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'The Queen,' 'Casino Royale' scoop nominations for British awards
2007-01-12
Royal hit film "The Queen" starring Helen Mirren and the new James Bond movie "Casino Royale" grabbed the lion's share of nominations for the top British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards. "The Queen" tops the list with 10 nods from the BAFTAs, which are seen as key indicators to success at the Oscars in Hollywood, including for best film and for best actress for Mirren's portrayal of the 80-year-old British monarch. The other best film nominees are "Babel," "The Departed," "The Last King Of Scotland" and "Little Miss Sunshine." Other nominees for best actress are Dame Judi Dench for "Notes On A Scandal," Kate Winslet for "Little Children," Penelope Cruz for "Volver" and Meryl Streep for "The Devil Wears Prada". "Casino Royale" scooped nine nominations, including outstanding British film of the year and best actor for Daniel Craig. It is Craig's first major awards nod as James Bond, another triumph for the English actor who faced early skepticism that he could fill the shoes of his predecessors, particularly Scotsman Sean Connery. "Casino Royale" has already proved both a critical and box office hit worldwide. Craig faces competition from Leonardo DiCaprio for "The Departed," Richard Griffiths for "The History Boys," Forest Whitaker for "The Last King Of Scotland" and veteran star Peter O'Toole for "Venus". Best director goes to either Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for "Babel," Martin Scorsese for "The Departed," Jonathan Dayton/Valerie Faris for "Little Miss Sunshine," Stephen Frears for "The Queen" or Paul Greengrass for "United 93". At last year's BAFTAs, which were awarded in February, the US movie about gay cowboys "Brokeback Mountain" rounded up four awards, including Best Film. The BAFTA film awards were moved to a date before the Oscars in 2001 and are now seen as a pointer to who will pick up the iconic golden statuettes in the United States next month.
Movie veterans set for Golden Globe honors (2007-01-13)Scorsese eyes Golden Globes glory as Oscars countdown begins (2007-01-12)'The Queen,' 'Casino Royale' scoop nominations for British awards (2007-01-12)"The Queen" takes on Bond at British film awards (2007-01-12)Oscar watchers narrow list of top film nominees (2007-01-06)
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