Time To Big Up Bigalow
It’s the the BAFTAs next Sunday and it’s always best to bet on these awards factoring in a certain home bias. As such, it’s worth having a small investment on Andy Serkis at 11-8 to beat Jeff Bridges in the Best Actor category, for his role as Ian Dury in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.
For the same reason, we reckon Avatar – currently trading around 1-2 on Betfair – is worth opposing in the Best Film category. A large part of Avatar’s anticipated Oscar glory is down to the sheer level of investment made in the movie, its takings at the US box office, and the importance of its success for the future of 3D. The UK doesn’t have the same baggage attached to what is, outside of the special effects, a very average film, and as such a lay on Betfair is in order, along with dutching win bets on An Education at 3-1 and The Hurt Locker at 7-2.
Carey Mulligan looks good for Leading Actress glory but 1-2 is not going to make you rich; nor will the 1-2 An Education will win Outstanding British Film, so the only other small bit of value looks to be Kathryn Bigalow to win Best Director at 11-10.
It’s the height of irony that her main rival in the Best Director category is her former husband James Cameron, and BAFTA recognition is surely long overdue for Bigalow, if only for the cult surfing flick and much under-rated Point Break starring Patrick Swayze who died in 2009 and who is sure to be featured during the ceremony’s traditional obituary montage.
Rob Furber