Tuesday, January 9, 2018

"The Post" shut out at BAFTA

Like the SAG nominations last month, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts has left The Post bereft of nominations. To be honest, I almost forgot about these nominations being announced, since I had no expectations for Meryl getting in, but it's never good when your film is completely shut out.

Couple things to think about, though. The top four ladies I'd expect to get noms for Lead Actress from almost any body (Sally Hawkins, Frances McDormand, Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan) did. The shock to me was that Judi Dench (Victoria & Abdul), a favorite with BAFTA and already a nominee at the Globes and SAG, was passed over in favor of Annette Bening for Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool. Despite the miss, I think this bodes well for Meryl for a few reasons: if Dench can't get in at BAFTA, she's far less likely to get in with AMPAS (Academy Awards). Also, Bening, like Dench, is in a British film, which tends to help. We should remember that The Post is a decidedly American film that likely was seen by fewer voting members of BAFTA due to its late release, and it doesn't open in U.K. theaters until next week.

All that might be a bit of rationalizing, but I'm also trying to stay positive for Meryl's chances at a 21st Oscar nomination. I still think it'll happen, but I have to admit I'm a little nervous. Her many television appearances this week (Kimmel, Ellen, Graham Norton) should hopefully help boost box office a bit, with the film going wide in the U.S. this weekend.  I have plans to see it on Saturday evening.

15 comments:

  1. Dear Jeff,

    I think you are overestimating the power of two major competitive awards ignoring The Post. BAFTAs have become even more accurate than GG to predict future Oscar winners, and now the AMPAS has become full of british fellows that also vote and decide.

    Meryl has gotten a lot of backlash and negative press: for Harvey Weinstein and being hypocritical about defending women's rights. AMPAS is changing and diversifying, and that means trying to nominate new, younger and talented faces to the awards instead of watching the same faces year after year. Meryl, as iconic as she is, hasn't been able to diversify enough. And although this role is beautifuly portrayed by her, it is not something we haven't seen before (compare to Frances, Sally, Saoirse, Margo, Michelle and many other people who we haven't heard of). Although I love Meryl, I would like to see her being nominated and win and oscar for a character that truly challenges her, and not just because she is everlastingly great (the same applies to Tom Hanks, Daniel Day-Lewis and Denzel Washington).

    I think the best thing is to stop being romantic and face it, we shouldn't expect a nomination this year, and we should also expect Meryl gets better and significant roles that help to challenge her (both Mamma Mia 2 and Mary Poppins don't seem like they're gonna do it).

    (Sorry for the mistakes, but English is not my mother tongue)

    -Francis

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Francis, and your English is wonderful. I wonder too how much "negative press" might affect Meryl, but I maintain that the Academy is a very particular body that is still filled with people who absolutely adore her. With that in mind and the fact that her performance has received wonderful reviews, I think she'll crack the top five.

      I have to disagree that she hasn't diversified enough. She's arguably the most diverse actor in the business, in that she's made a career out of playing very different characters. The Post may not seem like a fantastically obscure role (biopic), but from what I understand, it affords her many opportunities for greatness.

      You're right that Mamma Mia and Mary Poppins will go nowhere in regard to awards, and I too hope for a spectacularly complicated and challenging role from her soon.

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    2. You do know all the work she has done for women's rights right?

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  2. Jeff,

    Do you know if "the Post2 was eligible to this year BAFTAs? I am saying this because I see some nominations of movies which were in the cinemas and in other awards ceremonies last year, like Elle...

    Hugo

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    1. That's a great question, Hugo, as some films that don't have a release by a certain time will not qualify. From what I've gathered on Awards Watch leading up to today, The Post was in contention/eligible.

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  3. SAG snub was due to screeners and not enough of the voting body seeing it
    BAFTA is never a sure thing especially for a patriotic American Film- Streep has earned Oscar nominations without the BAFTA
    The Post will get a Best Pic nomination and Meryl will be nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars
    I agree with Jeff - Dench snub a good sign and Bening will does not have the buzz.

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    1. I agree. Dench didn't hadn't enough to do in her movie and Bening has little momentum. Has anyone seen I, Tonya?

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    2. Seeing I, Tonya this weekend!

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    3. My Meryl comment regarding BAFTA disappeared I'm afraid. Sufficed to say they run hot and cold with her and I'm sure she'll get in. We were here before in 2014 and 2015

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  4. Francis, have you see THE POST? I have. Streep is amazing in it, one of her best performances ever - very layered. Sorry, but Mcdormand has played that role (variations of herself) for years and is not worthy of being a 2 time Oscar winner.
    Streep plays a real person and that is catnip for voters.
    SAG got screeners late at end of voting but BAFTA had the screeners in time - so they just didn't go for it.

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  5. So ironic that Meryl finally does a more subtle performance that the critics have been asking for and she's almost being shut out of awards. I know this movie's old school but at the beginning of the season I thought for sure this movie was a lock for nominations everywhere, especially Meryl. And Meryl's been getting raves too... I'm not too fazed by BAFTA but I'm still upset about SAG. The paranoid part of me also wonders if all the negative press this year is to blame... Meryl has never have a worse PR year that I can remember...Dench being shut out at BAFTA is a good sign for Meryl's Oscar chances even though now we know a win isn't in the cards. I haven't seen The Post yet though I can't help but think it must be really boring and preachy if none of the awards are going for it even with the pedigree of people involved.

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  6. Meryl has given one of her finest performances in years with The Post, in my humble opinion. I think it'll be a crime if she doesn't get a nom for that. This performance is a refreshing departure from all that showy characters she has played in the past few years - August Osage, Iron Lady, Florence. And I agree with one commentator here: McDormand's role in Billboards is a variation of the same persona she has played for YEARS! And I disagree with another that Meryl is not diversified enough. Name me another actress who can play comedy, drama and musical so effortlessly. Not even my other favourites like Blanchett and Swinton have done that. Meryl is peerless. David.

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  7. By the way, on Kimmel show, whilst playing the 'Oscar' game, she was told by the host that she wasn't nominated for A Cry in the Dark. But I thought she was! Strange, isn't it? David

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    1. I know. So dumb. Of course she was nominated for A Cry in the Dark.

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  8. They made a mistake as it went under "Evil Angels" in Australia when released there and that's probably the title they had on the list. It makes me annoyed when the chat show host doesn't know their stuff. Like when Meryl was on Ellen in 2005 and Ellen made some joke about how many Oscars she'd been nominated for and had never won! Meryl always tries to appear humble by feigning a bad memory with these sorts of questions, it's rather comical.

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