Gravity dominated Sunday nights Bafta awards, taking home an impressive six awards, but it was Steve McQueen’s slavery drama 12 Years a Slave that clinched the coveted best film prize.
12 Years a Slave also took the leading actor award, which went to Chiwetel Ejiofor for his phenomenal performance of real life historical figure Solomon Northup. However he’s expected to lose out at next month’s Oscars to Matthew Mcconaughey, who wasn’t nominated for the BAFTA.
Lupita N’Yongo also failed to take the best supporting actress award for her portrayal of Patsy in the film, which instead went to American Hustle’s Jennifer Lawrence. There have been murmurings of a backlash against usual favourite Lawrence claiming the award, but though different, both were undeniably captivating performances. Supporting actor went to Barkhad abdi for his role as a Somali pirate in drama Captain Phillips.
Best actress went to Cate Blanchett for her powerhouse performance in Blue Jasmine. She seems unstoppable on this year’s awards circuit, and is surely the only dead cert at the Oscar’s in March. In one of the most touching moments of the night, she dedicated her award to the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Best British film went to Gravity, a controversial move as it raises the ever present question of what really makes a film qualify as British. Of course it was filmed here and a lot comes down to finance, but when the stars are American and the director is Mexican, it seems a little odd to class it as such.
Nonetheless, Gravity deserved the majority of the awards it received. It took a lot of the technical categories, where it was stunning, but also director Alfonso Cuarón fully deserved the recognition he got with his best director prize. What he created was spectacular.
Adapted screenplay went to Steve Coogan’s Philomena, where as original screenplay was won by American Hustle. Though this was deserved, it seemed odd that one of Gravity’s nominations was also in this category. Gravity is a spectacle of a film, but the screenplay is probably its weakest aspect, particularly when films like Before Midnight failed to get a nomination in the category.
The rising star award went to Will Poutler, who fought off strong competition from the likes of Dane DeHaan and Lupita N’Yongo.
Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema was awarded to often controversial director Peter Greenaway, while the Bafta Fellowship went to The Queen star Helen Mirren.