London – The 79th British Academy Film Awards delivered a mix of expected wins and surprising upsets on Sunday, reshaping the landscape of this year’s awards season. While Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” emerged as the night’s biggest victor, taking home five awards, the evening also saw a significant shift in the Best Actor race, and a shutout for Josh Safdie’s critically acclaimed “Marty Supreme.” The results are already being analyzed as a potential bellwether for the upcoming 98th Academy Awards on March 15th.
The most notable surprise of the night was Robert Aramayo’s win for Best Actor for his performance in “I Swear,” a drama centered on Tourette’s activist John Davidson. Aramayo’s victory came as a shock, besting frontrunners Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet, who had been widely predicted to take home the award. Aramayo also secured the EE Rising Star Award, the only BAFTA prize voted on by the public, solidifying a remarkable night for the British actor. This win throws the Oscar race wide open, challenging the previously assumed momentum of Chalamet.
Robert Aramayo remporte le prix du meilleur acteur pour « I Swear ». © Getty Images
“One Battle After Another” Dominates
“One Battle After Another” proved to be the night’s biggest winner, securing five awards including Best Film, Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, and Best Cinematography for Michael Bauman. Sean Penn, absent from the ceremony, was awarded Best Supporting Actor, marking his first BAFTA win. The film’s success signals its strong position heading into the Oscars, though the Best Actor category now appears far less certain.
Other notable wins included “Sinners,” which took home three awards: Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler, Best Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku, and Best Original Score. “Zootopie 2” was recognized as the best animated film, while “Avatar 3” claimed the award for Best Visual Effects. “Hamnet” was awarded Best British Film, and “Value Sentimentale” received the award for Best Film Not in the English Language.
A Setback for “Marty Supreme”
Despite receiving 11 nominations, Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme,” starring Timothée Chalamet, left the BAFTA Awards empty-handed. This outcome follows similar disappointments for films receiving a high number of nominations, with “Women in Love” (1970) and “Finding Neverland” (2004) also failing to convert a large number of nods into wins. However, according to Collider, “Marty Supreme” remains a “heavy hitter” at the Oscars, with nine nominations including Best Film, Director, and Actor.
Chalamet had entered the awards season as a strong favorite, having already secured wins at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes for his performance in the Safdie film. The BAFTA loss represents a significant blow to his Oscar chances, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of awards season. The outcome underscores that momentum, while powerful, is not always decisive.
What’s Next for the Oscar Race?
The BAFTA results have undeniably injected new uncertainty into the Oscar race. While “One Battle After Another” appears well-positioned, the Best Actor category is now a genuine contest. The Academy Awards voting period runs from February 26th to March 5th, leaving ample time for campaigning and further shifts in sentiment. The next major checkpoint will be the announcement of the Oscar winners on March 15th, where the true impact of the BAFTA results will be revealed.
The awards season continues to unfold, and the BAFTA results serve as a potent reminder that predicting the outcome is a precarious endeavor. The coming weeks will be crucial as contenders vie for the ultimate prize in cinematic achievement.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available regarding the 98th Academy Awards.
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