Baftas BETTING: Pick a winner

It's the straight-faced Oscars

Best Film: Atonement (1.52), No Country For Old Men (3.05), There Will Be Blood (9.6), The Lives of Others (9.8), American Gangster (18)

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As everyone knows, the Americans struggle with irony, so much so that the much-loved song Ironic (by Alanis Morissette) was only made ironic by the fact that it failed to define a truly ironic situation, despite giving it around ten tries. And this weekend, the people across the pond will be involved in an equally brain-meltingly ironic situation when Amy Winehouse scoops an award for her song about refusing to go to rehab (Rehab), which she can't pick up because she's just been to rehab and isn't allowed out of the country. Explain the situation to Bush, and the world would literally stop.

Still, over in glorious Blighty, everyone will be chuckling at ironic things and giving each other Baftas. Here's some facts to help you decipher the winners:

» Only three of the last twenty Best Films have starred the Best Actor - this year Daniel Day-Lewis is favourite for the acting gong for his big performance in There Will Be Blood. Hence, it shouldn't win. Although it really should (as it's the best film).

» Only seven of the last twenty Best Films have gone on to win the Best Picture Oscar. No Country for Old Men is the favourite for the Academy Award, so look set to miss out here. The last film to win the Bafta and the Oscar was Lord of The Rings: Return of The King (2003).

» Two films have won Best Film without even getting an Oscar nomination - Jean de Florette (1987), and The Commitments (1991). That's good news for American Gangster and The Lives of Others. Both of which definitely won't win.

» Seven of the last twenty Best Films have been British made - The Last Emperor (1988), Howard's End (1992), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Sense and Sensibility (1995), The Full Monty (1997), Shakespeare in Love (1998), The Queen (2006). Of the other fourteen, all are US made, bar five (The Pianist, 2002; Lord of The Rings, 2001 and 2003; The Commitments, 1991; Jean de Florette, 1987). Atonement is the most English film ever made by anyone.

» Only twice in the last twenty years have the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor starred in the same film (Philippe Noiret and Salvatore Cascio, Cinema Paradiso, 1990; Daniel Day-Lewis and Ray McAnally, My Left Foot, 1989). Paul Dano will be hoping that Day-Lewis has an equally magical effect on his winning chances in the Best Supporting Actor category. Unlikely. Javier Bardem looks the strongest contender for his psychotic turn in No Country For Old Men.

» Just twice in the last ten years has the Best Film starred the Best Actor (Robert Carlyle, Full Monty, 1997; Kevin Spacey, American Beauty, 1999). And twice the Best Actress (Anette Bening, American Beauty, 1999; Helen Mirren, The Queen, last year).

» Day-Lewis is a big Bafta favourite, having already won the Best Actor for his turns in Gangs of New York and My Left Foot. A win would make him the second most successful Best Actor behind Peter Finch, who won five gongs (1956, 1960, 1961, 1971, 1977).

» So far Julie Christie (pictured, above left, with Alan Sugar) has been nominated seven times for Best Actress, and has only won the once - on her second go in 1966 (Darling). She hasn't been in the running since Don't Look Now in 1974. Nostalgia should see her win it as a forgetful old dear in Away From Her.

» Back in 2005, Cate Blanchett won Best Supporting Actress for her Hepburn impression, this year she's up for it again for her 'Dylan' (in I'm Not There). Only the legendary Dame, Judi Dench, has won this one more than once, hence Samantha Morton could just nick it for her Academy ignored performance in Control.