in and year out we see the same actors nominated over and over again. What does it take to diversify the list? When an actor breaks through to the list, then they are on the list forever.
To be fair, the TV academy is exactly the same and BBC is exactly the same. Same actors for every role for decades it seems and thus get nominated.
Similarly the Music academy. How many times did Kate Bush have a nomination for best album when no one had heard it or even knew she had an album out?
It’s a very peculiar British thing.
@Lak – can but both of you tell the last 3 times when people like Barkhad Abdi, Chiwetel Eijifor, Steve McQueen, John Riddley, Lupita Nyong’o, Bruce Dern, Michael Fassbender, Daniel Brühl were nominated for Oscars? Because they kinda werent. Bruce Dern was nominated some 30 years ago. Fassbener was getting one year some nominations for Shame. And all those people are knew to nominations. THAT IS DIVERSITY you both talk about. How come you did not see that? There are only 20 actors nominations. They can’t nominate in them all unknown actors just for you and diversity, you know…
Did you and “someone” even read that list?
St: i stand by my comment. And actually they can nominate many unknown actors. The people nominated are the recipients of a producer with seemingly bottomless funds to ensure they *are* nominated. That’s why the list is always the same.
The BIFA/ Independent Spirit awards are more reflective of diversity whether that is race or faces in general.
When the list has a few unknowns, it’s always worthy of comment and especially if they win. And these unknowns are usually part of a big film that has a huge fund specifically to get them the nomination and or award.
Chiwetel, Lupita, Cate and FASSBENDER!
I totally disagree with you on this one. Bradley Cooper was superior to anyone, male and female, in American Hustle, which was a decent, enjoyable film AT BEST. To me, it was a snooze-fest and if it hadn’t been for its start-studded cast and acclaimed director, nobody would have given a flying f… about it. OSCAR for best movie? Hell, no. This aside, I am happy that Bradley is finally getting some recognition aside from the “handsome hunk” in The Hangover movies.
Generally speaking, no alarms and no surprises in these nominations (maybe the only one is the exclusion of Meryl Streep from the Best Actress list). Yawn.
The way you described the film has been my impression of it and what has kept me from seeing it.
I totally disagree with you on this one. Bradley Cooper was superior to anyone, male and female, in American Hustle, which was a decent, enjoyable film AT BEST. To me, it was a snooze-fest and if it hadn’t been for its start-studded cast and acclaimed director, nobody would have given a flying f… about it. OSCAR for best movie? Hell, no. This aside, I am happy that Bradley is finally getting some recognition aside from the “handsome hunk” in The Hangover movies.
Generally speaking, no alarms and no surprises in these nominations (maybe the only one is the exclusion of Meryl Streep from the Best Actress list). Yawn.
I agree about BCoop. I really liked American Hustle. Does it deserve best movie noms? I’m not sure about that, but it was a good movie with a solid cast. Bradley was fantastic in it, and he was also funny. I am glad he is getting recognized too.
Sandra Bullock looks so good
I was just thinking that – she looks really pretty. Even holding that weird statuette – is that a penis?!
haha! I thought the same thing
American Hustle will not will the oscar.
OT: Sandra bullock looks amazing. What a doll!!
beautiful!
Why is British Film it’s own category?
Also it makes me angry to see Tom Hanks standing and posing so nicely with Julia Roberts. Probably because my feelings towards Roberts border on straight hatred. I know, I need to get a grip on it, but that woman just makes me cringe and she makes me angry. She’s so awful, always with his s**t eating grin, and standing next to a genuine, talented, wonderful guy like Hanks just makes her more insufferable. I hope she wins NOTHING!
Patricia I had exactly the same reaction! Eww, get her out of this shot! She is just so smug. And Tom is so humble. How does he stand it?
Tom & Julia played well together in Charlie Wilson’s War, even though Larry Crowne was implausible & ultimately boring. I think TH & JR are friends – he chose her for Larry Crowne, which he produced.
