24th February 2010

VIEW 2 CINEMA: The Hurt Locker wins big at the BAFTAs

by Francesca Evans

WAR thriller The Hurt Locker (15) swept the British Academy Film and Television Awards (BAFTAs) held at London’s Royal Opera House on Sunday night.

The film, which follows the United States Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team during the Iraq War, won best film and best director for Kathryn Bigelow, as well as awards for original screenplay, cinematography, editing and sound.

Colin Firth walked away with the leading actor award for his performance in A Single Man (12A), which tells the story of a man grieving the loss of his long-term partner, whilst Carey Mulligan was hailed best leading actress for An Education (12A) – a coming of age story about a teenage girl in the 1960s.

The prestigious Academy Followship was awarded to Vanessa Redgrave, member of the well-known Redgrave family of actors and star of over 80 films as well as more than 35 shows in London’s West End and on Broadway. She was presented with her award by actress Uma Thurman and HRH Prince William of Wales, who has recently been made the academy’s fifth president.

If you missed this year’s BAFTAs, you can catch up online using BBC iPlayer at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer

Brendon Fraser, Harrison Ford and Keri Russell star in Extraordinary Measures (PG), inspired by the true story of John Crowley, who defied the odds to pursue a cure for his children’s life-threatening disease.

John (Fraser) and Dr Robert Stonehill (Ford) team up to create a bio-tech company working on a cure, but the pair’s relationship is tested under pressure and could affect the future of John’s children.

Released Friday, February 26th

Romantic comedy Leap Year (PG) follows Anna (Amy Adams) who is fed up of waiting for her boyfriend Jeremy (Adam Scott) to propose so decides to follow him on a trip to Dublin and traditionally pop the question herself on February 29th.

But when Anna finds herself stranded on the wrong side of Ireland, she has to rely on the help of Declan (Matthew Goode), and suddenly she’s not so sure about her feelings for Jeremy.

Also released Friday, February 26th

Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell star as a small town American couple in The Crazies (15) – a reinvention of George Romero’s horror classic.

When a mystery toxin in the water supply turns their friends, family and neighbours into mindless killers, David and Judy Dutton are deserted by the authorities and left to their own resources in a struggle for survival.

Also released Friday, February 26th

PICTURE: THE CRAZIES - (l-r) Brett Rickaby, Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell star in the horror classic remake