Bafta noms reveal The Road less enjoyed

Bafta noms reveal The Road less enjoyed
Bafta noms reveal The Road less enjoyed
 

Also In The News

Klien still hopeful of 2010 race seat

By Adam Leveridge Christian Klien remains hopeful of a full-time drive in 2010, despite losing the second Sauber seat to Pedro de la Rosa.

Christian Klien missed out on the second seat at Sauber's team but remains upbeat about his chances of racing in F1 in 2010
 

Thursday, 21, Jan 2010 01:09

The unsurprising - and largely deserved - spate of nominations for The Hurt Locker, Avatar and An Education are probably the least remarkable facet of this year's Bafta nominations.

Yes, the Bafta voters are to be commended for their nods to In the Loop and Moon, with both films mostly ignored by other voting bodies. Yes, the directorial nomination for District 9's Neill Blomkamp is to be savoured, representing a willingness to celebrate the new rather than plump for well-made, unmistakeable Oscar bait such as Precious. And yes, it's with a sigh of relief that one can read the hugely justified nominations for the mighty British trio of Andy Serkis and Nowhere Boy's triple-barrelled duo Kristen Scott-Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff.

But, for this writer, the most notable aspect of the Bafta nominations list is the extent to which it mirrors the Golden Globes categories and, with depressingly likelihood, the Oscars' eventual shortlists, in all but entirely neglecting John Hillcoat's incredible The Road.

I'm at a loss as to why the Cormac McCarthy adaptation is receiving scant approval from awards panels, despite its almost universal critical acclaim and buzz that began as soon as the first trailer surfaced. Is it too bleak? Maybe, but Precious and The Hurt Locker are hardly heartwarming stories, yet both have received countless nominations. In its horribly evocative creation of a future we might be marching hopelessly towards, is The Road too prescient and relevant for awards voters to stomach? Well, possibly, but so much of the success of Up In The Air comes from the fortuitous coincidence of Jason Reitman's film being released as the economic meltdown claims jobs across the globe. Is the allegory of The Boy - the brilliant young Kodi Smit-McPhee could feel aggrieved at his lack of nominations too - as the saviour of mankind painted with too heavy a hand? I would argue Hillcoat doesn't hammer the home the point nearly as forcefully as McCarthy did in the source novel, but it's possible that voters may have been put off by the scene in which The Man (Viggo Mortensen) and The Boy encounter ageing, all-but-blind soothsayer Eli (Robert Duvall). But if we're shying away from allegory and subtext in this year's awards nominations, how the hell do you explain the overflowing trophy cabinet of Avatar? James Cameron's film is visually magnificent, a feast for the imagination and the eyes that could change film as we know it. As a story, however. We've all seen the snarky comparisons of the script to Pocahontas, Ferngully and Dances With Wolves, and Cameron could only make his point about US imperialism more blatantly if he ran it in Papyrus font subtitles across the screen. And while we're on the subject of Avatar - a film I greatly enjoyed, by the way - it's a fatuous point to say the production delays and shifted release date for The Road might have cost it dearly. How long have we waited for Avatar?

If The Hurt Locker or Up In The Air claims the best picture Oscar in March, I won't be too unhappy. I couldn't even argue a great deal with Avatar's triumph in the best drama category at the Golden Globes - it might be a genre film, but it's an outstanding creation and like Peter Jackson's The Return of the King, a film for which awards voters would be right to recognise as epochal. But having been greatly moved by my - at the time of writing - two miserable and life-affirming trips along The Road - I fervently hope that, come February 2nd and the Academy's revelation of the ten films shortlisted for the best picture Oscar, The Road takes its place alongside Avatar, The Hurt Locker and the other shoo-ins.

Lewis Bazley


Grand National runners that meet the requirements in 2011

There are going to be forty Grand National Runners this Saturday all lining up at Aintree and picking the Grand National winner is always a difficult thing to do.

Gold Cup 2011 odds point to Imperial Commander as the winner

The latest Gold Cup Odds are not only important because they represent how much you can win on the race.

Cheltenham Gold Cup runners and best bets

Fourteen runners have been declared for the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2011 and the question on many people's lips will be.

Cheltenham Gold Cup 2011 runners and odds

The Cheltenham Gold Cup Runners have now been confirmed. As long as there are no late withdrawals there will be 14 Cheltenham Gold Cup runners.

Cheltenham Festival stats and tips should mean more winnings and winners

The Cheltenham Festival 2011 gets underway next week and one of the most popular methods of picking Cheltenham Festival winners is not only to follow tips, but also to take notice of important Cheltenham Festival Stats.

Cheltenham Races odds and tips suggest proven Cheltenham form is key

At long last The Cheltenham Festival 2011 is here and whether punters are going to the course or watching it on TV, everyone will be looking for winning tips for Cheltenham.

Cheltenham races odds and tips can help you find 50/1 winner at the festival

The Cheltenham Festival 2011 gets underway on Tuesday. The highlight of Cheltenham Races on the opening day will be the Champion Hurdle and three days of brilliant racing will follow Tuesday's action.



We're mobile!

Get news, sport and entertainment on your mobile. Text inthenews to 84010 or go to http://m.inthenews.co.uk. There is no charge for this service but the SMS will be charged at your standard operator rate.