BAFTAs 2024 – Full list of winners

Best film
Anatomy of a Fall
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer – WINNER!
Poor Things

Outstanding British film
All of Us Strangers
How to Have Sex
Napoleon
The Old Oak
Poor Things
Rye Lane
Saltburn
Scrapper
Wonka
The Zone of Interest – WINNER!

Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer
Blue Bag Life – Lisa Selby (director), Rebecca Lloyd-Evans (director, producer), Alex Fry (producer)
Bobi Wine: The People’s President – Christopher Sharp (director)
Earth Mama – Savanah Leaf (writer, director, producer), Shirley O’Connor (producer), Medb Riordan (producer) – WINNER!
How to Have Sex – Molly Manning Walker (writer, director)
Is There Anybody Out There? – Ella Glendining (director)

Best film not in the English language
20 Days in Mariupol
Anatomy of a Fall
Past Lives
Society of the Snow
The Zone of Interest – WINNER!

Best documentary
20 Days in Mariupol – WINNER!
American Symphony
Beyond Utopia
Still: A Michael J Fox Movie
Wham!

Best animated film
The Boy and the Heron – WINNER!
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Elemental
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Best director
Andrew Haigh, All of Us Strangers
Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall
Alexander Payne, The Holdovers
Bradley Cooper, Maestro
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer – WINNER!
Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest

Best original screenplay
Anatomy of a Fall – WINNER!
Barbie
The Holdovers
Maestro
Past Lives

Best adapted screenplay
All of Us Strangers
American Fiction – WINNER!
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest

Best leading actress
Fantasia Barrino, The Color Purple
Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall
Carey Mulligan, Maestro
Vivian Oparah, Rye Lane
Margot Robbie, Barbie
Emma Stone, Poor Things – WINNER!

Best leading actor
Bradley Cooper, Maestro
Colman Domingo, Rustin
Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
Barry Keoghan, Saltburn
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer – WINNER!
Teo Yoo, Past Lives

Best supporting actress
Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Claire Foy, All of Us Strangers
Sandra Hüller, The Zone of Interest
Rosamund Pike, Saltburn
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers – WINNER!

Best supporting actor
Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon
Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer – WINNER!
Jacob Elordi, Saltburn
Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Paul Mescal, All of Us Strangers
Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers

Best casting
All of Us Strangers
Anatomy of a Fall
The Holdovers – WINNER!
How to Have Sex
Killers of the Flower Moon

Best cinematography
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer – WINNER!
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest

Best editing
Anatomy of a Fall
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer – WINNER!
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest

Best costume design
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things – WINNER!

Best makeup and hair
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things – WINNER!

Best original score
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer – WINNER!
Poor Things
Saltburn
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Best production design
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things – WINNER!
The Zone of Interest

Best sound
Ferrari
Maestro
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Oppenheimer
The Zone of Interest – WINNER!

Best special visual effects
The Creator
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Napoleon
Poor Things – WINNER!

Best British short animation
Crab Day – WINNER!
Visible Mending
Wild Summon

Best British short film
Festival of Slaps
Gorka
Jellyfish and Lobster – WINNER!
Such a Lovely Day
Yellow

EE Rising Star award (voted for by the public)
Phoebe Dynevor
Ayo Edebiri
Jacob Elordi
Mia McKenna-Bruce – WINNER!
Sophie Wilde

I’ve cancelled Netflix… and it’s brilliant

When my wife and I moved into our first home together, we decided to subscribe to Netflix. Not long before, I’d cancelled LoveFilm (remember that?!) and we’d set up our internet so wanted to test the waters.

At the time, picking and choosing what to watch on a TV in HD was revolutionary, and the choice was phenomenal. As time progressed, we watched some great series on the blossoming service: Breaking Bad, Orange Is The New Black, Glow, Stranger Things. All our friends were watching the same things. We had great discussions.

As time progressed, more streaming platforms appeared. Amazon Prime Video, with its confusing is-this-included-or-not interface. Now TV, which is home to most of the biggest blockbusters. Apple TV appeared with almost no content, but what it did have was excellent. BFI Player. MUBI. Paramount+. Lionsgate+. Everything was the price of a couple of pints and offered endless options.

