It's BAFTA Time
Sunday, February 10, 2019 at 3:38PM 
As per usual the BAFTAs aren't broadcasting live but tape delayed but we'll be watching the arrivals and sharing the winners as we hear about them after the jump...
Right now we're watching clips from the nominee party yesterday and we learned that Melissa McCarthy is a huge fan of The Favourite, saying:
The Favourite broke my brain in the best possible way.
Ours too, Melissa, ours too...
Regina King is a fan of both A Star is Born and Can You Ever Forgive Me? Everyone in the clips appears to be rooting for Roma and Olivia Colman. But of course we're only getting editors curated soundbites from a handful of celebrities. You could probably make any film or performance sound like the favourite to take it this way.
Barry Jenkins says he feels like a proud father to have Nicholas Britell nominated for Best Score. Cute. He's also thrilled that James Baldwin is having a renaissance at the moment.
Amy Adams takes selfies with fans - lucky guy here - and tells the reporter, quite convincingly, that BAFTA is her absolutely favourite awards show (who knew?). She shares that her 8 year old daughter loves Bohemian Rhapsody.
Jason Isaacs is candid when asked which films he liked.
It's not about what I like it's about I want my friends to win. Richard E Grant and Viggo and I don't care about the rest"
Well, now. He goes on to say it's going to be magnificent when Richard E Grant wins this AND WHEN HE WINS THE OSCAR. He actually says this albeit not in all caps and we hope he's right with this bold prediction.
Everyone being interviewed seems to be obsessed with Richard E Grant but somehow, we hear, he already lost the BAFTA. Disappointing. We'll never understand the Mahershala Ali steamroll, so soon after his Oscar win and for a lesser performance (it'd be another thing entirely if he had outdone Moonlight). Richard E Grant is interviewed and seems (typically) ectastic. Also says he thinks both "Roma and The Favourite are masterpieces"
Cynthia Erivo, nominated for Rising Star, says she still gets starstruck all the time. She is particularly giddy about what she's wearing because she's presenting Costume Design and Sandy Powell is a personal hero of hers so the look (we know the feeling, girl) has to be right.
Glenn Close is a huge fan of Capernaum, saying it's her favourite of the season. "Moved me to my core." And she gets indignant that Jonathan Pryce wasn't nominated along with her so she brought him to BAFTA as her date because 'he's my partner in this'. She's such a glass act.
Jonathan breaks my heart in this film. It's a complicit relationship that they slip into. The whole sequence at the Nobel prize what [he] did was profound and heartbreaking.
She's such a class act.
We always lose interest in the BAFTAs about a single hour into coverage. This is largely because they haven't caught up to the 21st century and refuse to stream anything live -- even the "live" arrivals are tape delayed and edited. So you already know everthing before you see it and then you're not even seeing it in full. It's so dispiriting and weirdly archaic.
One last treat. Claire Foy, in very high spirits (perhaps that's what happens when you know it's the last awards show you have to go to and you're not going to win) admits she's starving and the red carpet reporters give her a "wine gum". Living for her face journey when she tastes it (pictured left). We give her the BAFTA for Most Relatable Moment on the Red Carpet.
THE BAFTA WINNERS ARE NOW FULLY ANNOUNCED
Best film
- BlackkKlansman
- The Favourite
- Green Book
- ★ Roma
- A Star Is Born
Oscar, here it comes. Even though no foreign film has ever won the Oscar there's a first time for everything. It's tough to imagine it losing now on a preferential ballot since everyone at least respects it and a lot of people just love it.
Outstanding British film
- Beast
- Bohemian Rhapsody
- ★ The Favourite
- McQueen
- Stan & Ollie
- You Were Never Really Here
The Favourite won the most prizes overall, gaining strength as we approach Oscar night or merely the UK favourite?
Leading actor
- Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born
- Christian Bale - Vice
- ★ Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody
- Steve Coogan - Stan & Ollie
- Viggo Mortensen - Green Book
Sigh.
