It has been a busy weekend for British celebrities, with the BAFTA awards in London and the Grammy’s in America.
Dressed from head to toe in designer clobber, the stars graced the red carpet both here and Los Angeles to collect their awards.
Or in some cases, not.
At the awards in London in recognition of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the biggest shock of the evening came when the Best Actress award was announced.
A Press Release said:
"Marion Cotillard received the BAFTA for Leading Actress for La Vie en Rose for her portrayal of Edith Piaf. The film also won awards for Music, Make Up & Hair and costume. "
The triumph for the young French actress raised suggestions that Brit stars had been disregarded.
The Sun wrote:
The Sun wrote:
"Brit stars Keira Knightley and Julie Christie were sensationally snubbed at the Baftas - in favour of an unknown actress from France.In a night of shocks at the star studded bash, Marion Cotillard beat both our girls to pick up the Best Actress award."
"Two of the film industry’s most reclusive and revered stars were thrown under the spotlight last night at the Baftas…but only one went home with a prize.
But Julie Christie, 66, left empty-handed, even though it was assumed widely that her portrayal of an Alzheimer’s sufferer in Away From Her would earn her the Best Actress prize.
Instead, the award went to a 32-year-old French actress, Marion Cotillard, for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose."
They also suggested that the win was a shock.
"Few [critics] had predicted her win because Baftas, Oscars and Golden Globes tend to relegate foreign films to their own categories."
Marion, who is already a Golden Globe winner, is the first ever French winner of the Best Actress award at the ceremony.
Molly Flatt from the Guardian was pleased with the outcome.
Molly Flatt from the Guardian was pleased with the outcome.
"I am thrilled Marion Cotillard has won the best actress award at this weeks baftas. Now she really has a fighting chance to bag the Oscar. Surely."
Knightley herself was also supportive of the decision and is a fan of the French actress.
Contact Music reported the star as saying:
Contact Music reported the star as saying:
"Marion [Cotillard] is my hero at the moment. She's amazing in La Vie En Rose."
Hotly tipped British film, Atonement, was nominated for 14 of the English equivalent of the Oscars but only acquired two.
Comments on the BAFTA website reflect the disappointment, especially after Knightley’s ‘snub’.
Comments on the BAFTA website reflect the disappointment, especially after Knightley’s ‘snub’.
"Wow. Keira Knightley's performance in Atonement hasn't been fully respected in yet another award show."
"Keira Knightley finally got the appreciation she deserves last night as she took home an award for best actress.
The 22-year-old missed out on a BAFTA and an Oscar this year but scooped the title at the Elle Style Awards in London."
Other winners of BAFTA awards included ‘This is England’ for Best British Film, ‘Ratatouille’ for Best Animated Film and Daniel Day Lewis won Leading Actor for his role in There will be Blood.
Over the pond, the British were triumphant at the Grammy’s with Amy Winehouse winning five out of the six awards she was nominated for.
The star preformed at the event via video link after being refused a visa to be in LA because she is currently in rehab addressing a drug addiction.
There has been a lot of criticism over the awards, especially from Natalie Cole.
The singer doesn’t think Winehouse deserves her Grammys.
"We have to stop rewarding bad behaviour…I think it sends a bad message to our young people who are trying to get into this business.
It’s a slap in the face to artists who work very hard that they give it to someone who really obviously doesn’t have a grasp of what she has."
This has reiterated comments made by Antonio Costa, head of the UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime, last November.
He suggested that the soul singer [and other celebs such as Kate Moss] is glamorizing drugs which could be the reason for the amount of young people in the UK using cocaine doubling over the last ten years.
Costa said:
He suggested that the soul singer [and other celebs such as Kate Moss] is glamorizing drugs which could be the reason for the amount of young people in the UK using cocaine doubling over the last ten years.
Costa said:
"Rock stars, like Amy Winehouse, become popular by singing: 'I ain't going to rehab,' even though she badly needed and eventually sought treatment."
However, it is not just the awards than critics are hung up about.
John Lundberg from The Hiffington Post was not impressed by the stars performance of “Rehab” and “You know I’m no Good”.
John Lundberg from The Hiffington Post was not impressed by the stars performance of “Rehab” and “You know I’m no Good”.
