Along with my annual bewilderment as to the reasoning for BAFTA’s longlist announcement, I’ve never really got why they announce their Best Foreign Language Film nominations separately, 11 days ahead of the other categories. To me, it seems merely an additional way to marginalize an already marginalized category, but what else is new?
The official line, I believe, is that the head start gives voters extra time to catch up with the nominated films, but when their selections are as obvious and ubiquitous as the five films listed after the jump, is that really necessary? I mean, who isn’t aware of “I Am Love” or “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” by now?
The continued appearance of the latter film — a sloppy potboiler that may have made bank, but has no business beating, say, “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives” to a nod — in this category has been one of my biggest bugbears of the season, by the way. (Moreover, its grim appearance on BAFTA’s Best Film longlist, where it is the only foreign-language title to place, suggests it’ll probably win this race in a walk.)
At least the Academy, whatever other foreign-language errors they commit, can’t fall victim to this laziness. Anyway, check out BAFTA’s choices below.
Best Foreign Language Film
“Biutiful”
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”
“I Am Love”
“Of Gods and Men”
“The Secret in Their Eyes”
[Photo: Magnolia Pictures]
Comments
11 responses to “BAFTA announce foreign-language nomineezzzzz”
The Secret in Their Eyes…WOOF!
Uncle Bonmee comes out in 2011, no?
I think “Of Gods and Men” stands a good chance. I remember reading an article in The Guardian awhile back about how it was doing surprisingly and unusually well.
Uncle Boonmee was a 2010 release in the UK.
Biutiful will win the bafta and in february the oscar! I guess!
How often do you have to replace the exclamation mark on your keyboard, Simon? ;)
Biutiful is winning here. Same with the Globe.
I’m stilling pulling for I Am Love – one of my favourite films of the year.
I think the italians really messed up not picking it as their entry for oscars, it’s been having a good run so far.
I loved GWTDT. If that makes me a heathen that wouldn’t know good cinema if it smacked me in the face with a wet fish, then I am a heathen.
GWTDT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I am Love for example and it isn’t close.
The two sequels were rubbish but there’s no denying the first had a great atmosphere some wonderful characters and an excellent central performance from Noomi Rapace.
Liked Secret in their Eyes a lot. Not seen Of Gods and Men or Biutiful yet.
Well, I think as long as the Baftas tend to copy what they expect the Oscars to do, they will not mean anything much. They are many talented directors, actors, writers in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales ( well, maybe less in those last two, at least on a regular basis ). I can’t understand how barely a couple of UK directors are nominated each year. A bit of international movies, OK, but Ruth Sheen, Jim Broadbent, Peter Wight or David Bradley out of the top 15 longlists ? Really ? What’s the point then ? I would like to know how british artists feel about that. HARRY BROWN is an unpleasant film but Michael Caine could have been in that long list and I don’t believe he is.
it’s funny how I am love and Girl… are not even eligible for the oscar. Out of the eligible ones Biutiful seems to be the strongest bet to get the nod along with Of Gods…
OMG, Will THE SECRETS IN THEIR EYES just go off and die somewhere?
It has to be one of the ten worst movies I’ve ever seen. Watching that movie is like taking a brick to the head.