The stars were out in force last night, braving the cold to attend the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards, some even battling jet lag on their return from the Golden Globes last week.
THE ARTIST swept up three main prizes; film of the year, director of the year and best actor for Jean Dujardin, wiping the floor with its competitors and adding to the growing pile of awards they’ve won this season.
Director Michel Hazanavicius and lead actor Jean Dujardin were there to basque in their glory, rubbing shoulders with veteran Kennith Branagh, big stars Carey Mulligan and Michael Fassbender and fresh new faces Jeremy Irvine and Zawe Ashton.
With Oscar nominations just weeks away, it was impossible not to feel the excitement in the air, and the talent were more than happy to share their excitement with THN.
Michel Hazanavicius (Winner of Director of the Year for THE ARTIST)
People have loved the Artist so much. Why have you taken it to our hearts?
You should ask yourself that question, you know the answer. I don’t know I guess something about the format, of another way to tell a story. It’s another experience as an audience member. Also people come to the cinema and expect to be bored as they have an idea of what a silent movie should be so they are surprised that it is not so boring and they are pleased to watch it.
There is so much Oscar buzz surrounding The Artist. Are you excited for next month?
Sure I am very excited but if we don’t get any nominations the excitement will fall very quickly. But yes we are.
We’ve heard today that some audiences have actually been leaving theatres because they said they didn’t realize the Artist was a silent movie, black and white movie. What would you say to someone who wouldn’t give it a chance?
I think it’s hilarious, really funny. It’s not that many people that did it, maybe one or two. More people who came actually enjoyed the movie but I think it’s really funny.
It was quite a brave decision to shoot a silent movie. Were you ever worried that people wouldn’t like it? Or did you feel so confident in what’s a great story?
Not really I really tried to make something more than just a gimmick movie. I tried to rock the story-telling and everything. My real worry was the money because when you write a script you spend a lot of time and when you don’t find the money that’s terrible. When I decided to make the movie with the money that I had I wasn’t worried anymore.
The first ever film to win an Oscar was a silent movie and in fact the only silent movie that ever won. Have you seen that movie and what do you think the chances are of being the second silent movie to win?
I have seen parts of it and there are some beautiful scenes. It’s just a coincidence- the Oscars were created in 29 so that explains why there is just one silent movie. I don’t expect anything and I don’t know about the chances for The Artist. I hope we get nominated and that would be a great story if we go to the Oscars.
Jean Dujardin (Winner of Actor of the Year for THE ARTIST)
Tell me why we love The Artist so much. Everyone is talking about it.
Because it is a new visual and emotional experience for the audience. Because it is a love story, a simple story and it’s universal. And there’s a cute dog. People love cute dogs.
The Oscars only weeks away. Do you think that you might be heading over to LA?
I don’t know- it’s too early to tell.
We’ve heard that some people have been leaving cinemas because they didn’t realize it was a silent film. How do you feel about that?
It’s stupid and funny. I hope they regret walking out.
Is it funny having British fans calling your name?
It’s the story of my life. No, it’s very new. It’s a very warm reception.
Did you ever think a silent film could touch the hearts of so many people in the modern cinema?
No I even hesitated to do the movie- it was a big challenge. But you can never foresee what is going to happen.
Kennith Branagh (Winner Supporting Actor of the Year for MY WEEK WITH MARILYN)
How are you feeling tonight?
Lovely it’s very nice to have this attention for our film. The filmmaker Simon Curtis spent 7 years to get to this point so when you get this kind of attention it’s a real thrill.
You’re nominated yourself for some fantastic work playing Laurence Olivier. How do you rate your chances?
God knows- when you get to this point of the year against all these people in a situation like this they’re always fantastic. It sounds so cliché to say that it’s the nominations that matter but it really is. And it’s the audience that matters and they’ve been coming to see Marilyn and that’s what I care about.
There’s such a massive Oscar buzz. Potentially looking to next month?
No potentially looking for tonight for a lovely night. Gad to be able to celebrate with others from the movie.