Why do you hate Julia? Tom Hanks cheated on his wife/ mother of his child with Rita Wilson. So two pees in a pod.
Oh yeah the married guy gets a pass.
Before someone mentions it that t shirt stunt was 13 years ago .What has she done to elicit so much hatred? BTW I dont believe the tabloid BS.Tom and Julia are BFFs so if she is so awful and they are friends.Show me your friends…..
I don’t hate Julia, but she does come across as a smug a**hole, and from what I’ve read her reputation as a total biyatch/mean girl/Queen Bee is pretty well known in the film industry. She is beautiful, wealthy, and a true A-lister. Contrast that with the reputations of actresses like Meryl Streep & Sandra Bullock-people who work on movie sets, as PAs, etc give an interesting perspective about how stars treat the underlings. You can tell the true character of a person based on how they treat the waiter/airline attendant/maid.
Actually, show me what those who are in a subordinate position think of you. It’s easy to be nice to those in your peer group, its another thing to be kind to those working around amd under you. ”Show me your friends” is an extremely juvenile way of looking at a person’s character and worth, likesaying that you’re a good person because all of the other cheerleaders and football players like you.
The academy honours all films from anywhere in the world for the various awards. However, British Film is a nod to local industry.
It can confuse people because the films nominated in this category, particularly this year, don’t look British on the surface.
However, they are all British produced films despite the fact that they look like American films. That category tends to make sense when it has British films that look British.
I’m already sick of awards season. I can’t believe Michael B. Jordan is being left out and Julia Roberts is actually getting attention. Ugh.
Hot man nonsense aside, there is room for Idris on that list. I think they made a mistake there.
I have several friends who are voters. They all thought the film and Idris a bore and uninspired. Actually, they thought the direction was pretty boring and thought that would affect how Idris’s performance would be judged.
some interesting comments on the nominations on the guardian website
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jan/08/baftas-2014-gravity-12-years-slave-american-hustle
Meryl Streep?????
Sandra Bullock must be a vampire…she looks EXACTLY the same as she did 20 years ago. Amazing. Isn’t she 50?
Poor Matthew McConaughey… guess loosing weight alone wasn’t cutting it for him…
I’m glad Damon got a BAFTA nod but boy oh boy ‘Behind the Candelabra’ was a horrible movie. Bad. All kinds of cheesy bad.
cheesy times tho, seriously. that was the era …
Say what you want about J.Law’s performance or whether or not she deserves the nomination. But… can we take a moment to appreciate after Julia’s “she’s too cool to be America’s sweetheart” comment how amazing it would be if Jennifer won over Julia? I think Lupita is a shoe in, and I hope she wins, but purely from a spiteful position I think it would be incredible.
Also… interesting to see the anti JLaw brigade begin on this site as she predicted it would. I thought she killed it in American Hustle, and considering my grandma had no idea who she was when we saw it but was blown away by her performance made me feel somewhat validated.
@nk868: There’s no anti-JLaw on this site…it’s on par really with what was being posted about Jennifer Lawrence a couple years ago when she first came on the scene. Some love or at least like her, then there are those that flat out don’t. There’s no real vitriol from what I can see. Most seem to like her.
Anyway, I thought Jennifer Lawrence was fantastic in American Hustle…very versatile actress considering only a couple months before, Lawrence was kicking ass as Katniss Everdeen. I agree regarding the Julia Roberts spite fest…wouldn’t that be amazing!…imagine Roberts expression alone! (LOL!).
Jennifer lawrence is not a bad actress but she is not as good as people proclaim. What she is in my opinion is a trick pony a smart advertising concept. Take a very young girl and stick her in among other actors who next to her looks like runaways from a retirement home. in that case who are you going to be looking at mostlt on the movie screen, the every move of the very young girl who looks like fifteen dressed up as a grown woman. she is way too young for the roles that she plays, are we eventually going to see Suri Cruz or Shiloh Pitt playing somebody’s baby mama pretty soon on the big screen? have you seen the original America Hustle?
