Predicting The Winners Of The 2013 BAFTAs

Awards

by Oliver Lyttelton
February 8, 2013 3:03 PM
4 Comments

Sound
"Django Unchained"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"Les Miserables"
"Life of Pi"
"Skyfall"

Should Win: A curiously uninvolving list of nominees here, but "Life of Pi" would probably get my vote.
Will Win: The wham-bang factor of "Skyfall" is the showiest, but the difficulties of recording live vocals on set may see "Les Miserables" get the edge.

Special Visual Effects
"The Dark Knight Rises"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"Life of Pi"
"Marvel Avengers Assemble"
"Prometheus"

Should Win: I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that Richard Parker in "Life of Pi' is pretty much the best visual effect I've ever seen, so that would be my pick, as impressive as the work in "The Avengers" is too.
Will Win: "Life of Pi" makes the most sense, but "The Hobbit" is a potential surprise.

Adapted Screenplay
Chris Terrio - "Argo"
Benh Zeitlin & Lucy Alibar - "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
David Magee - "Life of Pi"
Tony Kushner - "Lincoln"
David O Russell - "Silver Linings Playbook"

Should Win: A tough category here, but I happen to think that "Argo" has the edge, just as a textbook example of turning a true-life event into a gripping thriller. But nothing here would upset me.
Will Win: So tough to call, but BAFTA seemed to like "Argo" more than "Lincoln" or "Silver Linings Playbook," the main competition in this category, so my money's on that.

Original Screenplay
Michael Haneke - "Amour"
Quentin Tarantino - "Django Unchained"
Paul Thomas Anderson - "The Master"
Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola - "Moonrise Kingdom"
Mark Boal - "Zero Dark Thirty"

Should Win: Personally, I'd love to see Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola recognized, though it's unlikely to happen.
Will Win: The category's made more interesting by the addition of PTA, who missed out an Oscar nod. But it's really between Mark Boal and Quentin Tarantino, as it was in 2010. This time, I think Tarantino will win out.

"Frankenweenie"

Animated Film
"Brave"
"Frankenweenie"
"ParaNorman"

Should Win: I'm one of the few who would say this, but I liked "Brave" a lot, and would like to see it take the prize.
Will Win: "Frankenweenie" and "ParaNorman" have dominated the precursors, but with the former having shot in the U.K. and Burton's long ties here, that would seem to be the smart bet.

Documentary
"The Imposter"
"Marley"
"McCullen"
"Searching For Sugar Man"
"West of Memphis"

Should Win: A tough category (arguably stronger than the Oscars). I liked, as I said above, "McCullen" better than the other options here.
Will Win: "The Imposter" is the front-runner, though "Marley" stands a strong chance too.

Director
Michael Haneke - "Amour"
Ben Affleck - "Argo"
Quentin Tarantino - "Django Unchained"
Ang Lee - "Life of Pi"
Kathryn Bigelow - "Zero Dark Thirty"

Should Win: There's a mighty collection of directorial achievements here, but I'd lean towards Kathryn Bigelow, who deserves every award she got from "The Hurt Locker" and more for her Bin Laden flick.
Will Win: Given the direction of the season, few would bet against Ben Affleck here, but Ang Lee's also a strong possibility.

Supporting Actress
Amy Adams - "The Master"
Judi Dench - "Skyfall"
Sally Field - "Lincoln"
Helen Hunt - "The Sessions"
Anne Hathaway - "Les Miserables"

Should Win: Having been the bridesmaid quite a few times, I'd love to see Amy Adams finally get a trophy for her best-ever turn in Paul Thomas Anderson's film.
Will Win: Anne Hathaway, but the inevitability of it shouldn't take away from how brilliant she is in her showcase number.

Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin - "Argo"
Christoph Waltz - "Django Unchained"
Javier Bardem - "Skyfall"
Philip Seymour Hoffman - "The Master"
Tommy Lee Jones - "Lincoln"

Should Win: There are no bad performances here, but Philip Seymour Hoffman is the only one who gives a performance that isn't a variation on what he's done before, so he's my choice by a mile.
Will Win: Despite him having missed out on an Oscar nomination, my gut says Javier Bardem here.

Leading Actor
Ben Affleck - "Argo"
Bradley Cooper - "Silver Linings Playbook"
Daniel Day-Lewis - "Lincoln"
Hugh Jackman - "Les Miserables"
Joaquin Phoenix - "The Master"

Should Win: Some titanic performances here to be sure. Joaquin Phoenix does stand head and tails above all but Daniel Day-Lewis, and probably still edges him out.
Will Win: Though "Lincoln" doesn't hold the same historical appeal to U.K. audiences, Day-Lewis is still close to British hearts, so he'll certainly continue his winning streak here.

Jennifer Lawrence in "The Silver Linings Playbook"

Leading Actress
Jessica Chastain - "Zero Dark Thirty"
Marion Cotillard - "Rust & Bone"
Jennifer Lawrence - "Silver Linings Playbook"
Helen Mirren - "Hitchcock"
Emmanuelle Riva - "Amour"

Should Win: Jessica Chastain. It's the kind of subtle, full-on-brilliant character turn that so often misses out on awards recognition, and its brilliance will be talked about for years to come.
Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence, probably, with Emmanuelle Riva and Chastain still possibilities.

British Film
"Anna Karenina"
"Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"
"Les Miserables"
"Seven Psychopaths"
"Skyfall"

Should Win: "Anna Karenina" -- not just my favorite British film of last year, but my favorite film full stop. Misunderstood by many at the time, it's going to be reappraised a lot over the years.
Will Win: Given it came in the 50th anniversary of the Bond franchise, and became the all-time top grosser in the U.K., I can't see how this could be anything but "Skyfall."

Best Film
"Argo"
"Les Miserables"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Zero Dark Thirty"

Should Win: If the thoughts above didn't give it away, "Zero Dark Thirty" is certainly the best film here, and deserves the prize.
Will Win: "Argo" is probably the safer bet, but my heart says that "Life of Pi" will end up winning out. Watch me be wrong on Sunday.

Awards

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4 Comments

| Reply
Jimbo | February 9, 2013 7:36 PMReply

I'm actually bewildered at why Jessica Chastain was nominated: good as she is in other things, it's so incongruous having such a porcelain doll-like actress in this movie's ugly milieu. I would wager anything her performance will *not* be talked about for years to come, unless you committed a typo and were actually referring to the truly unforgettably luminous Emmanuelle Riva. I may not know much, but when it comes to who 'should' win across literally every category this year, Riva deserves it most by miles.
mm | February 9, 2013 2:32 PMReply

I think that Jennifer Lawrence doesen't stand a chance at BAFTA's. It' s gonna be Chastain vs Riva, and hopefully it's going to put an end to Lawrence's awards this season, for a performance which is more suitable for MTV movie awards.
Oogle monster | February 8, 2013 3:22 PMReply

I agree with your praise of ANNA KARENINA - completely misunderstood by many critics and audiences. Great film and another masterpiece by Joe Wright. Also agree with all of your sentiments regarding THE MASTER. Amy Adams is miles ahead of Hathaway in terms of talent and versatility. Hathaway needs to dream a dream and STFU.
ap | February 8, 2013 5:36 PM

hahaha I honestly think Anne Hathaway's perfomance is overrated... Completely agree that Amy Adams should win.