Oppenheimer is almost guaranteed to win an Oscar.
A lengthy film chronicling the creation of the A-bomb may not have initially been seen as a top contender for awards season (especially after being overshadowed by the Barbenheimer hashtag over the summer). However, it has become a powerhouse in 2024. Despite his films raking in billions of dollars, Christopher Nolan has never quite received recognition at awards shows. Now, things have changed. Nolan confidently accepted his well-deserved Bafta awards for best director and best picture, and it is almost certain that he will do the same at the Oscars.
Barbie is displayed on the shelf.
Barbie, despite bringing out their best efforts, ended up empty-handed at the end of the night. Big names such as Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Greta Gerwig, and Noah Baumbach were in attendance, but they could only sit and applaud as others took home the coveted golden masks. The BAFTAs have a different sentiment compared to Hollywood, so it’s not guaranteed that the same outcome will happen at the Oscars. However, the signs are not looking good. But, at least these stars have plenty of money to comfort themselves with, so it’s not all that bad.
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The producers of Bafta have gained knowledge from their experience and
The Bafta show is not considered must-see television and the fact that the results are known before the live broadcast is still confusing. However, this year’s return to a basic approach resulted in some success. Host David Tennant relied on his natural charisma and charm, avoiding overly ambitious jokes. The music featured classic, well-known songs and the interviews with uninteresting guests from last year were thankfully not included.
“The recipient of the top acting honor now appears to be in a more precarious position.”
It was expected that Cillian Murphy’s charm, attractive features, and long-standing involvement in British cinema would heavily influence the Baftas’ decision. However, this did not guarantee him the best actor award. Paul Giamatti, who starred in The Holdovers, had strong momentum and also carried the Guilt Factor (similar to the Oscars snubbing him for Sideways 20 years ago). It remains to be seen if Murphy’s win will give him an edge for the Oscar, or if it will fit perfectly with Giamatti’s character’s sad narrative in The Holdovers and lead him towards the coveted award. In three weeks, we will find out. Special acknowledgement goes to Bradley Cooper for consistently attending these events despite having slim chances of winning.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph embodies professionalism.
Her performance in The Holdovers is so immaculate that Randolph has won every single supporting actress award going – tonight even defeating homegrown stars Rosamund Pike and Emily Blunt. But her charm and polish on the podium is sufficiently dazzling that she still manages to make every speech feel fresh, every appearance endearing. When she cried tonight, it was genuine – amazingly.
Each award show requires the presence of James Wilson.
When the person in charge of The Zone of Interest prepares to speak, it’s a sign that a political statement will be made. This is beneficial because it would be difficult to ignore the similarities between current world events and the mass killings depicted in many of this year’s major period films. At the recent London critics circle awards, Wilson received some quiet gasps when he compared the Holocaust to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and mentioned the deaths in Israel before those in Gaza. However, at the Baftas, when he acknowledged the killings in “Gaza or Yemen…Mariupol or Israel,” there was a unanimous round of applause.
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Michael J Fox means a lot
The standout moment of the evening was when the lead actor of “Back to the Future” and Bafta-nominated documentary “Still” made a surprise appearance to present the award for best picture. Michael J. Fox’s unexpected appearance caused an audible gasp and excitement in the room. It was a heartwarming return for Fox, who had not attended the Baftas in over 30 years and was welcomed with open arms.
Saltburn keeps on giving – but not taking awards
If there was a prize for the most well-known movie, Saltburn would likely tie with Barbie. However, despite its efforts, Saltburn has not received many awards. It has given Sophie Ellis Bextor a chance to showcase her talents and has helped launch Barry Keoghan’s acting career. The public also can’t stop talking about the controversial scenes in the film. Unfortunately, the movie’s popularity has not resonated with voters in the industry. Emerald Fennell, who won an Oscar for writing and directing the film, wonders what else she can do to gain recognition.
Hugh Grant possesses a quality that sets him apart from others.
Another way to describe his ability to captivate the audience with a short song inspired by Wonka: “Oompa Loompa, doopety-dee, now the top director category / Oompa Loompa doompety-dong, most of the films were too long / Oompa Loompa doompety-dah, yet the nominees are …” Towards the end of an awards show, it appears that everyone is craving some humor, even if it’s subpar and not inherently amusing.
If the clapometer was used, All of Us Strangers would have been the clear winner.
The audience at the Bafta show is not afraid to show their appreciation, but their enthusiastic cheers do not always result in awards. (For example, American Fiction’s Cord Jefferson did not receive a warm reception as he went up to the stage.) If there was a way to measure audience applause for wins, All of Us Strangers would have certainly swept the awards. When Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott were announced as presenters for the best animated film, the cheers only grew louder. Bafta must now realize that they made a mistake by not including Scott in the best actor category. Hopefully, they will not make the same error again.
No tribute montage is without controversy.
This year, Matthew Perry was not nominated, likely because he is known for television rather than film. The British Academy Television Awards take place in May. Other than that, this year’s recap was satisfactory, featuring Hannah Waddingham singing a memorable tune and plenty of black-and-white. However, it does raise the question: why were Glenda Jackson and Michael Caine not nominated for their roles in The Great Escaper?
Ken Loach – the interloper at the feast
It is always a delight to see Ken Loach, a staunch socialist and unapologetic activist, dressed in a bowtie and tuxedo, sternly smiling from the sidelines at the glitzy Bafta event. He is like the ghost of Banquo haunting the British film industry. (Tennant even attempted a Ken/Barbie joke, but it did not go over well.) Loach attended to show his support for his latest and possibly final film, The Old Oak, which was nominated for outstanding British film. However, in all honesty, it did not have the same momentum to win as his previous film I, Daniel Blake did in 2017.
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Loach and his team made a statement by holding up a poster that read “Gaza: stop the massacre” on the red carpet, which was one of the few political acts during the evening. However, Samantha Morton, who received the Bafta fellowship, was there to highlight Loach’s importance in British film over the past 50 years. She specifically mentioned his 1969 film Kes as her source of inspiration. While not everyone may share Loach’s political beliefs, it is widely recognized that Kes is a masterpiece.
I received a notification about the book “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
The Baftas this year did not include the Killers of the Flower Moon team, except for Thelma Schoonmaker, despite having nine nominations. It is possible that they chose to focus their efforts in the United States, or perhaps the exclusion of Lily Gladstone during the shortlisting process was too much for them to handle. Either way, it appears to be a strategic and somewhat unfortunate decision.
Source: theguardian.com
