Lots of chatter this week about the possibility of multiple Oscar noms for The Dark Knight, but we’ve been overlooking another film award that’s nearly as prestigious without being quite as snooty about honoring action films. Last year British director Paul Greengrass earned a coveted BAFTA director’s nomination, while The Bourne Ultimatum was nominated for Best British Film and scored noms in 5 other categories. The year before, as we’ve discussed over the weekend, BAFTA honored Casino Royale with 9 nominations. In 2002, BAFTA didn’t dawdle around and wait for Peter Jackson to pull a hat trick with all 3 smashing parts of the triology — they awarded The Fellowship of the Ring the Best Picture award, along with 14 other nominations. Peter Jackson won the BAFTA for Best Director, three years before AMPAS got onboard.
BAFTA last year gave Ridley Scott’s American Gangster’s five nominations, including Best Picture, and while AmGang isn’t an action film, there’s something more important it has in common with The Dark Knight — a British director, Christopher Nolan. Of the 28 filming locations listed on IMDb for TDK, 15 were in the UK (including much of the studio work at Leavesden Studio) providing the same level of limey involvement that allowed the BAFTA’s to declare the Bourne series “Best British” films.
If this site were still called OscarWatch I might feel a stronger sense of nationalistic allegiance to our homegrown awards, but I’ve never been shy about saying that BAFTA’s taste is often more in line with my own — especially when compared to what sometimes passes for “the year’s best” at the Kodak Theater. I still maintain that The Dark Knight could easily see 5-8 Oscars nominations (and reserve the right to adjust that number up or down, depending on what we see between now and December.) But one thing seems substantially more certain: whatever kudos or snubs TDK receives when the Oscar noms are announced, we can look for the BAFTA’s to appreciate the kind of Hollywood movie that Hollywood itself often tends to belittle.
31 Responses for "The Dark Knight and the BAFTA factor"
I do believe you’re right, Ryan. The Brits love it when one of their own succeeds in Hollywood and are eager to award those who do.
Comparison to Greengrass is particularly apt: Universal has essentially given him a blank cheque (and rumour has it that executives now come to visit Greengrass across the Pond to discuss projects and not the other way around) as long as he keeps delivering them a money-grabbing action film every few years. With TDK, Nolan has probably secured himself a similar deal with Warner.
Spot On Ryan. Which has puzzled me why you guys haven’t added TDK to the contender tracker yet?
I’ll hint to Sasha that the natives are restless about seeing some TDK love in the sidebar.
She’s well aware of the enthusiasm, but has been unable to judge for herself since she wanted to see it in IMAX and couldn’t get tickets until midday Monday. We’ll see about some contender updates ASAP.
THE DARK KNIGHT is one of those films that excels in so many categories–it’s a film of deft components, regardless of what the concensus is on the final meshing. I’m sure the sidebar will soon show some recognition in the obvious places.
I too, like Ryan, find my taste is more often in tune with BAFTA, and I expect that group to embrace TDK, especially since British scribes have written spectacular things about it. But of course we are a long way off, and TDK has the challenge of not becoming yesterday’s news. The presence of Mr. Ledger, the socko box office (what did it make, 150 million?!?) and the high-profile critical praise and audience adoration will no doubt mitigate this. This is clearly a universal phenomenon, and theres no reason BAFTA won’t be part of the celebration.
Even more telling: The BAFTAs nominated Jack Nicholson for the first Batman movie. Hm…
Well, the BAFTAs in last years could get the surprise factor in last years, especially if “action films” like Bourne Ultimatum (greengrass nomination) and Casino Royale (Craig Nomination) or foreign films like The Lives of Others and La Vie en Rose…
It’s likely that the BAFTAs are more friendly instead the Oscars, but also is a push of the race for “The Dark Knight”
dont mean to be a pain in the ass, but you should definitly add TDK for the Hans Zimmer Score, as well for the adapted screenplay and cinematography (Begins was nominated).
I see what you mean, Xavi.
In recent years have the BAFTA’s moved their deadlines around so that their nominations might’ve influenced the Oscars balloting? I think most recently they’re scheduled so closely that the calendar is too tight to have any crossover effect.
But I might be totally mixed up on the dates.
That score by James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer rocks OUT, sonnymoscoso. It even gives me chills in MP3 form.
Oh, I don’t know.