Except, it isn’t the price of a pint if you have most or all of them. And you can’t keep up with the content. And nobody is watching anything you’re watching anymore because nobody has the same subscriptions.

So, a month ago we cancelled our Sky subscription. Tomorrow we ditch Netflix. As the cut-off time approaches, we’ve been really focusing on what we do and don’t want to watch. I’ve finally burned through Cobra Kai. I had a brilliant time watching Succession unfold. I’ve watched lovingly-created documentaries about David Beckham, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robbie Williams.

Do I think I’ll miss any of it? Not really. What’s left is Apple TV+ on a trial, BFI Player (the one I really enjoy having) and my wife’s Amazon Prime account, which we’ve never really explored. There are a few things on each we want to watch, but I don’t think we’ll be paying for them for much longer.

Importantly, I never went as far as ditching my DVDs and Blu-Rays. Many of my friends did, only to find that their beloved series or film has vanished from their chosen streaming platform. Many DVDs are sat in charity shop bargain bins, waiting for someone to pick them up. I for one love rummaging in a charity shop, and often find a cool CD or vinyl in there.

I predict DVDs will have a resurgence in the near future. Because spending £1 on five films you keep forever has to be better than paying £150 a year just to watch those same episodes of Friends you like.

Haiku film review #117 – Talk To Me

Teens at a party

Grasp a wizened old dead hand

And see dead people

The Beatles – The 1996 album that could have been

I previously wrote about what might have happened in 1971 if The Beatles had squeezed one more album out. It’s an interesting topic that many fans of the band have pondered over the years.

With the recent release of ‘Now & Then’, a song dubbed as the final Beatles song, I started to think about the Anthology era of the band and whether things could have taken a different path. What if the trio decided that including some reworked John Lennon songs in an LP warranted enough of a representation to not tarnish his (or the band’s) legacy? Could they really have put out a full album? What other songs would have made the cut?

In this alternative reality, nothing changes up to the point they start working on the Anthology series, with Jeff Lynne joining the group as a full member to complete the sessions. With a backdrop of Britpop, will the Fab Three And A Bit hold their own and avoid tarnishing their legacy?

I’ve included all the “new” Beatles songs from the era, then filled the album with prominent collaborations from the time between the trio. I have made some omissions, mainly ditching collaborations from Ringo’s album ‘Vertical Man’, preferring to keep the album under 50 minutes in length.

1. The Song We Were Singing

Paul opened his Flaming Pie album with this beautifully reminiscent song. In the liner notes, he noted: “I was remembering the sixties, sitting around late at night, dossing, smoking pipes, drinking wine… jawing, talking about the cosmic solution… It’s that time in your life when you’ve got a chance to do all that.”

It’s reflective and a perfect opener for a Fab Four reunion album.

2. Free As A Bird

The first single from the Anthology project obviously has to be included here. It was criticised on its original release but it’s perhaps the truest collaboration of all the songs on this album. The soaring line “Whatever happened to the life that we once knew?” sung by Paul is the perfect partner for John’s slightly fragile verse lyric.

If you want to hear the best mix, you’ll need to pick up the deluxe re-release of 1, which came out in 2015. This mix, which accompanies the video, cleans up Lennon’s vocals and thus makes for a much easier listen.

3. Young Boy

Recorded by Paul McCartney and Steve Miller in the immediate aftermath of the completion of the song ‘Real Love’, there’s an excitement and urgency to ‘Young Boy’. It reflects McCartney’s ability to tap into his youthful innocence and create a fun pop-rock song in a way few mature musicians can. A belter of a tune.

4. Any Road

No Beatles record would be complete without a George Harrison track and this one, the lead single from his posthumous album Brainwashed, sits nicely amongst the other songs. George had been working on this song from its inception in 1988 and throughout the 1990s, so it’s perfectly reasonable to think he’d have brought it to the table if there was a Beatles album being created.

5. Calico Skies

A simple and beautiful song that features just Paul on vocals and guitar, supplemented by a subtle orchestration from George Martin.

