SubscribeBAFTA leaks winners list early!
Psssssst . . . If you want to know the BAFTA winners before the show starts, CLICK HERE. Not only was this announcement on BAFTA's website several hours before the ceremony that commences today at 4 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. PT, but the press release mentions no embargo time, so, apparently, it's OK to tattle.
The BAFTAs went for the only British film in the running for best picture with "Atonement" reigning over contenders such as Oscar frontrunner "No Country for Old Men." Though their pick for pic last year was "The Queen," which was the first British film to take the top prize since "The Full Monty" won over "Titanic" in 1997. Even though voters seemed to like "Atonement" enough to give it the most nominations (14), the only other award win it claimed was for production design.
Oscar favorites Daniel Day-Lewis ("There Will Be Blood") and Javier Bardem ("No Country for Old Men") were the two men to take home honors. However, the women who won were more of a surprise –- France's Marion Cotillard ("La Vie en Rose") beating Britain's own Julie Christie ("Away From Her") for lead actress and Londoner Tilda Swinton ("Michael Clayton") besting Sydneysider Cate Blanchett ("I'm Not There") for supporting actress. Christie and Blanchett won't have to sally on, chin up, in the ol' Brit tradition in front of their peers today as they lose, however; neither plan to be at the ceremony.
Though Joel and Ethan Coen won for directing "No Country," they lost scripting honors to Ronald Harwood, who adapted "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." Diablo Cody continued her winning ways, adding another award to her crowded mantle for creating "Juno."
"This is England" won the jury-awarded best British film prize, while "The Lives of Others" won best foreign language film.
Photos: Focus Features, Picturehouse
'Christie and Blanchett won't have to sally on, chin up, in the ol' Brit tradition in front of their peers today as they lose, however; neither plan to be at the ceremony'.
But I saw Julie Christie there!
Posted by: Pete Day | February 11, 2008 at 09:38 PM
Methinks the BAFTAs ladies fair, Marion et Tilda, could repeat their surprises Oscar night with the new OOOMPH! It's given to both of them.
And "Atonement", too..
Posted by: Stephen Holt | February 11, 2008 at 02:46 PM
I too hope that Marion Cotillard keeps the momentum going and wins the Oscar. That performance was riveting!
Posted by: Anthony | February 11, 2008 at 01:18 PM
FYI - Julie Christie did attend the BAFTAs. I was surprised as I also was certain she wasn't going to attend.
Posted by: Doug | February 10, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Congrats to Marion Cotillard! I would love to see her repeat at the Oscars.
~Steven
Posted by: Steven | February 10, 2008 at 05:08 PM
I'm so happy Tilda Swinton won something! Biggest upset of oscar night, probably not. But thats okay I'm happy she won this.
Posted by: AJ | February 10, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Hopefully, this reflects what will happen at the Oscars. It would be wonderful if Cotillard upsets Christie.
Posted by: David Acacia | February 10, 2008 at 12:46 PM
This is pretty bizarre. I wonder if the lack of an embargo time was a mistake. Here's also wondering if heads are going to roll...
I saw the list of winners elsewhere just a few minutes ago, and I thought that the ceremony had already taken place. (My first thought was, "The US Academy should take a lesson in time management from those guys.")
Interesting that one of the Best British Film also-rans turns out to be the overall Best Film winner. Hm...
Posted by: andre | February 10, 2008 at 12:29 PM
The ceremony does not start at 1pm EST, the American broadcast does. And apparently they are also broadcast deferred in the UK. Plus, it was the BAFTA site that first posted the information some minutes ago, so I'm not sure you can say they were "leaked".
Posted by: PGM | February 10, 2008 at 12:17 PM