BAFTA, to me, is the smart cousin that my parents wish I was because he’s good with computers. But deep down inside, they love me more. Oh, if they only knew that all he does with computers is visit naughty sites. TMI? Well, guess what? I’m the Oscar in this story.
By the end of the day, I think Heath is the only lock for a nomination so far. Anybody know when the DVD release is? Xmas release, FYC release? The excitement is palpable; I wonder if TDK will get sustained The Departed treatment or get AG-ed (that’s American Gangster-ed).
The Contender Tracker is just right with respect to TDK.
Not to mention the other Brit Factor: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy…
Well, the BAFTAs seem more willing to recognize film excellence, even in the looked-down-upon Action Genre….which is cool.
BTW, when the fuck are Oldman and Bale gonna get some Oscar nods?
Wow, good call Ryno. I didn’t even think of that. Between the lack of snoot and the love of their own, Knight could clean up, even if it wasn’t a UK production.
The people who stick to the argument that the very fact that The Dark Knight is a comic book or superhero movie almost certainly precludes it from the BP and BD races commonly state that they need to see serious precursor attention before they will be convinced to think otherwise. I agree that The Dark Knight will be an almost surefire hit with BAFTA, and although that didn’t help The Bourne Ultimatum, American Gangster, Casino Royale, etc., it will be one piece of the puzzle. I could easily see it being nominated for Golden Globes and BFCA and place on the NBR top ten, but other critics’ group will probably go with artsier choices. We’ll have to wait and see.
This movie will not be able to compete for awards with material like Benjamin Button, the Changeling, Revolutionary Road and Defiance. It simply isn’t in the league of these others. Just watch.
RichardA, a site called DVD ETA is estimating a November TDK DVD (soon we will be contructing entire sentences with abbreviations.) Might be wise to delay until just before Christmmas and try to include a few juicy special features.
Jason, one of those movies you list will bomb badly. Just watch. That said, there are other movies out there that might not even be on our radar yet. We’ll see what happens in Cannes and Toronto. BAFTA’s do give themselves some elbow room by have Best British Film and Best Film categories.
I’ve never said it’s a Best Picture contender. But if freakin King Kong got 4 oscar noms how can The Dark Knight not beat that?
Ryan-
Cannes was in May.
Dark Night isn’t a British film.
I’m sure one of those movies will bomb. But the list goes on.
OK. OK. OK. I’ll stop bashing this movie, you brought up King Kong. If we judge DK but that standard then surely this movie will get some nods somewhere.
d’oh, thanks Jason. I meant Venice.
one a’ them dang ferner towns.
the baftas certainly got it right this year, awarding Atonement for Best Picture. I felt that film was vastly overlooked by the academy even if it did get a best picture nomination.
Also come to think of it, their honoring The Aviator as best picture over Million Dollar Baby was a perfect move.
More often than not the Baftas are perhaps right. Still I am pretty loyal to the academy, even though I am disagreeing more and more with their taste.
Also, not to hammer the point, but two other significant Part II’s that surpassed their Part I’s artistically:
The Empire Strikes Back — 4 Oscar noms
Aliens — 7 Oscar noms
Jason rightly reminds us: “Dark Night isn’t a British film.”
True enough, Jason, and I can appreciate your reservations. But just to clarify: The Bourne Ultimatum and American Gangster were not British films either, but the BAFTA’s loved them like their own, because they were fathered by British directors — as is The Dark Knight.
Jason, you don’t know that The Dark Knight isn’t “in the same league” as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Changeling, Revolutionary Road and Defiance. In fact, that’s mighty presumptuous of you to say. At best, you can say that those others are “Oscar movies” and The Dark Knight isn’t one. Keep in mind that The Departed wasn’t called an Oscar movie either (in fact, we recognized that Warner Bros.’s campaign strategy was to keep insisting that it wasn’t an Oscar movie in order to avoid a backlash).
Attitudes like yours are the reason why detractors of Oscar prognostication look upon the whole enterprise with shame. The common refrain is that movies that are “good” enough on their own terms should be rewarded, without the need for campaigning and pidgeonholing. While as a prognosticator I’m cynical enough to realize that biases and campaigning are an inevitable part of Academy decisions, I’m loathe to the idea that the Academy should or will only reward certain kinds of movies. Regardless of your personal opinion of The Dark Knight, the prospect of it being nominated for BP or BD should excite you at least somewhat, because it would show that the Academy doesn’t simply go for middle-brow Oscar-bait released in the fall, like it does year after year nowadays.