Leading actress
- Glenn Close - The Wife
- Lady Gaga - A Star Is Born
- Melissa McCarthy - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
- ★ Olivia Colman - The Favourite
- Viola Davis - Widows
Glenn Close has not historically been a BAFTA favourite so we wouldn't read too much into this. This is only her second nomination in BAFTA history. But Olivia Colman is definitely the closest we have to a potential darkhorse should Oscar not be ready to coronate Glenn.
Supporting actor
- Adam Driver - BlackkKlansman
- ★ Mahershala Ali - Green Book
- Richard E Grant - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
- Sam Rockwell - Vice
- Timothee Chalamet - Beautiful Boy
Though we'd been hoping that Grant was on the upswing his loss here on his hometurf, where he's more famous and more beloved than Mahershala Ali who was able to win for a film that won nothing else, convinces us that Ali is a mortal lock and not just the frontrunner. Sigh.
Supporting actress
- Amy Adams - Vice
- Claire Foy - First Man
- Emma Stone - The Favourite
- Margot Robbie - Mary Queen of Scots
- ★ Rachel Weisz - The Favourite
As suspected it goes to Rachel Weisz. It's been a volatile season for Supporting Actress. We have a two way race for the Oscar between Rachel Weisz and Regina King with Amy Adams as a distant dark horse.
Director
- Spike Lee - BlacKkKlansman
- Paweł Pawlikowski - Cold War
- Yorgos Lanthimos - The Favourite
- ★ Alfonso Cuaron - Roma
- Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born
Still locked for his second Oscar.
EE Rising Star Award (voted for by the public)
- Jessie Buckley
- Cynthia Erivo
- Barry Keoghan
- Lakeith Stanfield
- ★ Letitia Wright
Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer
- Apostasy - Daniel Kokotajlo (writer/director)
- ★ Beast - Michael Pearce (writer/director), Lauren Dark (producer)
- A Cambodian Spring - Chris Kelly (writer/director/producer)
- Pili - Leanne Welham (writer/director), Sophie Harman (producer)
- Ray & Liz - Richard Billingham (writer/director), Jacqui Davies (producer)
Beast didn't make much of a splash in the US but it sure was popular in the UK. This isn't its first prize there.
Film not in the English language
- Capernaum
- Cold War
- Dogman
- ★ Roma
- Shoplifters
Just how many Oscars is Roma going to win?
Documentary
- ★ Free Solo
- McQueen
- RBG
- They Shall Not Grow Old
- Three Identical Strangers
Hmmm. Perhaps RBG isn't a lock for the Oscar. We shall see. Though she's more of an icon to Americans of course.
Animated film
- Incredibles 2
- Isle of Dogs
- ★ Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
Another Oscar lock at this point.
Original screenplay
- Cold War
- ★ The Favourite
- Green Book
- Roma
- Vice
Adapted screenplay
- ★ BlacKkKlansman
- Can You Ever Forgive Me?
- First Man
- If Beale Street Could Talk
- A Star Is Born
Happy for Spike Lee!
Original music
- BlackkKlansman
- If Beale Street Could Talk
- Isle of Dogs
- Mary Poppins Returns
- ★ A Star Is Born
Since they don't have a song category, this was probably to be expected.
Cinematography
- Bohemian Rhapsody
- Cold War
- The Favourite
- First Man
- ★ Roma
After losing the ASC to Cold War (perhaps cinematographers didn't want to hand that prize to a director rather than a DP) Cuarón rebounds with a win at BAFTA.
Costume design
- The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
- Bohemian Rhapsody
- ★ The Favourite
- Mary Poppins Returns
- Mary Queen of Scots
Can Sandy win her fourth Oscar or is Black Panther the frontrunner at the Oscars? Seems like a tossup from where we sit. If this Oscar category is not broadcast on air we will go ballistic.
