Director Peter Jackson (left) demonstrates to Sean Astin (Sam) how his confrontation with Shelob should look in "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" |
HOLLYWOOD - Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ruled the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards--Britain's equivalent of the Oscars--picking up five prizes including best picture at Sunday night's ceremony held at a movie theater in London's Leicester Square.The Return of the King beat out Master and Commander: Far Side of the World, Big Fish, Cold Mountain and Lost In Translation to win the ceremony's most coveted award.
Translation's Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, however, won the best actor and best actress awards for their roles in the Sofia Coppola-directed drama, while Peter Weir walked away with the best director award for Master and Commander.
Jackson, a New Zealander, was thrilled at the recognition given to the third and final installment of his Lord of the Rings trilogy.
"This is so fantastic," Jackson said. "We were a bunch of Kiwis making this film with American money and we were always aware that we were looking after one of Britain's most loved books. We always tried very hard to do professor Tolkien's book the justice it deserved."
Director Anthony Mingella's Cold Mountain, on the other hand, received a chilly reception. The civil war drama, which was nominated in 13 categories--one more than The Return of the King--won only two awards, best music and best supporting actress for Renee Zellweger.
Also shut out was Girl With a Pearl Earring, which had 10 nominations, and Clint Eastwood's Mystic River, which had four nods.
Here is a list of winners:
Best film: The Return of the King
Best British film: Touching the Void
Best director: Peter Weir for Master and Commander
Best actor in a leading role: Bill Murray for Lost In Translation
Best actress in a leading role: Scarlett Johansson for Lost In Translation
Best actor in a supporting role: Bill Nighy for Love Actually
Best actress in a supporting role: Renee Zellweger for Cold Mountain
Orange Film of the Year (Audience award): The Return of the King
Best film not in the English language: In This World
Original screenplay: The Station Agent
Adapted screenplay: The Return of the King
Carl Foreman Award (for special achievement by a British director/producer/writer in their first feature film): Emily Young for Kiss of Life
Short animation: Jojo in the Stars
Short film: Brown Paper Bag
Make Up & Hair: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Visual Effects: The Return of the King
Sound: Master and Commander
Editing: Lost In Translation
Costume design: Master and Commander
Production design: Master and Commander
Cinematography: The Return of the King
Music: Cold Mountain