2015 BAFTA Predictions: Who'll Win Tonights Prizes?
Tonight, the movie spotlight will be firmly shone on London's Royal Opera House as the 2015 BAFTA Awards are handed out. The show, like always, will be hosted by the ever-so entertaining Stephan Fry and will be broadcast live on BBC One from 9pm.
Hollywood stars are in town one their last stop on the road to Oscar glory. Below we have predicted who we believe will take home the awards from tonights show.
best film
Nominees: Birdman, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything.
Our Winner: Boyhood
It's very likely that Richard Linklater's twelve year tale will pick up the BAFTA for Best Film in 2015. It won the Golden Globe, it's expected to win the Oscar, and we can't see it not collecting this one, too. It also helps that the British love Linklater and have always admired his work. Biggest rival would be Birdman with Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel being the outsider, but Boyhood will most likely has this one sewn up.
BEST BRITISH FILM
Nominees: The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, Under the Skin, '71, Paddington
Our Winner: The Theory of Everything
An incredibly tough category to call. Every movie has their plus points but The Theory of Everything may just have a few more than the others. Its most likely competitor will be The Imitation Game, although Under the Skin won the equivalent award at the London Critics Awards, so don't underestimate Jonathan Glazer's brilliant sci-fi thriller.
best actor in a leading role
Nominees: Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel), Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler), Michael Keaton (Birdman), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game)
Our Winner: Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)
Can only see one winner here! Redmayne won the Golden Globe last month and since that moment, became an absolute shoo-in to win the BAFTA, after all, he is British. On a positive note, it's great to see BAFTA nominate Ralph Fiennes and Jake Gyllenhaal. Both fully deserve their nominations after both being overlooked by the Academy.
best actress in a leading role
Nominees: Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Reese Witherspoon (Wild), Julianne Moore (Still Alice), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), Amy Adams (Big Eyes)
Our Winner: Julianne Moore (Still Alice)
It's a one horse race, and has been for some time. Julianne Moore has been in London this past week promoting the release of Still Alice and, of course, talking BAFTAs. The only hard thing to predict regarding this category is whether the other four nominees have actually prepared a speech? Although it is worth noting Rosamund Pike's performance in Gone Girl deserves huge praise and if there is a shock, it's likely Pike that'll be first in line to steal the award away from Moore.
best actor in a supPorting role
Nominees: Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher), Edward Norton (Birdman), J.K. Simmons (Whiplash), Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), Ethan Hawke (Boyhood)
Our Winner: J.K. Simmons (Whiplash)
Complete lockdown— J.K. Simmons will no doubt take this award home. But on the surface, it shouldn't be as straight forward as that. Looking at those nominees this should be a hotly contested award. All five give great portrayals in their respective movies but as previous award shows (Golden Globes and Guild Awards) have shown, all favoured Simmons and we feel BAFTA will follow suit.
best actress in a supporting role
Nominees: Emma Stone (Birdman), Imelda Staunton (Pride), Patricia Arquette (Boyhood), Rene Russo (Nightcrawler), Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game)
Our Winner: Patricia Arquette (Boyhood)
The same as Best Supporting Actor, it's a lock. Patricia Arquette has won every other incarnation of this award at subsequent shows and we don't see the trend changing. The other four might as well not turn up.
best director
Nominees: Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman), James Marsh (The Theory of Everything), Richard Linklater (Boyhood), Damien Chazelle (Whiplash), Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
Our Winner: Richard Linklater (Boyhood)
This is a tough one. It'll mostly likely be handed to Richard Linklater but Iñárritu will be no easy challenger, especially after Iñárritu won the DGA Award— something everyone thought was heading Linklater's way. Wes Anderson could upset the apple-cart, but it will likely end up being a two way battle.
the other categories...
Below is a round-up of our predictions for the other categories;
Best Original Screenplay: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Imitation Game
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki (Birdman)
Best Original Music: Mica Levi (Under the Skin)
Best Film Not in the English Language: Leviathan
Outstanding Debut by British Writer, Director or Producer: Yann Demange ('71)
Rising Star Award: Jack O'Connell
Best Animated Film: The LEGO Movie
Best Documentary: CitizenFour
Best Sound: Birdman
Best Editing: Douglas Crise and Stephan Mirrione (Birdman)
Best Production Design: The Imitation Game
Best Costume Design: Into the Woods
Best Make-Up and Hair: Into the Woods
Best Special and Visual Effects: Interstellar
