I have yet to see the Italian Mafia feature Gomorrah, but since the film won the Grand Prix in Cannes it has been earning plenty of buzz on its way to the States and along with becoming the front runner in the Best Foreign Language Feature category it has also earned some recognition in other categories including Best Adapted Screenplay and things just improved for the feature, which will begin its Oscar-qualifying run this week in Los Angeles and then expand on December 19.
Over the weekend Gomorrah took home five awards at the European Film Awards which were held in Copenhagen on Saturday. The film won for Picture, Director (Matteo Garrone), Actor (Toni Servillo), Screenplay (Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso, Roberto Saviano) and Cinematography (Marco Onorato), which is sure to open Academy voters’ eyes.
Kristin Scott Thomas was recognized once again for her excellent work in I’ve Love You So Long, which continues to add to my Best Actress conundrum as I can’t seem to get a feel for what five ladies will be nominated let alone who will be favored. My last Oscar prediction article had Cate Blanchett, but I can’t help but believe Meryl Streep’s performance in Doubt will win so many over as it did for me. Then again, will Scott Thomas pull the upset or will the “it’s just great to be nominated” lob which is sure to head Anne Hathaway’s way end up shocking us all? It’s a category filled with a wealth of names to consider. A nice change if you ask me as the ladies have been in dire need of a good year.
I have included the complete list of winners below which also includes another award for Waltz With Bashir and Steve McQueen’s Hunger (I’ve got to get my hands on this one).
FILM
Gomorrah, Matteo Garrone (Italy)
DIRECTOR
Matteo Garrone, Gomorrah (Italy)
ACTOR
Toni Servillo, Gomorrah (Italy), Il Divo (Italy-France)
ACTRESS
Kristin Scott Thomas, Il y a longtemps que je t’aime (I’ve Loved You So Long) (France-Germany)
SCREENWRITER
Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso, Roberto Saviano, Gomorrah (Italy)
CARLO DI PALMA CINEMATOGRAPHER AWARD
Marco Onorato for Gomorrah (Italy)
PRIX D’EXCELLENCE
Magdalena Biedrzycka for costume design, Katyn (Poland)
COMPOSER
Max Richter for Waltz With Bashir (Israel-France-Germany)
DISCOVERY AWARD
Hunger, Steve McQueen (U.K.)
FIPRESCI CRITICS’ AWARD
Abdellatif Kechiche, La Graine et le mullet (The Secret of the Grain) (France)
PIX ARTE DOCUMENTARY
Rene, Helena Trestikova (Czech Republic)
PRIX UIP SHORT FILM
Frankie, Darren Thornton (Ireland)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Judi Dench
ACHIEVEMENT IN WORLD CINEMA
Soren Kragh-Jacobsen, Kristian Levring, Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, David Yates (U.S.-U.K.)
