14 DAY TRIAL // This year’s edition of the Empire Film Awards honored “Avatar” as the best film of 2009, with leading actor Sam Worthington putting in an appearance to collect the statuette. Other winners included Christoph Waltz of “Inglourious Basterds” and Worthington’s co-star Zoe Saldana for her part in “Avatar,” as the Daily Mail informs.
The winners for the Empire Film Awards are voted by the readers of the magazine with the same name, which also prompted director James Cameron, who wrote and helmed “Avatar,” to say that British audiences were smarter than American ones, thus taking a swing at the Academy Awards. In a pre-taped acceptance speech, Cameron thanked fans for the award – and sent his star Sam Worthington to collect it, who later told the media how he’d been persuaded to attend.
“Clearly the Empire magazine readership are more discerning than the British or American academies. Of course, we know that the director just takes credit for the work of others, but I’m very happy to take the credit for them,” Cameron said in his pre-taped speech. “I told [director James Cameron] I was doing this and he told me not to [mess] this up. I was told that when you go work with Jim, it’s like going to war. It’s a big piece of your life, making a movie like this. Some days you get your face dragged across a cheesegrater, but James never loses sight of what you’re doing. To receive an award like this, from the audience who went to see the film, is going to mean a lot to him I know, so thank you very much,” Worthington also said.
Christoph Waltz thanked “Basterds” director Tarantino for giving him a chance to make himself noted, saying, “I can’t hold an award of any kind without thanking Quentin Tarantino, out of whose wonderful imagination this came.” Jude Law was presented with the Empire Hero award, and was introduced by Gwyneth Paltrow, with a very funny speech. “The winner of this award is that rare breed who is both character actor and movie star, versatile and substantial. He’s worked with some of the world’s greatest film-makers, the [expletive]... Please be upstanding for the gorgeous, beautiful, talented Jude Law! Stand up. I know we’re in England but it’s OK to show some love,” Paltrow said.
When he came on stage, Law said he did not feel like a hero at all, but was incredibly thankful the prestigious magazine allowed him to be treated as one, if only for a single day, just like in David Bowie’s popular song. Below is the complete list of winners, as per the publication mentioned above.
- Best Film: “Avatar;” - Best Director: James Cameron – “Avatar;” - Best Actress: Zoe Saldana – “Avatar;” - Best Actor: Christoph Waltz – “Inglourious Basterds;” - Best Newcomer: Aaron Johnson – “Nowhere Boy;” - Best Comedy: “In The Loop;” - Best Sci-Fi: “Star Trek;” - Best Thriller: “Sherlock Holmes;” - Best Horror: “Let The Right One In;” - Best British Film: “Harry Brown;” - Empire Icon: Sir Ian McKellen; - Empire Hero: Jude Law; - Empire Inspiration: Andy Serkis; - Outstanding Contribution to British Film Award: Ray Winstone.