This Sunday (13th March) sees the 2022 BAFTAs being announced. As as per the norm, I’m going to stick my neck out and suggest my “Will Win” and “Should Win” opinions. It’s such a random and ‘woke’ set of BAFTA nominations this year, that I fear that things might not necessarily go in the direction of the “best” in each category. (There were some bizarre inclusions and omissions in the list in my opinion). But we will see. My suggestion would be to NOT put any bets on my suggestions for these this year!
Any films which I’ve not yet seen are marked with an asterisk.
On writing this, I’m actually surprised at what a clean sweep I’m predicting for “The Power of the Dog”. But time will tell!
Now updated with the winners in each category (in red). 13/23 – Not my best ever, but given the diversity of the nominations, I’ll take it,
Best Film
- Belfast
- Don’t Look Up
- Dune
- Licorice Pizza
- The Power Of The Dog
Will Win: The Power of the Dog.
Should Win: Belfast.
I honestly wouldn’t mind if either of these movies won on the night. They are both outstanding in different ways. By personal favourite though was Branagh’s Belfast.
Did Win: The Power of the Dog.
Will not be popular with some. And early in the evening I wasn’t sure it was going to go this way (since I predicted a pretty clean sweep). But good (imho) that the Best Director has gone with the Best Film.
Best Director
- After Love: Aleem Khan
- Drive My Car*: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
- Happening*: Audrey Diwan
- Licorice Pizza: Paul Thomas Anderson
- The Power of the Dog: Jane Campion
- Titane*: Julia Ducournau
Will Win: Jane Campion.
Should Win: Jane Campion.
I’m a bit short-sighted on this category. It says something about the random nature of the nominations that Titane and Happening are nominated for Best Director when they appear NOWHERE ELSE in the awards! But surely Jane Campion has this award nailed on doesn’t she?
Did Win: Jane Campion.
As expected.
Leading Actor
- Adeel Akhtar: Ali & Ava
- Mahershala Ali: Swan Song*
- Benedict Cumberbatch: The Power of the Dog
- Leonardo Dicaprio: Don’t Look Up
- Stephen Graham: Boiling Point
- Will Smith: King Richard
Will Win: Benedict Cumberbatch.
Should Win: Stephen Graham.
Until yesterday I had Will Smith in the slot for my “Should Win”, but after seeing “Boiling Point” I’m actually swayed to this outsider choice. But I think the vote will go with Cumberbatch’s bullying and whistling rancher for this one.
Did Win: Will Smith.
Should have stayed with my pre-“Boiling Point” thoughts! But surprised Cumberbatch didn’t come through here – – must make Smith a shoo-in for the Oscar now.
Supporting Actor
- Mike Faist: West Side Story
- Ciarán Hinds: Belfast
- Troy Kotsur: Coda
- Woody Norman: C’mon C’mon*
- Jesse Plemons: The Power of the Dog
- Kodi Smit-Mcphee: The Power of the Dog
Will Win: Kodi Smit-Mcphee.
Should Win: Ciarán Hinds.
One thing the Academy did get right is in nominating Mike Faist in this category for his rat-face depiction of the feckless Riff. But at the top of this really tough category I have a personal two-way tie between Ciarán Hinds for Belfast and Troy Kotsur for the wonderful Coda. I’ve plumped for Hinds, simply because he has been such an unrecognised staple of movies over so many years. And in Belfast, as the lovable ‘Pop’, he is the glue holding the emotional heart of the movie together. But I reckon the Academy will go with young Kodi Smit-Mcphee, which I think might be the popular choice as well.
Did Win: Troy Kotsur.
Very happy to be wrong with this one. Great speech!
Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer
- After Love: Aleem Khan (writer/director)
- Boiling Point: James Cummings (writer), Hester Ruoff (producer)
- The Harder They Fall: Jeymes Samuel (writer/director)
- Keyboard Fantasies*: Posy Dixon (writer/director), Liv Proctor (producer)
- Passing: Rebecca Hall (writer/director)
Will Win: After Love.
Should Win: After Love.
Jeez… what another tough category. After Love and Boiling Point were two of my favourites from this year, whereas I wasn’t so fond of Passing. The Harder They Fall was also new and different and I liked it a lot, but it is perhaps less “artful” than the others I’ve seen. I think since Aleem Khan was in a writer/director position for “After Love” he deserves this more than the writer/producer combo for “Boiling Point”. But this really could go anywhere!
