Daniel Day-Lewis unsurprisingly took Best Actor, but Marion Cotillard turn as Edith Piaf in “La Vie En Rose” made a shocking upset by winning the Best Actress prize over the highly-favored Julie Christie performances as the senile wife in “Away From Her.”
DDL who usually never shows up to these sorts of things made a rare appearance telling reporters, “I’m quite pleased to be part of the circus this year as it’s a good year.”
“La Vie En Rose” was the big winner of the evening, taking four prizes total including recognition for its music, costume design and make-up. The Best Supporting Actress award also went unexpectedly to ice-queen Tilda Swinton for her sub-zero performance as a chilly exec in “Michael Clayton.” Javier Bardem took the Best Supporting Actor award for his role as a moralistic psychopath in “No Country For Old Men” – and the Coen Brothers took the Directing honor for helming the film (‘Country’ earned three decorations including Best Cinematography for Roger Deakins).
Screenplay awards went to Ronald Harwood for “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” (adapted) and Diablo Cody for the teen pregnancy comedy “Juno” (original). Ironically, the Bafta and Writers Guild awards were spoiled early by Internet leaks from within both institutions by inept web people who don’t know how to use the interweb yet.
In “Control” at the London Critics Circle Awards
Nice to see “La Vie En Rose” get some award season recognition. It’s a very worthy film. Earlier in the weekend (Friday evening) the London Critics Circle awarded some similar artists; Daniel Day Lewis, Marion Cotillard in the same categories. However, Best Picture went to “No Country For Old Men,” director went to Paul Thomas Anderson and Tom Wilkinson took the Best Supporting honor for his portrayal of an unhinged lawyer in “Michael Clayton.”
In the British categories, the Joy Division biopic “Control” was a big winner grabbing three recognitions for British Film of the Year, and breakthrough awards for director Anton Corbijn and lead actor Sam Riley.