I thought she was superb in American Hustle, and I think she’s an incredibly versatile actress. Just compare her Oscar nominated/winning roles; her character in Winter’s Bone was completely different from her character in Silver Lining’s Playbook (which I thought was admittedly overrated) and AH (her most Oscar-worthy performance, IMO).
@floretta50 – What original American Hustle? I ask with no sarcasm. I can’t find a movie with that title(other than a comedy special by Katt Williams) or any movies about Abscam (other than this one ). I found multiple cultural references but no movie.
Jen Law’s character was “loosely’ based on Cynthia Marie Weinberg -they even changed the name to Rosalyn. In fact they changed all the names of the characters.
the script for Rosalyn was written with Jen Law in mind from all accounts.
I thought that the movie itself was good but not Oscar worthy but I did think that the acting in it was excellent (by pretty much everyone)
There kind of is a an anti jlaw brigade on this site. It seems she get blamed for everyone not winning or getting nominated. First it was Jesscia Chastain, this year its Amy Adams. And then people who root for Lupita is nervous she is gonna win over her. Yesterday she was even blamed for Chiwetel not getting enough press. And then someone upthread talks about how there isnt enough diversity and mentioned Jlaw as if she is the only white actress repeadly getting nominations. I think there is a notion that she hasnt payed her dues. That its all come to easy. That she is too young and successful.But the thing is if you talk to people in the industry, actors and directors its pretty unaminous that she is indeed very talented. She also has the charm that someone like Kristen Stewart lacks so the general public fell in love with her. Is she over exposed sure, but that doesnt take away from the fact that she is a talent. People shouldnt confuse over exposed with her acting work.
Really enjoyed Philomena, but thought Saving Mr. Banks was very boring, and overly sentimental, though Colin Ferrall was a nice surprise. Judi Dench deserves all the awards she is nominated for.
I saw American Hustle and was not impressed with JLAW at all. I don’t know why….but her performance reminded me something that Lindsay Lohan would turn out. I am annoyed she is nominated, her performance was nothing to write home about it… I like her – but i dont think she is a very good actress. She plays the same loud angry spunky girl in every movie…Diversity darling!!! Look it up!
Sandra always plays Sandra. She never immerses herself into a role sufficiently so I can forget I’m watching SB.
I thought she was pretty incredible in Gravity.
Actually, I thought Bradley’s performance was one of the strongest in American Hustle. I love Amy and think she’s a real talent but I wasn’t moved at all by her performance, which surprised me. As for Jen’s larger than life character and performance, I did enjoy it in some scenes but her inconsistent accent was very distracting and felt too forced. I also felt at times like she was hammimg it up too much, like a cartoon character. I enjoyed American Hustle while watching it in the theater but afterwards, it left no lasting impression on me. I also didn’t think it lived up to its hype which was probably a big reason I wanted to see it in the first place.
I hope 12 Years a Slave wins big at the Baftas. Now that was a film that delivered for me on every level.
Tom Hanks’ performance in Captain Phillips was the most riveting of his entire career. I loved that movie. American Hustle sucked, to me, all the way.
I haven’t seen American Hustle but I agree about Tom Hanks performance in Capt. Phillips. He was fantastic and I am so happy to see Barkhad Abdi nominated as well. He was terrifying and sympathetic at the same time, amazing acting for an unknown player.
Has anyone seen these documentaries? I love documentaries and always eagerly anticipate those award nominations the most to see what’s out there..
Go see Blackfish and The Act of Killing. Both are my favorites of last year. Stories We Tell by Sarah Polley is amazing as well. It is not a traditional documentary, but excellent none the less.
Blackfish, my God. I’m torn between that and The Armstrong Lie to take the BAFTA.
I think Blackfish will get all the awards. So heart breaking.
Loved Blackfish.
Thanks for the advice!
