It was the British Academy’s big night last night as The Royal Opera House played host to the BAFTAs once again.  Some of film’s biggest stars, from in front and behind the camera – and indeed from both sides of the pond – were in attendance at the glittering ceremony.

Kathryn Bigelow’s Iraq drama The Hurt Locker was the big winner of the night, taking home six masks – including Best Film and Best Director - while it’s main rival Avatar managed just two wins when all was said and done.  Of course the latter’s score, by James Horner, was in line for the Best Music award, but that wasn’t to be as Mr awards magnet himself scored yet another prize…

Yes Michael Giacchino has done it again, with his delightfully breezy and pathos-ridden score for Up winning big once again.  The BAFTA Mask joins a Golden Globe and two Grammy Awards on the Giacchino mantle; quite a haul indeed.  It’s a fine score though and a worthy winner; the film also scooped the Best Animated Film honour as well.  Congratulations once again to Michael Giacchino and of course commiserations to the other nominess, who included Horner, Alexandre Desplat and T. Bone Burnett.

It has been a very solid awards season thus far and of course next in our sights is the Academy Awards, which are just a couple of weeks away.  Giacchino finds himself in the running yet again, alongside Beltrami and Sanders’ The Hurt Locker, Alexandre Desplat’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, Horner’s Avatar and not forgetting Hans Zimmer’s robust and very original Sherlock Holmes.  It’s a tough competition, but I have a feeling there may be room for Oscar on that already full mantle Mr. Giacchino.

This week also saw the news that there will be no song performances at this year’s Oscars ceremony.  The nominees, including two original songs by Randy Newman for Disney’s The Princess and the Frog will instead be highlighted with a short segment over a film clip.  It’s a great shame ultimately, but the move will see the mammoth telecast (famously long and exhausting) shortened somewhat.

As ever we will have all the news, not to mention our usual photo glance at the annual pre-Oscars reception on March 6^th, right here at Music from the Movies.com.

Michael Beek

Michael Giacchino with Best Music award-presenter Aaron Johnson.