Empire Awards

Tom Cruise standing in front of a large print of his Empire front cover

Jameson Empire Awards 2014

The awards show with the most booze, the least rules and the most diverse guest list, the Empire Awards.

With the likes of Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzenegger and The Inbetweeners all on the red carpet, it signalled the way for what will be an incredible finish to the awards season.

The biggest winner of the night was (unsurprisingly) Alfonso Cuaron he won for Best Director and Best Film. While he wasn’t at the event he did appear via video link to accept his awards.

Host, and star of The Hobbit trilogy James Nesbitt welcomed in the audience with less of the polished auto-cue script that you might hear from Stephen Fry, but with all the humour and wit you would expect from a drunk Irishman.

Opening with a song sang to the tune of ‘That’s Why The Lady Is A Tramp’ he impressed with a decent Sinatra-style singing voice.

James Nesbitt on stage presenting the Empire Awards 2014.

Image via Empire Online

He finished off the opener with the not so subtle jab at the Academy Awards, “We don’t need Oscars – they’re just for phonies and scamps / That is why Empire is for champs.”

Other awards that were presented were Best Male and Female newcomers that were collected by Aidan Turner (The Hobbit: The Desolations Of Smaug) and Margot Robbie (The Wolf Of Wall Street).

All the awards of the night were voted for by readers of Empire magazine, which this year celebrates it’s 25th Anniversary.

To commemorate this milestone there were two special awards that were created just for this years ceremony.

Collecting the first ‘Empire 25th Award: The Legend of Our Lifetime’ was Tom Cruise, who also conveniently appears on the front cover of this months Empire magazine.

Tom Cruise on the cover of Empire magazine

Image via Empire Online

Tom Cruise holding his Empire Award in front of a white background with the Empire logo printed on it.

Image vie Empire Online

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger collected the second of the anniversary awards The Action Hero Of Our Lifetime.

Arnold Schwarzenegger collecting his award at the Empire Awards on stage.

Image via Empire Online

The Empire Awards, while they are an international awards ceremony, there is considerable favour given to British film, and rightly so. 12 Years a Slave, Filth and Saving Mr Banks all picked awards in various acting categories.

Emma Thompson posing with her Empire Award in front of a white background with the Empire Logo printed on it.

Image via Empire Online

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James McAvoy posing with his Empire award and Kate Beckinsale

Image via Empire Online

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hugh Jackman also managed to take home an award, Empire Icon.

Hugh Jackman posing with his Empire Award in front of photographers.

image via Empire Online

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jackman, who will reprise his role as Wolverine in May in X-Men: Days Of Future Past for the eighth time is very popular with Empire and their readers.

The full list of winners, back stage interviews, and the live stream are all available to catch up on. as well photo galleries and red carpet arrivals there is plenty to keep you distracted from work for at least the next 20 minutes.

The British Academy Film Awards 2014

A young blonde woman places signs with showing BAFTA nominees in the red seats at the Royal Opera House

A young blonde woman places signs with showing BAFTA nominees in the red seats at the Royal Opera HouseOrganising the seating arrangements for this years ceremony. Image via Vogue.co.uk

This weekend we celebrate the 67th British Academy Film Awards. We mentioned the BAFTA’s when we took a short look at the upcoming film season in our post, Tis the season post back in December.

This year’s ceremony takes place at the Royal Opera House in London (as it has since 2008) on Sunday at 9pm. It will be broadcast in Britain on BBC One and BBC One HD and we will be liveblogging the event as it happens from 8pm. Make sure you check our liveblog and our Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with the news, award winners and any blunders as they happen (Miss Lawrence, we’re looking at you).

The films nominated for Best Film are 12 Years a Slave, American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Gravity and Philomena. Gravity is the most nominated film, up for a total of 11, American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave are nominated for 10 awards each.

The nominees, performers and presenters will walk down 131 yards of red carpet. Performing on the night are Tinie Tempah and Laura Mvula, who will open the awards with a performance of Heroes. Stephen Fry will be hosting the event for the ninth time.

Up for Best Actor are Christian Bale for American Hustle, Bruce Dern for Nebraska, Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years a SlaveTom Hanks for Captain Phillips and Leonardo DiCaprio for Wolf of Wall Street.  It’s a well-known face that Leonardo DiCaprio has never won an Oscar. He’s also never won a Bafta and has only been nominated twice previously for The Aviator and The Departed.

For Best Actress the nominations are Amy Adams for American Hustle, Sandra Bullock for Gravity, Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine, Emma Thompson for Saving Mr Banks and Judi Dench for Philomena. Judi Dench is the most BAFTA nominated actress in Film with 15 nominations and 6 wins.

Another highly nominated actor is Woody Allen who has accumulated 24 BAFTA nominations and an impressive 10 wins throughout his career. This year he is nominated for Original Screenplay for Blue Jasmine.

Since 1971 a BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award has been presented to one outstanding achiever. The lifetime award is the highest honour bestowed by the Academy. The first winner was Alfred Hitchcock, last year it was awarded to Michael Palin. This year it will be presented to Dame Helen Mirren.