Did Win: The Harder They Fall.
Wouldn’t have been my personal choice, but it is a good (and very different) film.
Leading Actress
- Lady Gaga: House of Gucci
- Alana Haim: Licorice Pizza
- Emilia Jones: Coda
- Renate Reinsve: The Worst Person in the World*
- Joanna Scanlan: After Love
- Tessa Thompson: Passing
Will Win: Joanna Scanlan.
Should Win: Joanna Scanlan.
I’ve nothing personally against the very talented Gaga, but I was appalled that her Gucci performance made it to this list and I really hope to God she doesn’t win. Apart from that (and the unseen Reinsve) this is yet again another terrible category to call, with Haim, Jones, Scanlan and Thompson all deserving. I’ve plumped for Scanlan for her gut-wrenching performance as the widowed Mary in “After Love”. But noone would be as delighted as me if I’m proved wrong with Emilia Jones picking up the award. Her’s was the most enjoyable, touching and emotional performance of the year for me.
Did Win: Joanna Scanlan.
Yes! That felt like a long shot to me, but I’m so glad she won this. She was clearly not expecting it either!
Supporting Actress
- Caitríona Balfe: Belfast
- Jessie Buckley: The Lost Daughter
- Ariana Debose: West Side Story
- Ann Dowd: Mass*
- Aunjanue Ellis: King Richard
- Ruth Negga: Passing
Will Win: Ariana Debose.
Should Win: Jessie Buckley.
Debose seems to have been gathering awards left, right and centre, so seems odd-on favourite here. But of all these great performances, I would want to recognise Jessie Buckley. I wasn’t blown away by “The Lost Daughter”, but Buckley was fabulous in the role.
Did Win: Ariana Debose.
As expected.
Adapted Screenplay
- Coda: Siân Heder
- Drive My Car*: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
- Dune: Denis Villeneuve
- The Lost Daughter: Maggie Gyllenhaal
- The Power of the Dog: Jane Campion
Will Win: The Power of the Dog.
Should Win: Coda.
“Dune”? For a Best Screenplay award? Really? I’ve got a feeling that “The Power of the Dog” might be a big winner on the evening, so have gone for that. The personal delight for me was “Coda”: a screenplay that made me laugh out loud more times than I could count.
Did Win: Coda.
So delighted to be wrong about this one!
Original Screenplay
- Being the Ricardos: Aaron Sorkin
- Belfast: Kenneth Branagh
- Don’t Look Up: Adam Mckay
- King Richard: Zach Baylin
- Licorice Pizza: Paul Thomas Anderson
Will Win: Belfast.
Should Win: Being the Ricardos.
As I suspect he might lose out on Best Film (and wasn’t even nominated for Best Director!) my thought is that the Academy might recognise his personal efforts through this Screenplay award. But I thought Sorkin’s script for the “I Love Lucy” biopic was sharp, witty and deliciously un-wordy for one of his efforts.
Did Win: Licorice Pizza.
Well! That was a surprise. It’s a really entertaining film and a great script, but as it is basically PTA recounting his teenage years, it feels like a bit of a cheat!
Original Score
- Being The Ricardos: Daniel Pemberton
- Don’t Look Up: Nicholas Britell
- Dune: Hans Zimmer
- The French Dispatch*: Alexandre Desplat
- The Power Of The Dog: Jonny Greenwood
Will Win: Dune.
Should Win: Dune.
I think you’d be brave to bet against Zimmer for the wonderful musical soundscape he developed for this movie.
Did Win: Dune.
As expected.
Outstanding British Film
- After Love
- Ali & Ava
- Belfast
- Boiling Point
- Cyrano
- Everybody’s Talking About Jamie*
- House of Gucci
- Last Night in Soho
- No Time to Die
- Passing
Will Win: Belfast.
Should Win: Boiling Point.
I would like “Belfast” to win Best Film, to free up this slot for another worthy winner (not that Best Film is obviously, de facto, the real “Outstanding British Film”). As I don’t think it will, I’ve dropped it into this slot. But after that, it’s a really tough call: what a TREMENDOUS set of diverse British films in this list. I’d be happy to see “After Love”, “Boiling Point”, “Last Night in Soho” or “No TIme to Die” pick up this award. But (and it’s always dangerous to pick one you’ve only just seen), I’ve picked Boiling Point as the most impressive movie of the lot.