"The rail thin, strange and sultry singer fight for coherency in front of millions was breathtaking. She spoke like there were pieces missing, like the embodiment of the last few moments of a game of Jenga. God bless her for holding it together."
However, he does go on to praise her musical abilities.
That's not to say I don't like her music, I like it a lot. Her voice is kind of delicious, and you have to admire how she's brought Motown and 50's jazz club sounds to a new audience.
Despite the criticism, an online poll conducted by PopSugar has revealed that 58% of voters loved Amy Winehouse’s performance this week. [Results taken Feb 20th 2008]
This was echoed by others, who believe that Winehouse was most deserving of the highly acclaimed music awards.
The Daily Swarm published an article which stated that:
This was echoed by others, who believe that Winehouse was most deserving of the highly acclaimed music awards.
The Daily Swarm published an article which stated that:
"She’s a great example of art and commerce achieving a perfect balance. Seeing an artist like Winehouse break and get award recognition is a gratifying reminder of the major label system at its best."
"Amy Winehouse is a good singer and performer, and unlike in the Olympics, drug-taking is not a problem for someone to win a Grammy. She proved to everyone that she deserved them by performing live via satellite…Congratulations!"
Another big winner on the night was Kanye West who won awards for Best Rap Solo Performance (for ''Stronger''), Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (''Southside,'' with Common), Best Rap Song (for ''Good Life''), and Best Rap Album (for Graduation).
Other Grammy winners included Herbie Hancock receiving Album of the Year for “River: The Joni Letter” and “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace” winning Foo Fighters Best Rock Album.
In terms of the controversy surrounding the British stars at the awards ceremonies it is strongly suggested that Amy Winehouse is as deserving as any other artist to receive her five Grammy awards.
Her addiction does not make her any better or worse of a singer.
She has been talented from her very first album, Frank in 2003 which was nominated for an Ivor Novello Awaerd, and continues to be one of the best British singers to date.
Comments by Natalie Cole, can also be taken with a pinch of salt after the Grammy award winner herself has been reportedly mixed up in drugs in the past.
In her biography “Angel on My Shoulder” it describes incidents when:
Other Grammy winners included Herbie Hancock receiving Album of the Year for “River: The Joni Letter” and “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace” winning Foo Fighters Best Rock Album.
In terms of the controversy surrounding the British stars at the awards ceremonies it is strongly suggested that Amy Winehouse is as deserving as any other artist to receive her five Grammy awards.
Her addiction does not make her any better or worse of a singer.
She has been talented from her very first album, Frank in 2003 which was nominated for an Ivor Novello Awaerd, and continues to be one of the best British singers to date.
Comments by Natalie Cole, can also be taken with a pinch of salt after the Grammy award winner herself has been reportedly mixed up in drugs in the past.
In her biography “Angel on My Shoulder” it describes incidents when:
"Cole continued to spiral out of control - including one incident where she refused to evacuate a burning building, and another where her young son Robert nearly drowned in the family swimming pool while she and her first husband, the late Reverend Marvin Yancy, were on a drug binge."
As for the BAFTA awards, it is a shame to see British talent such as that of Keira Knightely not being awarded for their talents.
However it is clear that there is a lot of respect for Marion Cotillard in the film industry and therefore her talents must also be recognised.
It is prehaps unfair to say that she should not have been named “Best Actress” just because she is French and therefore should have stuck to her category.
If she is in fact best actress, which she was awarded, then isn’t only right that she is given the title?
However it is clear that there is a lot of respect for Marion Cotillard in the film industry and therefore her talents must also be recognised.
It is prehaps unfair to say that she should not have been named “Best Actress” just because she is French and therefore should have stuck to her category.
If she is in fact best actress, which she was awarded, then isn’t only right that she is given the title?
1 comment:
I think saying that Winehouse doesn't deserve her awards is somewhat unfair. Of course, drug abuse should never be glamourized or awarded, but that's not what is being praised here.
The fact that she took such a big step in appearing in front of thousands despite currently going through intense rehabilitation is admirous and very much deserving of some form of praise.
With the reaction to her at the Brits, it's clear we all want to see her make a recovery, so maybe a little encouragement, through the crowd's cheer or through an award, should be some sort of incentive for her.
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