Awards -- BAFTA Nominations

The British Academy has released their nominees. Arguably, along with the Critics' Choice, and several of the guilds, these are some of the most influential awards out there. Particularly because it gives us a little view of what the people across the pond have on their minds. Think "The Reader" showing up, if you need an example of what I mean. Love the fact that they also give awards in practically every category that AMPAS does as well.

That said, here's my thoughts. Strong showings by many of the front-runners. I love the lineup for Best Actress. I personally think Moore gives an even better performance that the "lead" of Bening, and she deserves to be in this group. Also love the inclusion of Steinfeld here. It's a lead performance, enough with the category fraud. People who are onscreen for more time are LEADS, regardless of their history or experience!

The inclusion of Postlethwaite in the supporting category is both a surprise and deserved. It's sad that we lost him only a few weeks ago, and he will be missed by his many fans, including me. But to go out with that role as your last, gives much credit to the man as an actor. His delivery is chillingly serious.

Starting to think that it's more and more likely that Despicable Me will claim that 3rd spot for Animated Film. In my mind, Tangled SHOULD still get it. But after a nod here, plus a Producers Guild nod, Despicable Me is looking stronger and stronger.

Besides that, not a whole bunch of other surprises. I love the nod for How to Train Your Dragon in Score, as the music is one of my favorites of the year. Huge shocker to see Amy Adams but no Melissa Leo???? And even though 127 Hours didn't make it in the Best Picture category, it looks like it still has a good possibility to show up in several categories at the Oscars. And could Dragon Tattoo show up anywhere? While ineligible at the Oscars, it could be still in the running for Actress & Screenplay, as we see here.

BEST PICTURE
Black Swan
Inception
The King's Speech
The Social Network
True Grit

BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky "Black Swan"
Danny Boyle "127 Hours"
David Fincher "The Social Network"
Tom Hooper "The King's Speech"
Christopher Nolan "Inception"

BEST ACTOR
Javier Bardem "Biutiful"
Jeff Bridges "True Grit"
Jesse Eisenberg "The Social Network"
Colin Firth "The King's Speech"
James Franco "127 Hours"

BEST ACTRESS
Annette Bening "The Kids Are All Right"
Julianne Moore "The Kids Are All Right"
Natalie Portman "Black Swan"
Noomi Rapace "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Hailee Steinfeld "True Grit"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale "The Fighter"
Andrew Garfield "The Social Network"
Pete Postlethwaite "The Town"
Mark Ruffalo "The Kids Are All Right"
Geoffrey Rush "The King's Speech"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams "The Fighter"
Helena Bonham Carter "The King's Speech"
Barbara Hershey "Black Swan"
Lesley Manville "Another Year"
Miranda Richardson "Made in Dagenham"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
127 Hours
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Despicable Me
How to Train Your Dragon
Toy Story 3

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
127 Hours
Black swan
Inception
The King's Speech
True Grit

BEST FILM EDITING
127 Hours
Black Swan
Inception
The King's Speech
The Social Network

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Alice in Wonderland
Black Swan
Inception
The King's Speech
True Grit

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Alice in Wonderland
Black Swan
The King's Speech
Made in Dagenham
True Grit

BEST SOUND
127 Hours
Black Swan
Inception
The King's Speech
True Grit

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Alice in Wonderland
Black Swan
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
Inception
Toy Story 3

BEST MAKEUP & HAIR
Alice in Wonderland
Black Swan
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
The King's Speech
Made in Dagenham

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC
127 Hours
Alice in Wonderland
How to Train Your Dragon
Inception
The King's Speech

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Biutiful
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
I Am Love
Of Gods And Men
The Secret In Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)

BEST BRITISH FILM
127 Hours
Another Year
Four Lions
The King's Speech
Made in Dagenham

BEST DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER
The Arbor -- Director/Producer -- Clio Barnard & Tracy O'Riordan
Exit Through the Gift shop -- Director/Producer -- Banksy & Jaimie D'Cruz
Four Lions -- Director/Writer -- Chris Morris
Monsters -- Director/Writer -- Gareth Edwards
Skeletons -- Director/Writer -- Nick Whitfield

BEST SHORT FILM
Connect
Lin
Rite
Turning
Until the River Runs Red

BEST SHORT ANIMATION
The Eagleman Stag
Matter Fisher
Thursday

ORANGE RISING STAR AWARD
Gemma Arterton
Andrew Garfield
Tom Hardy
Aaron Johnson
Emma Stone