Olivia Colman (Winner British Actress of the Year for THE IRON LADY/ TYRANNOSAUR)
How are you feeling to be here tonight?
Cold. Very excited, honoured but yes cold.
There’s so much Oscar buzz around this. The IRON LADY has been getting such fantastic reviews, are you excited for that next month?
I don’t think I’ll be going but excited for Meryl.
When you were researching for the Iron Lady how did you find out about Carol Thatcher?
I looked through all of the I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here tapes because that’s obviously someone who has forgotten that the cameras are there so you get to see them being themselves, a great idea really.
You’ve been in loads of things recently, have you got any plans to grace our TV screens again soon?
Yes The Accused will be the next thing, I don’t know when. That’s the next thing I think.
Are there any films from 2011 that have stood out for you?
There are lots. Submarine I love. I love the Artist I think is beautiful so quite exciting that they’re all here.
Jeremy Irvine (Nominee Young British Performer of the Year for WAR HORSE)
It’s been quite a year for you. How are you feeling tonight?
I’ve just got off the plane from LA and it’s such a whirlwind. It all feels very surreal, it’s been a dream of mine. Stuff like this is new I’m getting used to it and it’s good fun.
What has been your favourite movie of 2011?
My favourite movie has been Tinker Tailor, I’m just a huge fan of Gary Oldman and Colin Firth. I just thought it was really unpatronising, I think a lot of movies these days are quite patronising and it doesn’t do that. It means you have to pay attention which is a good thing.
2011 has been an amazing year for you. What’s 2012 got in store?
I’ve got my next movie coming out in may called NOW IS GOOD with Dakota Fanning and I’ve got GREAT EXPECTATIONS which I did with Ralph Fiennes and that’s coming out later in the year and another film called the RAILWAY MAP that I did with Rachel Weisz.
Lynne Ramsay (Director of British Film of the Year WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN)
Congratulations on being the only British director on the BAFTA director list. How are you feeling tonight?
That’s wonderful, the last time at the BAFTAs I won this Sunderland trophy and it was so overwhelming so to be back in that category is really nice.
This is the Critics awards. How important are reviews- how much attention do you pay?
Sometimes you’ve got to take things with a pinch of salt. If you’re making a very controversial piece of work like this not everyone’s going to love it. The book is quite controversial so `I knew it was never going to be an easy ride. But the nature of the material it’s been really well received. I tried very hard to make an accessible movie that was still a thrilling ride to watch. Not something that was going to be so dark it pushed people away but it was always going to split opinion.
Carol Morley and Zawe Ashton (Nominee for Documentary of the year for DREAMS OF A LIFE)
It must be quite a strange feeling it’s obviously a sad story in the film, how does it feel being at such a glitzy event?
Well Joyce loved the high life so I think in a way I’m honoring her by bringing her memory to such an event. I’m just happy that Joyce is in a film that is here to be celebrated.
You must be proud of Zawe-she’s getting a lot of praise.
Zawe is amazing in the film. Everyone said that Joyce lit up a room when she entered it, so I really wanted to find someone who could do that and Zawe Ashton has just been amazing and we’ve become really close friends.
Zawe how do you prepare for a role like this and by playing Joyce do you feel you’ve brought her back to life a bit?
Preparation was different on this film to any other film I’ve done. I’ve never played a real person before unlike lots of people who play monarchs I haven’t quite got there yet. It was intense, we had a short amount of time to get this womens life from day one until the end on paper and photographd and in music as well. It was a lot of preparation but at the same time you just had to leave the work behind when you start shooting and just become this person.
It’s been a wonderful year for you- did you think two years ago that you’d be here on the red carpet.
It’s so funny because as an actor you sort of tread this line in between unshakable self-belief and uncrippling self-doubt. So I would think that I’d be here walking the red carpet but then think it’s never going to happen so double-edged swrod but I’m here and trying to be in the moment.
Do you two ever plan on working together again in the future?
Absolutely I think you find people in your life that you have enjoyed working with so I definitely think it will happen again.
THE ARTIST might have hogged the limelight last night but will that be the same story at the Oscars. We’ll just have to wait in anticipation.
