This year the nepotistic, jingoism has swung the other way.
Whilst I feel that the Academy Awards were rather fairly balanced this year
I don't think the same can be said of the BAFTA's.
Surprise, surprise; Elizabeth came romping home with
the majority of awards (6) pushing the infinitely better
Shakespeare In Love into second place (4).
Whilst Elizabeth may have been the only totally British film to have made
it big last year ( although the global impact of
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is yet to be seen -
it did, rightfully win the Orange Audience Award ) it doesn't necessarily
make it the best film released.
If the BAFTA's were solely about British films then perhaps the result couldn't
be severely criticised; there aren't that many British candidates in the running
anyway although last year was better than many
others ( Elizabeth,
Little Voice,
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,
Shakespeare In Love and
Velvet Goldmine ).
But BAFTA Awards are not just about British films or influence. They may have
been once; which is why BAFTA's were never taken seriously.
Such excessive, and obvious, heaping of praise on a patently home-grown film
does nothing to raise the perception of the BAFTA's in the eyes of the global
village.
The damaging decision to raise Elizabeth above the shoulders of all
others is compounded by giving The Truman Show more
awards (3) than Saving private Ryan (2).
I'd have gone with a close call between Shakespeare In Love and
Saving Private Ryan, but, The Truman Show ? Elizabeth ?
Something is seriously rotten in the voting booths of BAFTA; viewing the films
themselves makes it hard not to see it clear and obvious.
For self indulgent back-slapping, the BAFTA voters have excelled themselves;
their patriotic bigotry has shone through.
The very same people who are obviously determined and content to ensure that
British, historical, costume drama is seen to be better than anything else
are, undoubtedly, the very same who believe Opera and Ballet should be
financially supported as the highest Art Form despite the public's clear
rejection of such notions.
The awards, I'm afraid, have done nothing but show the elitism in British film
making which I thought had at last been banished.
And it has put the reputation of BAFTA back at least a decade or more.