Did Win: Belfast.
This went the way I predicted, with “Belfast” getting this award rather than the top “Best Film” award.
Film Not In The English Language
- Drive My Car*
- The Hand of God*
- Parallel Mothers
- Petite Maman*
- The Worst Person in the World*
Will Win: Drive My Car.
Should Win: <No idea>.
“Drive My Car” seems to have all the buzz, so have selected that as the “Will Win”. But I’m so short-sighted on this category that I’ll opt out of judging a “Should Win”. The only one I’ve so far seen is “Parallel Mothers”, and while good I wouldn’t rate it as a top movie. (I’ll try to catch up with more on this list before the Oscars).
Did Win: Drive My Car.
As expected.
Documentary
- Becoming Cousteau*
- Cow*
- Flee
- The Rescue*
- Summer of Soul (or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)*
Will Win: Flee.
Should Win: Flee.
Again, I am horribly short-sighted on this category but absolutely loved, and was moved by, “Flee”. I know a lot of people have raved about “Summer of Soul” too, but I’m yet to catch up.
Did Win: Summer of Soul (or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised).
Must carve out time to watch this one.
Animated Film
- Encanto
- Flee
- Luca
- The Mitchells vs the Machines
Will Win: Encanto.
Should Win: Flee.
As I said in my review, comparing “Flee” with “Encanto” is like comparing a Tracey Emin to a Constable. I suspect the juggernaut that is “Encanto” will win, purely based on the threats of thousands of children of Academy voters that would refuse to talk to them for weeks if they didn’t (“Bruno doesn’t talk to me any more?”). I also had a whole lotta love for “The Mitchells vs the Machines” as yet another very different sort of movie, but while it has my love it probably doesn’t have the votes.
Did Win: Encanto.
As expected.
Casting
- Boiling Point: Carolyn Mcleod
- Dune: Francine Maisler
- The Hand Of God*: Massimo Appolloni, Annamaria Sambucco
- King Richard: Rich Delia, Avy Kaufman
- West Side Story: Cindy Tolan
Will Win: King Richard.
Should Win: Boiling Point.
This is a category that feels like guesswork to me! I thought the casting of King Richard was excellent, and the casting of “West Side Story” less good (I didn’t think Ansel Angort was the right age). But having seen “Boiling Point”, the diverse cast was pitch perfect for the realism of the movie.
Did Win: West Side Story.
Ha! The one piece of casting that I disagreed with! But, hey, it was just one part of a great Spielberg movie.
Cinematography
- Dune: Greig Fraser
- Nightmare Alley: Dan Laustsen
- No Time To Die: Linus Sandgren
- The Power Of The Dog: Ari Wegner
- The Tragedy Of Macbeth*: Bruno Delbonnel
Will Win: Ari Wegner.
Should Win: Greig Fraser.
I’ve still to see “Macbeth”. But I thought both Wegner and Fraser both painted awesome landscapes: pictures that you could print off and hang on the walls of your home. Greig Fraser was the most impressive to me personally, but Ari Wegner, as the first woman to get a cinematography nomination, might get the nod.
Did Win: Greig Fraser (Dune).
So history not made, but happy with this result too.
Editing
- Belfast: Úna Ní Dhonghaíle
- Dune: Joe Walker
- Licorice Pizza: Andy Jurgensen
- No Time To Die: Tom Cross, Elliot Graham
- Summer Of Soul (Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)*: Joshua L. Pearson
Will Win: No Time to Die.
Should Win: No TIme to Die.
If you watch “No Time to Die” with a critical technical eye, it’s the editing of the action scenes that stands out. Most notably in that car chase through Matera. But, again, this is a technical category judged by technical people, so what do I know?
Did Win: No TIme to Die.
Glad my eye for a good cut was still good!
Production Design
- Cyrano: Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer
- Dune: Patrice Vermette, Zsuzsanna Sipos
- The French Dispatch*: Adam Stockhausen, Rena Deangelo
- Nightmare Alley: Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau
- West Side Story: Adam Stockhausen, Rena Deangelo
Will Win: Dune.
