The BAFTA's 2014 - The final wrap!

The 62nd British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards took place at London's Royal Opera House on Sunday night, ably hosted for the ninth time by Stephen Fry. Often seen as the precursor to the upcoming Hollywood night of nights on 2nd March, the odds have now been raised on last nights winners & grinners picking up an Oscar gong in less than a fortnight now. As is expected there was all the glitz & glamour of the who's who in Hollywood, the British film scene, and the international set to keep the paparazzi amused, the critics working overtime, and the reporters in a frenzy!

As usual many awards are given out on the night, and too many for me to go through here that you'll have patience with, so the main category winners & losers are listed here for your reference, and recital over the dinner table with friends, or congregating around the bar with your mates.

• Best Film - 12 YEARS A SLAVE. Hardly surprising given the true story subject matter and several fine performances throughout, it knocked out American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Gravity and Philomena.
• Outstanding British Film - GRAVITY. It had to pick up a major gong, and no hardship in this one at all, and well deserved for the sheer spectacle of what is presented on screen.
• Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron - GRAVITY. A masterstroke in film making that takes you up 600 kms above the Earth's surface and suspends you there while the story unfolds against the backdrop of our blue planet. Breathtaking visionary film making and well deserved, fighting off the competition from Steve McQueen, David O Russell, Paul Greengrass and Martin Scorsese.
• Leading Actor - Chiwetel Ejifor - 12 YEARS A SLAVE. Again, really no surprises here given the subject matter and the sheer believability with which Ejifor instills in his character Platt. That said, strong competition from Bruce Dern, Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.
• Leading Actress - Cate Blanchett - BLUE JASMINE. I have not seen this Woody Allen offering, but everything I have heard & read about our Cate's performance points to her being the clear winner, and it seems that every other award bestowing outfit this season does too. Go the Oscar Cate . . . good on ya! Cate knocked out Amy Adams, Sandra Bullock, Dame Judi Dench, and Emma Thompson.
• Supporting Actor - Barkhad Abdi - CAPTAIN PHILLIPS. This previously unknown actor playing the lead Somali pirate was plucked out of obscurity to play this role and nailed it in spades. A gritty nail biting riveting edge of your seat performance from a man driven to extremes keeps the viewer wondering what he's capable of and what he'll do next. Up against Bradley Cooper, Daniel Bruhl, Matt Damon and Michael Fassbender.
• Supporting Actress - Jennifer Lawrence - AMERICAN HUSTLE. This Hunger Games helmer is riding the crest of a wave and deservedly so given her range and diversity of roles. In this movie she plays the white trailer trash, no hope, devilishly devious loser wife to Christian Bale . . . but with a heart, and an underlying sultry sexiness all her own. She staved off competition from Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Sally Hawkins and first time newcomer Lupita Nyong'o

GRAVITY stole the show and reaped the awards picking up another four accolades for Sound, Original Music, Cinematography and Special Visual Effects giving it a closing night tally of six.

AMERICAN HUSTLE picked up another two for Original Screenplay and Make-up & Hair giving it a stash of three all up.
GATSBY picked up two gongs also for Production Design and Costume Design. 
FROZEN picked up the award in the Animated Film category.

Interestingly, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET missed out (check out my review by clicking on the link in the column to the left), as did DALLAS BUYERS CLUB - the former of which I thought was great, and the latter I am seeing this week so look out for my upcoming review soon.

On the strength of these winners (and losers), the Oscar buzz will have notched up a gear. 

Keep your eyes and ears planted on the silver screen, and see as many movies as you can.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-