'In Bruges' Tops British Independent Film Awards Nominees

Last Friday, we presented all the nominees for the Gotham Independent Film Awards, and today, we're going across the pond for the British Independent Film Awards. In Bruges, which has been my top film of the year since February, is one of two films to earn seven nominations; Hunger joins it at the top of the heap. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are both nominees in the Best Actor category, Ralph Fiennes is deservedly nominated for both In Bruges and The Duchess as a supporting actor, and Martin McDonagh is doubly nominated, for Best Debut Director and for his fantastic In Bruges script.Seriously, rent that damn movie. I have no idea why Focus Features wanted to release the movie so badly and then held it to a total of 232 theaters in the United States. Overseas, the film made over $20 million but here in the U.S., it could only bring in $7.8 million. What an absolute waste.

Of the nominated films I've seen, I can't disagree with any of them. The Duchess has great performances, Man on Wire is one of the five best movies I've seen all year, so even though it's a documentary, its inclusion among the Best British Independent Film nominees is justified, the kids in Son of Rambow were great, and Sally Hawkins definitely belongs in any discussion including the words "Best Actress" this year.

Here's a partial list of nominees. Get the complete rundown at Awards Daily. Best British Independent Film

Hunger
In Bruges
Man on Wire
Slumdog Millionaire
Somers Town
 
Best Director

Mark Herman – The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Steve McQueen – Hunger
Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
Shane Meadows – Somers Town
Garth Jennings – Son of Rambow
 
Best Debut Director

James Watkins – Eden Lake
Rupert Wyatt – The Escapist
Steve McQueen – Hunger
Martin McDonagh – In Bruges
Eran Creevy – Shifty
 
Best Screenplay

Enda Walsh, Steve McQueen – Hunger
Martin McDonagh – In Bruges
Simon Beaufoy – Slumdog Millionaire
Paul Fraser – Somers Town
Garth Jennings – Son of Rambow
 
Best Actress

Vera Farmiga – The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Samantha Morton – The Daisy Chain
Keira Knightley  – The Duchess
Kelly Reilly – Eden Lake
Sally Hawkins – Happy-Go-Lucky
 
Best Actor

Michael Fassbender – Hunger
Colin Farrell – In Bruges
Brendan Gleeson – In Bruges
Riz Ahmed – Shifty
Thomas Turgoose – Somers Town
 
Best Supporting Actress

Emma Thompson – Brideshead Revisited
Hayley Atwell – The Duchess
Kristin Scott Thomas – Easy Virtue
Sienna Miller – The Edge of Love
Alexis Zegerman – Happy-Go-Lucky
 
Best Supporting Actor

Ralph Fiennes – The Duchess
Eddie Marsan – Happy-Go-Lucky
Liam Cunningham – Hunger
Ralph Fiennes – In Bruges
Daniel Mays– Shifty

Comments

[Carv]

I've seen In Bruges, and I agree. What else should I rent from 2008 to get ready for awards season?

[Get The Big Picture]

Man on Wire, as I mentioned, is excellent. Though it won't get any awards play, I thought La Misma Luna was incredible. There are other films on this list, as well. It's funny: I was going over these nominees wondering if American films would be able to match it at the end of the year.

I have a lot of affection for Rambow, think The Duchess is a sturdy costume drama, and enjoyed Happy-Go-Lucky quite a lot. I see Slumdog Millionaire tonight, and I've been hearing plenty of good things about that.