The BAFTAS are the British Academy Film Awards, and while not as important as the guilds, I would say they're probably the second most important indicator, because it is an industry award, and it does tell us what the significant bloc of British voters in our Academy is thinking, since there's overlap of about 1500 people. And boy did these guys like Bridge of Spies. That was something of a surprise today, and the heavy nomination haul for Carol seems to revive it somewhat after the PGA snub. The film may have enough support to land a BP nom after all. So many other nods were scattered though, as the supporting acting categories are completely up in the air, and the lack of support for Room is not boding well at all for that film with AMPAS.
BEST PICTURE
"The Big Short"
"Bridge of Spies"
"Carol"
"The Revenant"
"Spotlight"
BEST DIRECTOR
Todd Haynes, "Carol"
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, "The Revenant"
Adam McKay, "The Big Short"
Ridley Scott, "The Martian"
Steven Spielberg, "Bridge of Spies"
BEST ACTOR
Bryan Cranston, "Trumbo"
Matt Damon, "The Martian"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"
Michael Fassbender, "Steve Jobs"
Eddie Redmayne, "The Danish Girl"
BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, "Carol"
Brie Larson, "Room"
Saoirse Ronan, "Brooklyn"
Maggie Smith, "The Lady in the Van"
Alicia Vikander, "The Danish Girl"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale, "The Big Short"
Benicio del Toro, "Sicario"
Idris Elba, "Beasts of No Nation"
Mark Ruffalo, "Spotlight"
Mark Rylance, "Bridge of Spies"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Jason Leigh, "The Hateful Eight"
Rooney Mara, "Carol"
Alicia Vikander, "Ex Machina"
Julie Walters, "Brooklyn"
Kate Winslet, "Steve Jobs"
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
"The Big Short"
"Brooklyn"
"Carol"
"Room"
"Steve Jobs"
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
"Bridge of Spies"
"Ex Machina"
"The Hateful Eight"
"Inside Out"
"Spotlight"
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
"Bridge of Spies"
"Carol"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
"The Revenant"
"Sicario"
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
"Brooklyn"
"Carol"
"Cinderella"
"The Danish Girl"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
BEST FILM EDITING
"The Big Short"
"Bridge of Spies"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
"The Martian"
"The Revenant"
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
"Brooklyn"
"Carol"
"The Danish Girl"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
"The Revenant"
BEST MUSIC
"Bridge of Spies"
"The Hateful Eight"
"The Revenant"
"Sicario"
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
"Bridge of Spies"
"Carol"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
"The Martian"
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
BEST SOUND
"Bridge of Spies"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
"The Martian"
"The Revenant"
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
"Ant-Man"
"Ex Machina"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
"The Martian"
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
BEST ANIMATED FILM
"Inside Out"
"Minions"
"Shaun the Sheep Movie"
BEST BRITISH FILM
"45 Years"
"Amy"
"Brooklyn"
"The Danish Girl"
"Ex Machina"
"The Lobster"
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
"Amy"
"Cartel Land"
"He Named Me Malala"
"Listen to Me Marlon"
"Sherpa"
BEST FOREIGN FILM
"The Assassin"
"Force Majeure"
"Theeb"
"Timbuktu"
"Wild Tales"
BEST BRITISH ANIMATED SHORT FILM
"Edmond"
"Manoman"
"Prologue"
BEST BRITISH LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM
"Elephant"
"Mining Poems or Odes"
"Operator"
"Over"
"Samuel-613"
BEST DEBUT FILM
"Ex Machina"
"Second Coming"
"The Survivalist"
"A Syrian Love Story"
"Theeb"
EE RISING STAR AWARD
John Boyega
Taron Egerton
Dakota Johnson
Brie Larson
Bel Powley
I was really surprised they overlooked Charlotte Rampling in Best Actress, even while nominating 45 Years in Best British Film. I think she still has a shot with the Academy, but it could honestly be anyone in the last two slots for Best Actress, depending where Alicia Vikander ends up for The Danish Girl. Same goes for Supporting Actor, where Bale, Rylance and maybe Elba seem locked, while those last two slots are anybody's guess. And the director race is a total free for all, with Tom McCarthy of all people missing here for Spotlight, which frankly no longer looks like the supposed frontrunner most thought it was. Could that film be this year's Boyhood, a critics thing only? The Big Short looks stronger and stronger every day, with BAFTA becoming the first group to acknowledge Adam McKay for director, and the total snubbing of George Miller and Mad Max in Picture/Director has me fearful that the Academy may pull a Dark Knight with that movie, like I always thought was possible, no matter how much critics liked it. Whatever the case, the Oscar nominees next Thursday morning are bound to have a lot of surprises for everyone, with so many unpredictable slots to be filled.
Alicia Vikander landed the rare double nomination in Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress
