The sci-fi thriller Moon stars Sam Rockwell as a lonely lunar base worker who longs to return to his family on Earth. (Sony Pictures Classics) Up-and-coming filmmaker Duncan Jones snagged two trophies at the British Independent Film Awards Sunday night, with his spooky sci-fi thriller Moon winning both best film as well as best first feature at the London gala.
Jones, the son of music legend David Bowie, has won accolades for Moon, which stars Sam Rockwell as a lonely space worker assigned to operate a one-man lunar base. The film, made for about $5 million US, also features Kevin Spacey as the calm, yet unsettling voice of the on-board computer on the base.
Carey Mulligan, who rode a wave of critical acclaim for her turn in the 1960s-era coming-of-age film An Education this fall, won best actress. The best actor trophy went to Tom Hardy, who portrays a mentally disturbed prison inmate in the film Bronson.
Other 2009 winners include:
- Director: Andrea Arnold for Fish Tank.
- Screenplay: Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche for In the Loop.
- Supporting actress: Anne-Marie Duff for Nowhere Boy.
- Supporting actor: John Henshaw for Looking for Eric.
- Promising newcomer: Katie Jarvis for Fish Tank.
- Documentary: Mugabe and the White African.
- British short: Love You More.
- Foreign film: Let the Right One In.
The evening also included the presentation of a special award to Daniel Day-Lewis, for his outstanding contribution to British film, and a lifetime achievement honour to veteran actor Michael Caine, 76, who showered praise on others in his acceptance speech.
"It's completely different this sort of awards — it's very small, it's not televised, it's just a very personal British thing," Caine said, describing the evening as a "learning process" about the new talent working in the industry.
"There has been so much talent out there that I didn't know about. I thought there was a massive talent here, but even I underestimated it. It's fantastic."
Share Tools
FILM REVIEW: Men in Black 3 by Eli Glasner May. 25, 2012 11:40 AM Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in the action sequel Men in Black 3, a third instalment of a series now 15 years old. Though new addition Josh Brolin manages some amazing mimicry as a younger version of Jones, the story doesn't measure up to the weird and wonderful charms of the original, says film reviewer Eli Glasner.
Top News Headlines
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- The estranged partner of a young mother who was stabbed to death along with her parents at their home in Aylmer, Que., has been charged with first-degree murder Friday. more »
- Wildfires, high winds put northeastern Ontario on alert
- It's going to be a tense weekend in northeastern Ontario where strong, shifting winds have been fuelling a forest fire that has blanketed the Timmins area with smoke and ash. more »
- Labrador fire out of control
- A forest fire continues to burn out of control in Happy Valley-Goose Bay today, according to provincial firefighting officials. more »
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest
- The deaths of five climbers last weekend on Mt. Everest, with more summits underway this weekend, fuels the debate about the risks and responsibilities of high altitude climbing. more »
Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines
- Modern and traditional art scores at Joyner auction
- Both traditional and modern works fared well at Joyner Waddington's spring art auction in Toronto, with buyers snapping up lots by Group of Seven members as well as more contemporary artists. more »
- Prophetic Cosmopolis premieres at Cannes
- David Cronenberg says he didn't anticipate the Occupy Wall Street movement as he prepared to shoot Cosmopolis, his new film which made its world premiere Friday at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France. more »
- Jennifer Egan's newest story debuts on Twitter
- The latest short story from Pulitzer-winning writer Jennifer Egan is emerging 140 characters at a time via Twitter. more »
- Miller Brittain sketches restored by museum
- Canadian artist and social satirist Miller Brittain's larger than life chalk drawings may once again hang in Saint John. more »
Q Blog
Toni Morrison on her two selves May. 25, 2012 5:57 PM Jian speaks with the celebrated African American author and academic about her two conflicting selves, and her new novel, Home.
CBC Books
Talking about war May. 25, 2012 4:57 PM The public conversation around war has always been complex and thorny. How does Canada's military approach differ from that of other countries? Are we a society of peacekeepers or warriors? These are some of the questions that Noah Richler explores in his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About War.
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- Canada ending 'Buffalo shuffle' for visas, closing consulate
- What a Greek euro exit could mean for Canada
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest
- Police probe Halifax homicide after shooting
- Ottawa man in hospital after lightning strike
- RCMP officer charged in fatal crash