Editing
- Bohemian Rhapsody
- The Favourite
- First Man
- Roma
- ★ Vice
ick.
Production design
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
- ★ The Favourite
- First Man
- Mary Poppins Returns
- Roma
Again. Can Black Panther prove competitive or will The Favourite dominate the eye candy prizes?
Make-up and hair
- Bohemian Rhapsody
- ★ The Favourite
- Mary Queen of Scots
- Stan & Ollie
- Vice
Here's a place The Favourite can't win at Oscar since it's not nominated. Look to Vice to probably prevail with Oscar voters.
Sound
- ★ Bohemian Rhapsody
- First Man
- Mission: Impossible - Fallout
- A Quiet Place
- A Star Is Born
We love Queen's music, too, voters. But you know this prize doesn't go to that discography, right?
Special visual effects
- Avengers: Infinity War
- ★ Black Panther
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
- First Man
- Ready Player One
This is why we're glad Black Panther wasn't nominated in this category at the Oscars. If it's nominated it always wins (see also the Critics Choice awards) because of enthusiasm for the film but categories are supposed to be based on themselves, not the overall films.
British short film
- ★ 73 Cows
- Bachelor
- The Blue Door
- The Field
- Wale
British short animation
- I'm OK
- Marfa
- ★ Roughhouse
Outstanding contribution to British cinema
- Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen (Producers. Their credits, together or separately include: Carol, Colette, The Crying Game, Youth, Mrs Harris, Ladies in Lavender, The End of the Affair, Interview with the Vampire and more...)
And that's it for BAFTA this year. We'll watch clips of The Favourite wins later, mkay? The rest is already old hat since it's happened everywhere else and also tape delayed therefore dull.
Reader Comments (72)
It's not over for Glenn. Not at all. My heart, vote , everything goes to her. Olivia Colman is a very worthy nominee, but the Oscar has to- and will - go to Glenn. And since you're stuck with 2007 , may i remind you 2013 (Riva / Lawrence) and 1997 (Blethyn/ Mc Dormand)?
This is Olivia Colman's fourth BAFTA. They love her. I still think Close will win.
Besides the overdue factor does anyone commenting here seriously think that Close's performance in 'The Wife' is actually better than Colman's? This isn't even Close's best! The BAFTAs thankfully got it right in both Actress and Supporting Actress (I know none will be repeated at the Oscars!) but fortunately they went for the performance alone and not other factors! They have done it before (with Emanuelle Riva) and Cotillard and Blanchett over Paltrow... And I honestly think the BAFTAs are way classier (and better) than the more mainstream Oscars!
@Tintin - I really enjoyed Colman's performance - she blends the broad physical comedy with her character's personal tragedy seamlessly, and she is handily the greatest of her actressing trio, but there isn't really any sort of arc for her to "act." (Indeed, Stone's character is the only one with any sort of personal growth or change in the film.) I think Close has the far greater challenge with a character with far more depth and nuance, and she rises to it with incredible intelligence and restraint.
Richard E. Grant - ROBBED.
I adore Olivia Colman and loved this win, but I wish she would have given a shout-out to the WRITERS too. Gawd, always the forgotten, unsung heroes of the film world. At least they won Best Screenplay.
Not on the same page with some of you regarding "overdue" status. Some of the most egregious Oscar wins went to less-than-stellar performances just because someone was overdue. If Glenn wins an Oscar, it should be because she's the best of the five nominations, not because she hasn't won before. Nathaniel--don't you have a Oscar history post about this in the archives?
Pam -- I agree with you that some terrible wins have happened because of overdue status but this is not one of them. Glenn is sensational in THE WIFE. I'm so sad people aren't able to see that
Everyone -- i'm so happy so many of you feel the same way about Richard E Grant. It's strange to me that everywhere you go people are loving on him but in the industry they just aren't voting for him.
