BAFTA 2010: Audrey Tautou, THE HANGOVER; But No Sandra Bullock

Hollywood Dominates BAFTAs 2010

Among the BAFTA 2010 curiosities are best actress nominee Audrey Tautou for Coco Before Chanel, best actor nominee Andy Serkis for Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, best supporting actor Alec Baldwin for It's Complicated (above, with Meryl Streep), a best original screenplay nod for The Hangover, only one nomination for Nine (for makeup and hair), the total absence of The Last Station, and no nominations in the acting/direction/cinematography categories for Jane Campion's Bright Star. That's what usually happens when a movie's Award Buzzometer is low — no matter how good the movie; no matter how talented the people involved in them.

Also, Tom Hardy, whose performance in Bronson has earned him raves from critics and a best actor British Independent Film Award, had the misfortune of being a (not internationally famous) British actor starring in a very small film. No nomination. Same for Katie Jarvis in Fish Tank, though at least Jarvis made it into the BAFTA longlists announced a few weeks back. Hardy didn't even get that far.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is usually berated for being star-struck and all-too-eager to brownnose its way into the executive offices of the big Hollywood studios. Apart from the (very) few British films that sneaked into the top categories, a look at the BAFTA nominations shows that there isn't that much of a difference between them and the Golden Globes.

But wait! Where the heck is Golden Globe winner Sandra Bullock?

Well, in her bed sleeping, I hope. It's 3:56 am in Los Angeles.

But why wasn't she nominated?

It's simple. The Blind Side was ineligible for this year's BAFTAs. Else, she'd likely be in the BAFTA shortlist as well, instead of Audrey Tautou or Saoirse Ronan. Theoretically, Bullock could get nominated next year, but what would be the fun? By then, all the awards buzz about her going blonde will have long fizzled out.

Photo: It's Complicated (Melinda Sue Gordon / Universal)