Should Win: Nightmare Alley.
I think “Dune” may pick up a few of the technical awards, including this one. But I particularly liked the set design in “Nightmare Alley”.
Did Win: Dune.
As I expected.
Costume Design
- Cruella: Jenny Beavan
- Cyrano: Massimo Cantini Parrini
- Dune Robert Morgan: Jacqueline West
- The French Dispatch*: Milena Canonero
- Nightmare Alley: Luis Sequeira
Will Win: Cruella.
Should Win: Cruella.
I called “Cruella” for the costume design and the Make Up & Hair awards when I reviewed it back last year, so it would be churlish to back out now. It might go to “Dune” again though.
Did Win: Cruella.
I thought being so early in the year, this one *might* get overlooked, but glad it wasn’t.
Make Up & Hair
- Cruella: Nadia Stacey, Naomi Donne
- Cyrano: Alessandro Bertolazzi, Siân Miller
- Dune: Love Larson, Donald Mowat
- The Eyes Of Tammy Faye*: Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram, Justin Raleigh
- House Of Gucci: Frederic Aspiras, Jane Carboni, Giuliano Mariana, Sarah Nicole Tanno
Will Win: Cruella.
Should Win: Cruella.
As above.
Did Win: The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
Still to see this one.
Sound
- Dune: Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Doug Hemphill, Theo Green, Ron Bartlett
- Last Night In Soho: Colin Nicolson, Julian Slater, Tim Cavagin, Dan Morgan
- No Time To Die: James Harrison, Simon Hayes, Paul Massey, Oliver Tarney, Mark Taylor
- A Quiet Place Part II: Erik Aadahl, Michael Barosky, Brandon Proctor, Ethan Van Der Ryn
- West Side Story: Brian Chumney, Tod Maitland, Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom
Will Win: Dune.
Should Win: Last Night in Soho.
“A Quiet Place Part II” might be the obvious choice here, but I’ve plumped for “Dune” to win. I’d personally love “Last Night in Soho” to pick this up. The sound design was excellent.
Did Win: Dune.
Special Visual Effects
- Dune: Brian Connor, Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Gerd Nefzer
- Free Guy: Swen Gillberg, Brian Grill, Nikos Kalaitzidis, Daniel Sudick
- Ghostbusters: Afterlife: Aharon Bourland, Sheena Duggal, Pier Lefebvre, Alessandro Ongaro
- The Matrix Resurrections: Tom Debenham, Hew J Evans, Dan Glass, J. D. Schwaim
- No Time To Die: Mark Bokowski, Chris Corbould, Joel Green, Charlie Noble
Will Win: Dune.
Should Win: Dune.
Surely “Dune” will have this one nailed on won’t it?
Did Win: Dune.
Nailed! On!
British Short Animation
- Affairs Of The Art*: Joanna Quinn, Les Mills
- Do Not Feed The Pigeons*: Jordi Morera
- Night Of The Living Dread*: Ida Melum, Danielle Goff, Laura Jayne Tunbridge, Hannah Kelso
I haven’t seen any of these, so can’t predict.
Did Win: Do Not Feed the Pigeons.
British Short Film
- The Black Cop*: Cherish Oteka
- Femme*: Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping, Sam Ritzenberg, Hayley Williams
- The Palace*: Jo Prichard
- Stuffed*: Theo Rhys, Joss Holden-rea
- Three Meetings Of The Extraordinary Committee*: Michael Woodward, Max Barron, Daniel Wheldon
I haven’t seen any of these, so can’t predict.
Did Win: The Black Cop
EE Rising Star Award
An award voted for by the public.
- Ariana Debose
- Harris Dickinson
- Lashana Lynch
- Millicent Simmonds
- Kodi Smit-McPhee
Will Win: Kodi Smit-McPhee.
Should Win: Millicent Simmonds.
Hmm… trying to pick who the British public will go for is fraught with difficulty. If there was a Marvel star in the mix, I’d pick them. Although Lashana Lynch might get votes from the Bond audience, I reckon it might be Smit-McPhee from the Netflix audience coverage. My personal choice would be the marvellous Millicent Simmonds who was terriffic in both of the “Quiet Place” movies.
Did Win: Lashana Lynch.
Never try to predict the British public. I don’t think I’ve ever predicted this category right!