I'm sure there was a good movie to be made from the footage Bjorn Runge shot. It just didn't come together that way in the editing room. Almost everything I hated about The Wife could've been addressed in post production—mostly cutting (those stupid flashbacks), pacing (snoooozy first two acts) and scoring (graaaating music throughout).
Glenn's acting is impeccable but I think the film was a big missed opportunity.
H - agreed. If they'd cut the flashbacks, The Wife had the potential to be great.
And Nathaniel - agreed. Glenn Close is sensational in the film. Her best work since Dangerous Liaisons.
Performance wise, both Colman and Close delivered at the top of their game. It'd be hard to choose between them. I do like The Favourite better as a film, but The Wife isn't as terrible as some people say. Besides, it's about the performances, not the films. Colman can win an Oscar in the future. This feels like Close's last shot at it.
After thinking it over, I do think the chances are about 50/50 now. Even if Colman only won the BAFTA due to her popularity in the UK, her win can still affect the Academy voters immediately. I don't personally think her performance is strong enough to overcome Close's overdue narrative, but others probably do.
Yeah the Richard E Grant thing is a mystery. Just throwing this out there but could there be any resistance to vote for him because he is a heterosexual man playing a homosexual? God I hope not.
Richard E. Grant did sweep up with the critics circle groups, so it wasn't as if he were ignored. My feeling is that for some strange reason Mahershala Ali resonated with a lot of people, and all of the love for the film is going towards him. This all despite just winning a couple years ago. I think Grant has been taken for, er, granted for far too long and it continues. But at least he scored his first Oscar nom finally.
Vote for Olivia! Vote for Olivia!
But Ali is a heterosexual man playing a homosexual, too (or did the voters overlook that odd two-minute scene?).
I'm disappointed to see Grant passed over, too, but I have a feeling that he will get some great roles as a result of his CYEFM performance and congenial conduct this award season, and I think that is the most important reward.
Good lord at the knee-jerking. Colman, a British national treasure, won the BAFTA. Sure she's a solid second place right now but Glenn Close still has the momentum - Globes, BFCA, SAG. It would be an upset for Colman to win.
I'd also say despite his recent string of wins that Malek and Bale are still neck and neck, as are Weisz and King. Ali is the only acting lock.
The Wife is so dreary. Full of bad acting, including Glenn in the first 90 minutes and her daughter throughout. I hope Colman wins. This is not charity.
Not only is Glenn Close better than Olivia Colman, but The Wife is better than The Favourite.
@Sawyer: I get what you're saying but...
Close: Globe, BFCA (tie with Gaga), SAG
Colman: Globe, BFCA comedy, BAFTA
I don't think they're that far off in terms of precursors. I want Close to win but just trying to be realistic.
Continue to be rather surprised by all hate for The Wife. I will grant the flashback sequences are mostly not good (though Elizabeth McGovern has that great scene in one of them) but Close is excellent throughout. At least if she loses the Oscar to Coleman it will be a loss to another wonderful performance. But my heart wants Glenn to get it.
Vote for Glenn! Vote for Glenn !
Glenn Close is brilliant in The Wife and i hope she will receive a well deseved Oscar in two weeks !
It's her time !
@Oscar: If you think anything Close did in The Wife is "bad acting," your opinion doesn't deserve any credence.
Glenn is quietly telling friends she has a bad feeling.
Newsflash: Olivia Colman is a national treasure because she's superb in everything she does. E.g. she was the only decent, believable, rounded performance in the recent execrable TV version of 'Les Miserables'. I'll say it until I'm blue in the face - if she was a bloke, everyone would stop with the "who's the best actor of that generation?" discussions, because she owns the lot of them. Even Tom Hardy. She's then clearly a ridiculously nice person to boot, which is just the cherry on the cake, but wouldn't win awards on its own. Name me any other actor who could walk off with the BAFTAs for comedy & drama in the same year (as she did in 2013), and it not seem like a joke.