All black, yet bright at Bafta

Continuing its winning streak, Three Billboards Outside Missouri, Ebbing won big at the Baftas as the critically acclaimed crime drama earned five major awards at the ceremony, including Best Film and Best Actress for Francis McDormand.

The movie about an angry mother who goes to extremes to keep the investigation focused on her daughter’s murder was also recognised in the Best British Film category, as the echo of Hollywood’s #TimesUp movement against sexual harassment resonated at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

While director Martin McDonagh won the Golden Mask for Original Screenplay, Sam Rockwell received the Bafta for Best Supporting Actor in the movie.

 “Our film is a hopeful one in lots of ways, but it’s also an angry one, and as we’ve seen this year, sometimes anger is the only way to get people to listen and to change; so we’re thrilled that Bafta has recognised this,” McDonagh said as he accepted the award for Best Film.

In her rousing acceptance speech, McDormand registered her support to the wave of activism initiated by her film and thanked studios for “carefully shepherding Martin’s films, Guillermo’s (Del Toro) films, because not only are they entertaining, they encourage a longer and broader cultural conversation”.

Top slot

The celebrities attending the Bafta Awards turned up at the red carpet of the event in black in solidarity with #TimesUp.

Fantasy drama The Shape of Water earned Guillermo del Toro his maiden Bafta in the Best Director category. The filmmaker had won a Bafta for his 2007 Spanish film Pan’s Labyrinth in the Best Film Not in the English Language segment. The movie, which chronicles a unique bond between a lab cleaning lady and a sea monster, managed to bag a total of three awards (including Original Music and Production Design) after scoring impressive 12 nods at the 71st British Academy Film Awards.

Gary Oldman won the much-anticipated Best Actor in a Leading Role award for immortalising former British PM Winston Churchill in the World War II drama, Darkest Hour.

The actor remembered Churchill on his third Bafta victory, describing how the British statesman “in those dark uncertain days in 1940 held the line for honour, for integrity and freedom, for his nation”. The Joe Wright directorial also won the Bafta in the Make Up and Hair category.

First take

Daniel Kaluuya may have missed out on the Best Actor award but the actor won the EE Rising Star award for his performance in Get Out.

On his first Bafta win, the actor gave an emotional speech in which he thanked his mother and also expressed his gratitude to the British arts funding for helping. “I feel so privileged to be in your guys’ company. There’s a countdown; I wasn’t supposed to say that but I’ve said it now,” Kaluuya laughed then continued with a shout saying, “We break all the rules!” Veteran director Ridley Scott was honoured with a fellowship at the British Academy Film Awards.

Just reward

Alison Janney also won her first Bafta for her portrayal of LaVona Fay Golden, the mother of disgraced figure skater, Tonya Harding, in the film I, Tonya. Phantom Thread bagged its sole Bafta in Best Costume segment.

Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk also managed to score one Bafta in the Best Sound category. The award for Best Editing went to Baby Driver. South Korean erotic psychological thriller The Handmaiden won the Bafta for Film Not in the English. Blade Runner 2049 won in two segments — Best Cinematography and Best Special Visual Effects.

Cowboy Dave and Poles Apart won the Baftas for Best Short and Best Short Animation. While I Am Not A Witch was recognised as the Outstanding Debut by British Writer, Director or Producer, I Am Not Your Negro won award for Best Documentary. — PTI 

---

Kate Middleton ignores black code 

Kate Middleton courted a mild controversy at the all-black 2018 Baftas as the Duchess of Cambridge appeared at the award ceremony dressed in an emerald green dress. The 36-year-old royal turned up on the red carpet of the 71st British Academy Film Awards in a Jenny Packham attire, defying the call for wearing black in solidarity with Hollywood’s Time’s Up campaign to continue protests against sexual harassment after the Harvey Weinstein expose rocked the showbiz late last year. To her credit, which did not go unrecognised by many, Middleton wore the neck-plunging dress with a black sash underneath her bust, accentuating her seven-month baby bump. She completed her look with emerald jewellery, suede Prada heels and a black clutch. PTI  

---

Domestic violence activists gatecrash venue 

Activist group Sisters Uncut, which works for the survivors of domestic violence, gate-crashed the BAFTA red carpet to protest Prime Minister Theresa May’s domestic violence bill. Members of the feminist direct action group linked arms on the red carpet. They were wearing T-shirts with the slogan “Time’s Up, Theresa”. The members were led away by the police after some minutes. PTI

---

Fazal’s Victoria & Abdul fails to win 

Period drama Victoria & Abdul, starring Indian actor Ali Fazal alongside veteran British star Judi Dench, lost Make Up & Hair award to Darkest Hour. Fazal plays the role of Indian servant, Abdul, to Queen Victoria in the film directed by Stephen Frears, which received a single nod at the 71st British Film Academy Awards. The film is again pitted against the Gary Oldman-led World War II drama in the race to the Oscars due next month in two categories for Best Costume Design, and Best Make-up and Hairstyling. PTI

---

Angelina, Jennifer rule red carpet 

Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lawrence outshined others as they glamourised the black dress code, followed by most at the 71st BAFTA red carpet to support the #Time’s Up movement against sexual harassment and inequality. The red carpet on Sunday night at the annual gala organised by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) was flooded with celebrities in black gowns. IANS