There was lots to be happy about at last nights BAFTA ceremony. First off, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, a film thats been receiving endless criticism these last couple of weeks for its apparent mistreatment of child actors, was the undisputed champion of the evening taking home the statues for direction and best film among others. This is well deserved recognition for Boyle, one of Britain’s most inventive directors, and illustrates his longevity, coming so long after his cult classics Shallow Grave and Trainspotting. The cinematography of Slumdog, which was at times both mind boggling and breathtaking, was also rewarded for its brilliance.
Talking of longevity in this industry, Mickey Rourke seemed content to put some of his many demons behind him when he picked up the award for best actor. It’s always gratifying to see an individual fulfill their true potential, especially one who has fallen from grace in an industry as unforgiving as this one. Rourke certainly deserved the award for a genuinely moving and somewhat understated performance in Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler. Other notable award winners included Wall-E for Best Animated feature, Kate Winslet for her role in Stephen Daldry’s The Reader and a well earned fellowship award for honorary brit Terry Gilliam.
Fantastic as all this was, the night surely belonged in large part to those who couldn’t be there. Heath Ledger’s win in the Best Supporting Actor category was surely the pick of the bunch for many film fans, his absence reminding us of the sadness that accompanies the loss of one so young and talented. Goldie Hawn seemed visibly moved as she announced Ledger’s success, yet these weren’t the only the only tears shed on the night. As Kate Winslet accepted her award she paid tribute to two of the producers of her film, Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack, Academy Award winning directors and producing partners at Mirage Enterprises, who both passed away last year before the completion of the film. I eternally applaud Kate Winslet for shouting out these two greats during her own moment of glory, when she would have been otherwise forgiven for giving in to her own sense of achievement.
As for our host, well, Jonathan Ross did a good job Mc-ing, but there’s no doubt his detractors will have been disappointed that stoic and smooth voiced BBC stalwart Stephen Fry wasn’t there to handle the proceedings. All in all though, good job BAFTA.
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