The BAFTAs took place in London last night. If you’re American, this is your chance to say, “What are the BAFTAs?” If you are British, then it was your chance to feel embarrassed as journalists ran right and left on the red carpet, trying to persuade the major Hollywood actors who had flown over for the occasion to say that the event was as big as the Oscars.

The BAFTAs — or annual film awards given by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts — aren’t as big as the Oscars, but they are the closest we Brits get to an equivalent. And, in their favor, they’re usually a lot more concise than the Oscars, clocking in at a neat two hours rather than a bum-numbing four.

I’ll admit I love awards ceremonies — the women, the gowns, the often incomprehensible choices by the Academy, and the awkward acceptance speeches — so without further ado, here’s a rundown of what went down last night:

Sienna Miller was nominated for the Orange Rising Star Award (voted for by the public):

As were Ellen Page and the beautiful Lust, Caution actress Tang Wei. But they lost out to Shia LaBeouf. Yawn. … continue reading

Julie Christie thinks she has never been that pretty or clever. And, I must say, I’m inclined to agree with her. It’s true: Julie Christie isn’t pretty or clever. No, Julie Christie is beautiful and brilliant.

The Oscar-nominated actress recently gave a fascinating and free-flowing interview with the U.K. Telegraph. She discussed everything from her phenomenal performance in Away From Her to her aversion to celebrity and her passion for social activism. Though, if Christie had her way, she wouldn’t be in the news at all: “All these paragraphs about stupid old me — when there’s a war going on!”

In Away From Her, Christie gave a singular performance, rare both in its quality and its very existence. Since becoming the iconic face of the '60s, Christie retired herself from the Hollywood scene in the late '70s. While she still acted, she reemerged mostly in smaller roles by design. “It’s not my taste, being a film star,” she said. “It’s nothing I’ve ever longed for or admired.” … continue reading

I didn't watch all of the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards broadcast last night. Actually, I forgot it was on. I guess I find it difficult to get excited about movies like There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men — which, as Jamie recently pointed out, might as well be called No Movie for Women at All.

But I think I caught the best moments anyway. First, Tina Fey won for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series.

She was self-effacing and adorable as usual. Here's her acceptance speech, in which she calls herself the "hat rack" to Alec Baldwin's Fred Astaire: … continue reading

The writers' strike certainly made an impact on the Golden Globe Awards this year. No glitz, no glamour, no stars, no oops-Christine-Lahti-is-in-the-bathroom moments. Shots of the red carpet were replaced by shots of those red-and-black WGA picket signs. But, as cohost (and pinhead) Billy Bush noted, the winners still deserved recognition, so some sort of show had to go on. Here are some highlights of last night's Golden Globes Winners Special on NBC. (Images are from the press conference rather than the broadcast, but you get the idea.)

MOVIES

Best Actress, Comedy or Musical: Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose

Best Actress, Drama: Julie Christie, Away From Her
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical: Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Best Actor, Drama: Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Best Picture, Comedy or Musical: Sweeney Todd
Best Picture, Drama: Atonement
Best Director: Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

TELEVISION

Best Actress, Drama: Glenn Close, Damages
Best Actress, Comedy: Tina Fey, 30 Rock … continue reading

Over the weekend, the National Society of Film Critics announced its 2007 honorees. Here are some of the winners:

• Best picture: There Will Be Blood
• Best director: Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood
• Best actress: Julie Christie, Away From Her
• Best supporting actress: Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
• Best actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
• Best supporting actor: Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
• Best foreign-language film: Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days
• Best nonfiction film: No End in Sight
• Best screenplay: Tamara Jenkins, The Savages

These aren't exactly blockbusters. (Not a peep from Sweeney Todd, and no awards for Old Men either.) In fact, I've seen exactly one of these films: Away From Her. I'm glad Christie won for her mesmerizing performance.

And even though I'm not sure about I'm Not There, I do want to see Blanchett as Dylan: … continue reading

Sarah Polley, one of the most gifted actors and filmmakers of her generation, just began filming in Brussels for Mr. Nobody, an intriguing sci-fi fantasy by Belgian filmmaker Jaco van Dormael and co-starring Jared Leto.

The plot is described as having something to do with chaos theory, the "butterfly effect" and the exigencies of existence, and the last mortal man contemplating his past life and lost marriage. Whatever. We'll go with anything if it turns out well, which is always a long shot, if I'm up on my latest chaos film theory. … continue reading

I just watched the trailer for Away From Her, the new film starring Julie Christie and Olympia Dukakis and directed by Sarah Polley. It's based on the short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" by Alice Munro.

… continue reading

It looks like the film just might live up to the expectations fostered by those big names.