BAFTA has a funny definition of "Rising Star"

by Cláudio Alves

"Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical" | © Netflix

The EE Rising Star Award is the only BAFTA category where the final vote doesn't belong to the British Academy but to the public. Over the years, many performers won the award on their way to the top, getting this honor before they were considered household names. Last year's victor, Lashana Lynch, quickly proved a worthy winner, showcasing her range in two shockingly different roles. First, she was a charisma bomb in The Woman King, electrifying the screen with good humor and action star chops. Next, Lynch gave life to Miss Honey in the Matilda musical, singing her way through a gentle, motherly figure who slowly learns how to make herself heard.

Most of this year's nominees don't have anything left to prove, nor do they need help getting recognition. This puts into question the award's purpose. Should previous BAFTA winners be eligible for this honor? Shouldn't the category be reserved for up-and-coming names who could benefit from a career boost at the start of their artistic journey? It seems not, judging by the nominees. They are…

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The Joys and Struggles of Making "The Woman King"

by Patrick Ball

Gina Prince-Bythewood in conversation with Kasi Lemmons. Photo: Patrick Ball

This week Sony Pictures held a Downtown Manhattan screening for their awards contender The Woman King, at the Roxy Cinema. With its handsome below-the-line offerings and the true actor/producer star wattage of Viola Davis behind it, The Woman King looks to be one of Sony’s top contenders as we head into the intense first phase of Award Season. With the critics groups beginning to announce, and many major awards bodies entering their voting periods ahead of nominations, now is the time to grab the metaphorical crown, as it were...

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Cannes Gowns, Round 7: Decision to Trend

Previous Cannes 2022 Fashion Polls: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

Léa Seydoux has multiple films at Cannes which is the norm given how in demand she is both at home in France and abroad. This is the gown she wore to her Crimes of the Future premiere. Brilliant Chinese actress Tang Wei returned to the spotlight with Decision to Leave (which Elisa thinks is THE film of Cannes thus far). If you've been wondering where she's been that three year break was because she recently had her first child with husband director Kim Tae-yong (Late Autumn). Meanwhile the UK's Lashana Lynch and Spain's always memorable Rossy de Palma were right on trend; there have been a lot of metallic and/or disco ball gowns as well as an abundance of brilliant pink on the red carpet of late. 

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Cannes Gowns, Round 1

We'll do this in quartet rounds, to bring you beauty on the regular, and so as not to overwhelm ourselves.

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Yes No Maybe So: No Time to Die

by Deborah Lipp

The twenty-fifth official James Bond movie, No Time to Die, was originally scheduled for release in April, and was the first major movie to suffer delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is now scheduled for release on November 21st and a new trailer recently dropped.

How badly do we want to see it? Let’s break it down…

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