Sunday’s BAFTAs could be a preview of the Oscars in two weeks time thanks to a significant overlap between the two academies — upwards of 500 voters belong to both. Given this, it is not surprising then that four of the five BAFTA Best Picture contenders are also nominated for the top Oscar (the exception being the Brit hit “I, Daniel Blake”). And 14 of the 20 acting nominees at BAFTA are also in the running at the Academy Awards. Overall, about two-thirds of the BAFTA contenders will be making the trip across the pond in a fortnight.
Who among this year’s Oscar hopefuls was most helped and hurt by the BAFTAs, which honored 14 films in all, with only three multiple award winners.
BAFTA Awards 2017: Full list of winners
GOOD NEWS FOR …
Dev Patel (“Lion”)
He won Best Supporting Actor over, among others, the Oscar frontrunner Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight”). Ali had been edged out at the Globes by another Englishman, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (“Nocturnal Animals”). And Luke Davies won the adapted screenplay prize for “Lion,” which was based on the memoir “A Long Way Home” by Saroo Brierley.
Viola Davis (“Fences”)
After the early upsets at the BAFTAs, it must have been a relief for this Oscar frontrunner to hear her name called. She represented the sole nomination for her film, and the competition included Naomie Harris (“Moonlight”) who is a darling of the British film industry.
“Kubo and the Two Strings”
This Laika studio release edged out three Disney flicks, including Oscar frontrunner “Zootopia” to claim the Animated Feature prize.
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MIXED NEWS FOR …
“La La Land”
Despite a leading 11 nominations, the Oscar frontrunner proved to have limited appeal to BAFTA voters winning only five awards: Best Picture, Best Director (Damien Chazelle), Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Cinematography and Best Score. (Note: the BAFTAS doesn’t have a category for song, an Oscar race in which “La La Land” is far ahead.) It had been predicted to do much better below-the-line but lost the film editing award to the WWII drama “Hacksaw Ridge,” the production design prize to “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” and the sound race to the sci-fi flick “Arrival.”
Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”)
While he must have been pleased to have won Best Actor, he did so without facing off against his main Oscar rival, Denzel Washington (“Fences”) who was snubbed by the British academy. In their last match-up at the SAG Awards, Washington prevailed which has boosted him to first place on our Oscar odds chart.
Emma Stone (“La La Land”)
Likewise, this ingenue keeps on adding Best Actress trophies to her mantle but this time she did so without competition from Isabelle Huppert, the Gallic Meryl Streep, whose film “Elle” did not open in the UK in 2016.
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BAD NEWS FOR …
“Moonlight”
While it only had four nominations, it was expected to win at least one but was shut-out instead. Supporting actor Oscar frontrunner Mahershala Ali lost here to the British-born Dev Patel (“Lion”) after being edged out at the Globes by another Englishman, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (“Nocturnal Animals”).
Natalie Portman (“Jackie”)
With Huppert ineligible, this could have been the moment when Portman rallied in a race that she once led. But having lost the Globe to Huppert and the SAG and now the BAFTA to Stone, she looks to be out of the running.
“Arrival”
Of its nine nominations, including Best Picture and a bid for directing by Denis Villeneuve, this sci-fi blockbuster won just for its sound.
“Nocturnal Animals”
Despite nine nominations, Tom Ford‘s sophomore film was blanked.
Predict the Oscar winners now; change them till February 26
Be sure to make your Oscar predictions. Weigh in now with your picks so that Hollywood insiders can see how their films are faring in our Oscar odds. You can keep changing your predictions right up until just before winners are announced on February 26 at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET. And join in the fierce debate over the Oscars taking place right now with Hollywood insiders in our forums.