Mirren has one four previous BAFTA awards since she began acting in the 1970’s. Three of these are for her role as Jane Tennison in the ITV drama Prime Suspect and one was awarded for her role as Elizabeth II in The Queen. Elizabeth II is not the only Queen she has portrayed, Mirren has played five other Queens including Elizabeth I in The Queen and The Snow Queen in The Snow Queen.

Remember to join us from 8pm for coverage of the evening.

Festive favourites: three Christmas must see’s

A middle aged man, Will Ferrell, lies across two tiny beds dressed as an elf in a red jumpsuit.
A middle aged man, Will Ferrell, lies across two tiny beds dressed as an elf in a red jumpsuit.

Image via www.focusfeatures.com

It’s just over two weeks until Christmas day so it’s about time that you snuggled down with a glass of mulled wine, a mince pie and some of the best festive films. Here are a few of our choices blended with a bit of trivia that you probably didn’t know about these festive favourites.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without at least one showing of Love Actually, especially as it is ten years old this year. Essentially a holiday rom-com, Love Actually is filled with heart-warming tales alongside a star studded cast; from Martin Freeman to Keira Knightley. If you haven’t seen it (it’s on TV every Christmas, there’s no excuse) the film follows the interlinking lives of eight couples and their curious relationships, a month before Christmas in London.

Kris Marshall, (who you may recognise as the father from the BT adverts) plays Collin Frissel, actually refused his pay cheque for the scene in Love actually where three American girls undress him due to the fact that he reportedly had so much fun filming the 21 takes; he was willing to work for free.

Another cheering fact is that the lovely airport compilation of loved ones reuniting is real. A team of camera men filmed for the entirety of a week in Heathrow Airport, asking for permission from people when they captured a perfect moment.

Released in the same year, Elf is a Christmas classic. It’s an uplifting tale of a man raised as one of Santa’s elves, searching for his identity in the real world to hilarious consequence. You’d have to be a scrooge not to enjoy watching six foot three Will Ferrell prancing around in an elf suit. It was certainly distracting to drivers when Ferrell walked through Lincoln tunnel in his costume, so much so that it caused minor traffic accidents.

When Santa shows Michael his nice list, all of the names are people who worked on the movie, from Victoria Down, a key make-up artist, to Jimmy Miller the executive producer.

Finally, a timeless film, The Muppet Christmas Carol, released in 1992. We all know that this ageless picture follows the tale of a Christmas Carol but retold by the lovable Muppets cast. What you probably didn’t know is that there is a shop in the film named ‘Micklewhite’ after Michael Caine, who plays the part of Scrooge, as his real name is Maurice Micklewhite.

The film is also dedicated to the memory of Jim Henson and Richard Hunt. Jim Henson was the creator of the Muppets and the voice of Kermit and Richard Hunt was a puppeteer.

There you have it, three Christmas classics that you should definitely watch before the big day. Even if you’ve seen them many times before, they are guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit, and if you haven’t seen them then what are you waiting for? Go get your festive onesie on and get comfy with a spiced hot chocolate.

Events, offers and releases 25/11/13

A movie still from the new film 'Free Birds'.
A movie still from the new film 'Free Birds' featuring two animated turkeys running.

Image via IGN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Cinemas – Friday 29th November

Saving Mr Banks – For over 20 years Walt Disney sought the rights to the now much beloved Mary Poppins, and for over 20 years author P. L. Travers refused. Starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, Saving Mr Banks explores that difficult relationship between these two big characters and their journey from book, to music, to script and eventually to the big screen. For any die hard Disney fan this film will not fail to disappoint and shed some light on the method behind the magic.

Free Birds – Two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history – and get turkey off the holiday menu for good. With voice talents from Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler and Woody Harrleson. Now with the nights drawing in, this is the perfect film to entertain the kids on those cold winter nights.

Carrie – If you’re looking for something a bit different, or enjoy the occasional thrill check out this new release. Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass) stars as the title character in this re imagining of the classic horror tale. A shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother, who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom. Co-starring Julianne Moore.

Events, offers and releases 18/11/13

Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson as their characters, Walt Disney and P. L. Travers
Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson as their characters, Walt Disney and P. L. Travers

Image via www.filmthrasher.com

In our weekly instalment of offers we bring you the best discounts and savings for films across the UK.

First up this week we have a brilliant offer for students. Student Money Saver are offering 4,000 free tickets to see Saving Mr Banks tomorrow at 6.30pm. The film follows the untold story of how Mary Poppins was bought to the big screen. Starring Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks and Collin Farrell.

Tickets are available for screenings at the following cinemas, Bath, Bridgend, Brighton, Bromobrough, Cardiff, Dundee, Huddersfield, Kilmarnock, Kingston, Lincoln, Liverpool One, Maidenhead, Preston, Rochdale, Sheffield, Silverlinks, South End, Southampton, Stoke on Trent and Worcester. Just visit Student Film First and enter your details for two free tickets.

If you’re an O2 customer you can get 45% off adult or teen tickets at Odeon cinemas with the free Priority Moments app. Just download the app (or text MOMENTS to 2020 for free) and search Odeon to find your code. Limited to one ticket per person, valid this Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Terms and Conditions apply.