BAFTA and DGA nominees

The BAFTA nominations were announced yesterday, and, quite pretentiously, snuck in a last second consideration of Gravity as a British film.  I smell quite a conspiracy I’m afraid, I mean, there were SIX nominations for British film, rather than the usual five.  Seems suspicious?  A last minute push to go along side another obviously British film, Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks produced with contribution from BBC Films, filmed almost entirely on the Disney lot in Southern California.  Gravity is, I guess, at least shot in a studio in the UK, although takes place in space, save one down-to-earth scene that was shot in Arizona.  The British Academy has their heads in the clouds.  The film was written, directed and produced by the Spanish Alfonso Cuaron, and was co-produced by David Heyman (who is a brit), and starred All-Americans.  And yes it was filmed in England, mostly in the same studio that another obviously British film, Star Wars was shot.  And the year that it’s nominated just so happen to randomly have SIX nominees.. just might mean conspiracy.

Because of that “exception,” Gravity was the most nominated film at the BAFTAs, nabbing eleven.  12 Years a Slave and American Hustle were both close behind with ten each.  Philomena, a British film, suspiciously snuck into a nomination for Best Film along with Gravity, 12 Years A Slave, Captain Phillips and American Hustle.

And for those of you who love to predict the Oscars, a much more relevant story is the DGA nominations were released on Tuesday.  The five nominees for feature film direction are identical to the BAFTA’s choices.  They are:

Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity

Paul Greengrass for Captain Phillips

Steve Mcqueen for 12 Years a Slave

David O. Russell for American Hustle

Martin Socrsese for The Wolf of Wall Street

These are also close to the Golden Globe nominees, with an actual surprise-Martin Scorsese nomination.  The DGA has always been the biggest precursor to what will win the Oscar for Best Director, which directly influences the Best Picture Oscar.  I still believe Steve Mcqueen will and should win this one, will Russell and Cuaron close behind.

One thing we learned from last year. the names nominated do NOT mean they will be nominated for the Oscar.  Their films probably will score a Best Picture nomination (since the Oscars have so damn many), but last year the Oscars came up with some pretty creative stuff for Best Director, probably to make for more competition in the Best Picture category (to no avail, Argo still won).  We may still see a few different names on the Oscar shortlist for Best Director.

Updates on the Oscar page with my nomination predictions, and  some extra pages so you can take a look at the films that have been gaining attention so far this season.  Also new updates to The Movies page.

Golden Globes are THIS Sunday, January 12^th, check back then!