BRITAIN:Films with a British involvement dominated the Bafta nominations, announced yesterday.
Stephen Frears's The Queen took the most with 10 nominations, including one for Helen Mirren's memorable performance as the monarch, along with best film, best director and best original screenplay.
Just behind it was Casino Royale with nine nominations. That was something of a surprise - the 007 franchise is unashamedly commercial and Daniel Craig is the first Bond to be nominated for a Bafta.
David Parfitt, chairman of the Bafta film committee, said: "I think the Bafta membership looked at the body of his work. This was a very different role for him and demonstrates his great range." Mirren will vie for best actress with another dame, Judi Dench, for Notes on a Scandal, as well as Kate Winslet for Little Children, Meryl Streep for The Devil Wears Prada, and Penelope Cruz for Volver. It will be a real shock if Mirren does not win and indeed go on to Oscar success.
Things are less clear-cut in the best actor category. Craig is up against Leonardo DiCaprio for The Departed, Richard Griffiths for The History Boys, Peter O'Toole for Venus (he last won in 1963 for Lawrence of Arabia), and Forest Whitaker, whose Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland possibly gives him the edge.
Best film will be decided among Babel, The Departed, Little Miss Sunshine, The Queen, and The Last King of Scotland. For best British film, the last two of those are joined by Casino Royale, Notes on a Scandal and United 93. The unlikely scenario of Leslie Phillips doing battle with Jack Nicholson will be played out in the best supporting actor category. The 82-year-old Briton is nominated for Venus and the 69-year-old New Yorker for The Departed. They are joined by Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine, Michael Sheen for The Queen, and James McAvoy for The Last King of Scotland.
Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada is nominated for best supporting actress, along with Frances de la Tour for The History Boys, Jennifer Hudson for Dreamgirls, and Toni Collette and Abigail Boreslin, both in Little Miss Sunshine.
The biggest loser in the announcement was Borat. Despite awards for Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy, it picked up no nominations. The awards ceremony will be held on February 11th.