Movie fans from the UK and other countries vote for the annual Jameson Empire Awards, which honor blockbusters, indies and British films alike.
Movie magazine Empire, which is celebrating 25 years (I was its first west coast editor), presented Lifetime awards to current coverboy Tom Cruise (“Edge of Tomorrow”) as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger (whose “Sabotage” opened poorly this weekend). Cruise accepted the Legend of Our Lifetime award from Rosamund Pike, while The Action Hero of Our Lifetime award went to Schwarzenegger. Two more special Empire awards went to Hugh Jackman (Empire Icon award) and Simon Pegg (Empire Hero award).
Pegg had a good night, as “The World’s End” took Best British Film. The voters favored their homegrown product all around. Steve Coogan’s “Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa” took Best Comedy. James McAvoy (“Filth”) and Emma Thompson (“Saving Mr. Banks”), respectively, nabbed the Jameson Best Actor and Best Actress prizes. Oscar® and BAFTA-nominee Sally Hawkins took home Best Supporting Actress for “Blue Jasmine.” Michael Fassbender won the Best Supporting Actor for “12 Years a Slave.”
“Gravity,” which was filmed in the UK, won both Best Director (Oscar-winner Alfonso Cuarón) and Best Film.
Australian actress Margot Robbie collected the award for Best Female Newcomer for “The Wolf of Wall Street” while Irish actor Aidan Turner collected Best Male Newcomer for his role in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” Down Under director Peter Jackson’s epic sequel also took a second award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film.
British director Paul Greengrass received the Empire Inspiration Award for his work on the Bourne trilogy and recent “Captain Phillips.”
Best Horror went to “The Conjuring” and Best Thriller to “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”
The award stream is here. Full list of awards below.
The Jameson Empire Awards 2014 Winners*
EMPIRE 25th AWARD: The Legend of Our Lifetime
Presented by: Rosamund Pike
Tom Cruise
EMPIRE 25th AWARD: The Action Hero of Our Lifetime
Presented by: Jonathan Ross
Arnold Schwarzenegger
EMPIRE ICON presented by Jameson Irish Whiskey
Presented by: Darren Aronofsky
Hugh Jackman
EMPIRE HERO
Presented by: JJ Abrams
Simon Pegg
EMPIRE INSPIRATION presented by Mazda Motors UK
Presented by: Brian Cox
Paul Greengrass
Best Male Newcomer presented by Tresor Paris
Presented by: Sarah Harding
· Aidan Turner (The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug)
Best Female Newcomer presented by Max Factor
Presented by: Richard Armitage
· Margot Robbie (The Wolf Of Wall Street)
Best Horror
Presented by: MyAnna Buring
· The Conjuring
Best Comedy presented by Magic 105.4
Presented by: The Inbetweeners cast
· Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
Best Thriller presented by Quaglino’s
Presented by: Stacy Martin & Jamie Campbell Bower
· The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy presented by MediCinema
Presented by: Sophie Turner & Thomas Brodie-Sangster
· The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug
Best Supporting Actor presented by The National Lottery
Presented by: Celia Imrie
· Michael Fassbender (12 Years A Slave)
Best Supporting Actress
Presented by: Richard E Grant
· Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)
Best British Film
Presented by: Mark Gatiss
· The World’s End
Best Actress presented by Max Factor
Presented by: Stephen Fry
· Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks)
Jameson Best Actor
Presented by: Kate Beckinsale
· James McAvoy (Filth)
Best Director presented by Air New Zealand
Presented by: Logan Lerman & Douglas Booth
· Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)
Best Film presented by Sky Movies
Presented by: Professor Brian Cox
· Gravity
DONE IN 60 SECONDS
Presented by: Edith Bowman, Ben Wheatley, Alex Zane
David Smith, There Will Be Blood
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