So in the end, my question to you is what exactly do you mean when you say that The Dark Knight isn’t in the same league as those others? That it’s not good enough a movie, or that it’s not the right kind of movie? Either answer is problematic. If it’s the former, then it means that those insufferable awards campaigners have convinced you that popular hits inherently don’t deserve to be rewarded like awards-bait movies do, which is a form of elitism. If it’s the latter, then it means that the whole awards circus is really as hopeless and diseased as the detractors claim.
At this point, the only solid contender that we have for sure for the top prizes is The Changeling. All of the others are far more liable to fail.
“Jason, one of those movies you list will bomb badly.”
You speak of BENJAMIN BUTTON? Sadly, I think you’re correct…
RRA, if I thought I knew which one of those would be the stinkbomb, I wouldn’t be shy about naming it. But I seriously hope Benjamin Button is not the one to sink. I want very much for it to succeed. I have another title in mind, but I have nothing to base my opinion but an itchy feeling, and that’s not enough to speak up.
No playing 20 questions, either.
That’s all I’m gonna say
I think The Curious Case is smelling like Tim Burton’s Big Fish.
You say that like it’s a bad thing, RichardA
Big Fish
The Fountain
Benjamin Button
Tree of Life
Magic Realism comes to America, flourished by some of our most visually astonishing directors. And like any other genre, some individual expressions will work better than others. Great as Tim Burton is, he’s no David Fincher.
You can bet your last dime that TDK will be nominated for “Best British Film” at the BAFTAs. Although it is not British, it covers some of the criterea that are necessary to have it nominated in that category. It has a British director. It is littered with British actors. Some of the filming was done in British studios. I’d hazard a guess that a lot of the production staff were British. In many ways it is like Bourne III, clearly not a British film but, nevertheless, nominated for “Best British film”.
Nolan is almost guaranteed a best director nomination, and I wouldn’t mind betting Bale will get a nod too. We brits love our home grown talent.
I don’t know, any slot that TDK might fill for the BAFTAs will surely be better filled by the more authentically British Quantum of Solace; and no matter how much love they loved American Gangster, I doubt they can find in enough room to give both Batman and Bond handfuls of nominations each; even when it comes to Best British, there will be some stiff competition.
Euan, I see your point about Quantum of Solace being more authentically British, but I think it would have to surpass Casino Royale and not simply equal it with more of the same in order to get another raft of nominations. Nothing would please me more, and there’s no reason not to expect QoS will be extraordinary, but the wow factor of seeing the Bond franchise rebooted in such adept and lavish fashion is gone this year. It’s hard to imagine the same amount of pride in Casino Royale being repeated every year there’s a Bond film (every 2 years or so?) Nope, can’t see Bond getting 9 nominations with every installment.
Anyway, I’ll contend (and keep trying to make the case off and on for months, probably) that The Dark Knight is as different from Quantum of Solace as There Will be Blood was from Atonement, or No Country from Sweeney Todd. It’s the wrong mindset to only match action films up against other action films in this imaginary Sophie’s Choice where we have to chose one or the other but not both. It feels silly to even refer to The Dark Knight as an “action film.” Categories and genres are useful as basic descriptors, but this movie defies any one-word labels.
It shouldn’t be a question about what’s “most British.” It should be a matter of what’s best, right?
That said, if Quantum of Solace is a better movie than The Dark Knight I’ll be thrilled to the gills. Who wouldn’t want to see that? Seems unlikely though.
I’d take “The Dark Knight” over “The Departed” anyday!
The BAFTAs are so, so much better than the Oscars in recent years. Fellowship of the Ring over A Beautiful Mind, The Pianist over Chicago, Aviator over Million Dollar Baby, Brokeback Mountain over Crash, The Queen over The Departed, Atonement over No Country, are all good choices (though Eternal Sunshine I thought was best of 2004, Children of Men best of 2006 and either There Will Be Blood or Atonement best of 2007). Not interested in the Oscars.
[...] I will say that overall I have higher hopes for Revolutionary Road and The Reader than does Daniel. Another major deviation you’ll see between our lists is that I tend to give The Dark Knight more credibility with BAFTA for reasons I tried to explain last July. [...]
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