Tonight the newly established Australian equivalent of the Oscars, the AACTA Awards, will take place at the Sydney Opera House. The inaugural ceremony will be broadcast on Channel Nine from 9.30pm showcasing the finest output from local film/television talent in 2011. Many of the most talented, influential folks from within the industry will be in attendance, including AACTA President and Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush, and international luminaries Cate Blanchett, Anthony LaPaglia, Rachael Taylor, Xavier Samuel and so on. Here are a few predictions of what the night may hold…
BEST FEATURE FILM
It’s difficult to predict which, out of the nominees for Best Film (see below) the Australian Academy will lean toward. The main contenders are a sentimental favourite – the adaptation of Patrick White’s novel The Eye Of The Storm which takes a fantastic Australian director in Fred Schepisi, an outstanding cast led by Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis, and of course the Nobel Prize-winning source text of Patrick White. Then there’s the gripping, methodical mystery of The Hunter starring Willem Defoe which has been picked up for U.S. distribution. Lastly, the much-loved – and much-attended – audience favourite Red Dog by Kriv Stenders.
OUR PREDICTION: With such a high pedigree of Australian film talent involved it seems like The Eye Of The Storm is the most obvious choice.
Nominees: The Eye Of The Storm, The Hunter, Mad Bastards, Oranges And Sunshine, Red Dog, Snowtown.
BEST DRESSED: Our Cate. She’s much much richer than anyone else so it just makes sense. The other possibility is Cate-reincarnate, Mia Wasikowska.
BEST POTENTIAL CAMEO APPEARANCE: Please, PLEASE let Koko be there.
TIGHTEST AWARDS CATEGORY: The TV category for Best Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series is a tight race. The nominations comprise a high calibre, critically-acclaimed bunch including: Cloudstreet, Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo, Sisters Of War, and The Slap. We’re predicting The Slap will edge out Sisters Of War by an arm’s length.
MOST AWKWARD MOMENT ANTICIPATED: Olivia Newton-John is going to be performing a medley from the soundtrack of her new film A Few Best Men. According the the AACTAs, She will bring her special touch to the classic 1960s track ‘Daydream Believer’ made famous by the Monkeys, and her brand new song ‘Weightless’. The performance will also be choreographed by So You Think You Can Dance regular Jason Gilkison. Olivia N-J is a darling, but there’s something about big song-and-dance numbers at awards ceremonies and the trailer below that somehow doesn’t bode well…
DRUNKEST IN ATTENDANCE: Brendan Cowell. He is nominated in the writing category of Best Screenplay In Television for The Slap. May end up getting slapped himself.
CUTEST COUPLE: There’s something sincerely adorable about the pairing of Rachael Taylor and Josh Lawson.
Image via Style Me Romy
MOST HANDSOME CATEGORY: Best Lead Actor In A Television Series features some of the dreamiest Australian actors: Alex Dimitriades (The Slap), Jonathan LaPaglia (The Slap) and Don Hany (East West 101). Rounding out the nominees is Rob Carlton who was really terrific as Kerry Packer in Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo.
The inaugural AACTA Awards will be broadcast tonight on the Nine Network at 9:30pm AEST.
