Harry Potter's consolation prize.

Film The Bafta short list is out so it's time for the first of my annual look at a list of films I haven't seen at a ceremony I don't usually watch.

Best Film

The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Help
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The Artist. For all the inevitable backlash it is exciting for an essentially silent film to keep winning these awards, especially if it helps to promote interest in the birth of cinema and help educate viewers on a different kind of performance. I'm amazed BBC Four haven't rescheduled some of the material from their old season of silent films.

Film Not in the English Language

Incendies
Pina
Potiche
A Separation
The Skin I Live In

It's a change that we're seeing a short list of film which have already been released in the UK and, judging by the box office figures published in Sight & Sound, been seen by a welcoming audience.

Outstanding British Film

My Week with Marilyn
Senna
Shame
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
We Need to Talk About Kevin

That's who I think will win it and well done. My first choice was Marilyn but TTSS had something of a breakthrough and Gary Oldman's well loved by the academy.

Director

The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius
Drive - Nicolas Winding Refn
Hugo - Martin Scorsese
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Tomas Alfredson
We Need to Talk About Kevin - Lynne Ramsay

It may do the double though the disparity between the best director/film categories is interesting, especially the lack of Hugo (the one film I have seen) above, demonstrating how miscellaneous the whole process of choosing one film over another is.

Original Screenplay

The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Guard
The Iron Lady
Midnight in Paris

The biggest selling Woody Allen film of all time, though if The Artist is sweeping, it has no chance.  I've seen Bridemaids too incidentally, though its appearance above Chalet Girl is astonishing, frankly.


Adapted Screenplay

The Descendants
The Help
The Ides of March
Moneyball
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Even if it's The Artist that sweeps, this'll be Tink's consolation prize.

Cinematography

The Artist
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse

Even if Tink sweeps, this'll be The Artist's consolation prize.

Editing

The Artist
Drive
Hugo
Senna
Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

Logically with two car films and two works about film history the vote will be split.  But again these are the battleground categories between spies and artists.  Perhaps this'll be a year when there's a neat carve-up between the films but it feels unlikely.

Production Design

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse

Scorsese's consolation prize.

Make Up & Hair

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Hugo
The Iron Lady
My Week with Marilyn

Just on the basis of the poster.  

Costume Design

The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
My Week with Marilyn
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Unless it's one of those ceremonies in which case it'll be Jane Eyre.

Special Visual Effects

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
X-Men: First Class

Harry Potter's consolation prize.

Documentary

George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Project Nim
Senna

Its been on television.

Sound

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse

If Bafta's in an ironic mood.

Original Music

The Artist
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

If Bafta's in an ironic mood.

Animated Film

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
Arthur Christmas
Rango

Spielberg's consolation prize.

Leading Actor

Brad Pitt (Billy Beane) – Moneyball
Gary Oldman (George Smiley) - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
George Clooney (Matt King) – The Descendants
Jean Dujardin (George Valentin) – The Artist
Michael Fassbender (Brandon) – Shame

It's the cast of Ocean's 14, isn't it? Again, sweeps, sweeps so I'm chickening out and giving Danny the award.

Leading Actress

Bérénice Bejo (Peppy Miller) – The Artist
Meryl Streep (Margaret Thatcher) – The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams (Marilyn Monroe) – My Week with Marilyn
Tilda Swinton (Eva) – We Need to Talk About Kevin
Viola Davis (Aibileen Clark) – The Help

Surely?  Even in a sweeps night?   Also, no Kristen Wiig?  Really?

Supporting Actor

Christopher Plummer (Hal) – Beginners
Jim Broadbent (Denis Thatcher) – The Iron Lady
Jonah Hill (Peter Brand) – Moneyball
Kenneth Branagh (Sir Laurence Olivier) – My Week with Marilyn
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Paul Zara) – The Ides of March

I'm sure he's very good but this just proves that even if you're Jonah Hill you can expect to receive an award nomination at some point.  Looking at both these categories, its interesting that unlike the screenplay categories, they're not split between "in the role of a real human" and not.   Plummer may get it thanks to his Globes win.  We tend to do that quite a lot.

Supporting Actress

Carey Mulligan (Irene) – Drive
Jessica Chastain (Celia Foote) – The Help
Judi Dench (Dame Sybil Thorndike) – My Week with Marilyn
Melissa McCarthy (Megan) – Bridesmaids
Octavia Spencer (Minny Jackson) – The Help

For obvious reasons.  I know, I say that every year, but it's true. Unless the jury is stacked full of Gilmore Girls fans.  It's going to be Dench again isn't it?

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER

ATTACK THE BLOCK - Joe Cornish (Director/Writer)
BLACK POND - Will Sharpe (Director/Writer), Tom Kingsley (Director), Sarah Brocklehurst (Producer)
CORIOLANUS - Ralph Fiennes (Director)
SUBMARINE - Richard Ayoade (Director/Writer)
TYRANNOSAUR - Paddy Considine (Director), Diarmid Scrimshaw (Producer)

Please?

ORANGE WEDNESDAYS RISING STAR AWARD

ADAM DEACON
CHRIS HEMSWORTH
TOM HIDDLESTON
CHRIS O’DOWD
EDDIE REDMAYNE

"Thor's my hero."  Felicity Jones was in the long list.  Why is she not here?  Why!?!  WHY!?!

Stephen Fry's presenting the ceremony this year.  I might watch after all.