The act of killing was pretty amazing and different from every other documentary this year. By far one my favorites of the year. And Stories we tell was also fantastic.
I’m way behind on my movie viewing, but I have to say I was really surprised how great Captain Phillips was. I don’t think it will win much, but it’s nice to see it getting some attention.
Lupita looks gorgeous.
Sandra is such a babe!!!!!
I love Lupita too!
Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi for me.
Captain Philips was one of the best drama thriller i have ever seen. Hanks performance is this second best after Philadelphia.
Both were phenomenal and Abdi even looks like the real Muse. He was scarily convincingly threatenning.
Great first performance from this totally unknown actor !
I hope he gets more. He will be great as a villain.
Sally Hawkins was a complete surprise for me in Blue Jasmine. I thought Cate Blanchett’s accent was drifting in and out, and that she was miscast in the movie. Cate seemed at times to be channelling Blanche Dubois from Streetcar Named Desire, even though that classic was a mere part of the background of Blue Jasmine.
Did you see Happy go Lucky? Hawkins is a really good actress.
I loved loved loved Happy Go Lucky. She’s amazing. And I love her as Anne in Persuasion.
Are all these award shows only giving nominations to big names in big movies?
Captain Philips was such amazing movie and I loved, loved Tom Hanks in it. I do hope that he will receive Oscar nomination. I also loved Lupita in 12 years a slave and I think that Fassbender was also great. American Hustle was boring and I don’t even understand why everyone are saying that it is amazing movie?! However Bradley Cooper was great in it.
Sorry for my english, I am looking forward to this year’s award season.
Sally won the Golden Globe for Happy Go Lucky. The gossip is that she lost the Oscar because she was such an incoherent mess during her GG acceptance speech. I think she is amazing in everything, but I have a soft spot for her Anne Elliot in Persuasion.
(Oops. This was supposed to reply to Leah, above.)
She does seem really very shy and introverted–I saw her on the Oscar Roundtable (It had Downey jr, Hathaway, Pitt, Rourke, Langella), and she hardly said a word. And when she did, she was really quiet, an said as little as possible. Maybe SHE just didn’t want to go through all that Oscar bs.
I forgot to give credit to Abdi for his perfirmance in Captain Phillips, he was fantastic, “look at me, I am the captain now” loved it, Hope it wins best movie at least. I still-life cannot figure out the American Hustle excitement or JL praise.
I think American Hustle was a good movie; the acting was great. But Oscar worthy, especially in directing? Nope. I mean, everyone was amazing (except for Cooper)–but there are a ton of strong performances this year, with better films overall. I still think Russell is an ass….so that might color my opinion a bit.
If chiwetel doesnt win i will be shocked. I think Idris should have been nominated too.
This list has definitely shook things up!
1. Amy over Meryl….huge.
2. Leo And Christian over Robert Redford and Matthew Mc(I can’t spell his name for the life of me!)….also huge.
3. And Blackfish. I want it to win everything so people will boycott Sea World and that whale can finally be free!!
Idris did an amazing job as well. Dont know why he is being overlooked. Plus the movie was beautiful, good performances across the board.
THIS YEAR, the BAFTAS are starting to piss me off like the Oscars. 🙁
The good news for me is that TYAS has noms in a good number of categories especially for the acting categories. Fassbender, Lupita and Chiwetel were all FANTASTIC. I also cried like a baby when I saw this movie. Also Happy to know Daniel BRÜHL & Barkhad Abdi are given some recognition 😀
However, the bad news is that Micheal B jordan and my baby Idris Elba are ignored at this event. What about Matthew and Jared Leto as well?UGHHHHHH!!!! 🙁
Meanwhile people like Cooper and Lawrence are nominated for just OKAY performances.
Many other actors & actresses with more outstanding performances could have taken their spots (but unfortunately they don’t have that major star power).
I like Leo DiCaprio as well, but this year, he should have been overlooked. Anyway I doubt he’ll win a BAFTA anyway. Just there to make up numbers.