‘In Bruges’ and ‘Hunger’ Lead The British Independent Film Award Pack

Whenever awards bodies such as the British Independent Film Awards release their nominations, I have no choice but to question where ‘independent’ factor comes into play. Nevertheless, their thoughtful championing of the underdog(s) year in and year out is reason enough to let such thoughts slip. This year, Mike Leigh’s disarming “Happy-Go-Lucky” received a paltry 3 nominations, same as James Marsh’s highly regarded doc “Man on Wire” and Mark Herman’s so-so “The Boy in Striped Pyjamas” (in which I found Vera Farmiga excellent, and she received a Best Actress nom here too), while “Son of Rambow,” “Somers Town” and “The Duchess” snatched 4 apiece, which is laughable if only because Leigh’s film is so obviously a shutout. Nevertheless, of course, those films may never see much success at any awards ceremony this year, whereas “Happy-Go-Lucky” has a good chance of get some serious Oscar love. In a surprising move, Martin McDonagh’s hybrid of genres “In Bruges,” whose stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes all garnered nominations of their own, received the most nominations, with 7, which was equalled by the take of Steve McQueen’s mesmerizing IRA prison drama “Hunger.” Danny Boyle’s festival pleaser “Slumdog Millionaire” took 6 nominations on its slow, but sure, bid for world domination, R-rating aside. Full list of nominees here. [courtesy of Fataculture]