6. Really Love You

‘The day after Ringo and Paul recorded Beautiful Night, the pair returned to the studio and began a jam session, Paul plucking his Hofner violin bass, Ringo beating the drums and Jeff Lynne playing guitar.’ – Flaming Pie liner notes.

This has the same feel as the ‘Looking For You’, featured later in the album. It isn’t particularly inspiring, with a generic drum beat paired with a groovy bass line and some underbaked guitar licks from Lynne. But, it’s playfully fun and easy on the ears. It may not have made the cut if the trio were given more time to develop their ideas into an album.

7. Real Love

Arguably the only John Lennon song here that stands up to the best of his solo output. The first time you hear Lennon singing “I need to be alone” over the delicate minor chord will send shivers down your spine, no matter what version of the song you hear. Simply stunning.

8. What In The World

Ringo collaborated with both Paul and George on his album Vertical Man, released in 1998. Upon hearing a playback of ‘What In The World’, McCartney remarked “Whoo Rich! Sounds kinda Beatle-ish!” There are other songs on that album that feature George and Paul, which probably never would have happened if the Anthology sessions hadn’t existed, but this is the standout.

9. Looking For You

This was a b-side for Paul McCartney’s single Young Boy. Featuring pounding drums from Ringo and an off-beat guitar riff from Jeff Lynne, this track has a blues rock feel that is a bit of a departure for the band. It’s missing any input from George Harrison and thus falls a little flat, not really going anywhere in its 4 minutes and 42 seconds of meandering around, never really going beyond what we hear in the first 20 seconds.

10. Beautiful Night

“A wonderful sight for lovers of love to behold.”Paul McCartney’s saccharine lyric combines with a power pop chord progression to create a true highlight of this reunion album. The big guns are all here: Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne and George Martin feature on the original recording, with Linda McCartney also involved. This is absolutely sumptuous.

11. Now & Then

The version released in 2023 was recorded with a 45 year gap between its first and last contributions, which tells the story of its unique path to coming into fruition. “Now and then I miss you” is a perfect line for Paul and John to sing to each other from across the life-death divide, and certainly resonates with fans around the world who rejoiced at this final Beatles track.

12. Grow Old With Me

The John Lennon demo for this was recorded in 1980 and orchestrated for the posthumous album Milk & Honey, released in 1984. If you want to imagine what the reunion version would have sounded like, you might have to do some mental gymnastics and merge two versions together.

The orchestrated version with Lennon’s vocals – the most superior version being released on his Gimme Some Truth compilation in 2020 – is a stunning take on a beautiful song.

Ringo Starr also recorded a version of the song for his album What’s My Name in 2019, which featured vocals and bass from Paul McCartney. This is a lovely interpretation that is probably a fairer reflection of what The Beatles would have done with the track. I’m sure the AI technology available now could merge the two versions, but who am I to say what someone should do with their free time?

Conclusion

Well, there you have it. A fan’s best guess at what might have happened if they’d opted to pull an album together. It’s a product of its time and of circumstance, lacking in coherence and with a few songs that wouldn’t stand up to the best of the band in their prime. It wouldn’t have tarnished their legacy, but probably would have been a misstep – hence why it never saw the light of day.

Film review: LOLA (Andrew Legge, 2023)

The Hanbury sisters in the film LOLA

LOLA is a beautifully constructed science fiction tale that is as innovative as it is chilling.

Directed by Andrew Legge in his directorial debut, it tells the story of sisters Thomasina (Emma Appleton) and Martha (Stefanie Martini), who together invent a machine that transmits television broadcasts from the future. Initially using it to discover cultural touchpoints 30 years ahead of time, they then switch it to the war effort. After they use it to help prevent a German attack on British soldiers, they are enlisted by the Allied Forces and begin coordinating defence strategies with Lieutenant Sebastien Holloway (Rory Fleck-Byrne).

In LOLA, Legge has created a deeply rich alternative world that plays out with a good pace to great effect. The storytelling technique utilised is innovative and delivered with great aplomb by the two leads, each bringing humour and realism to their respective roles. Neither steals the show, instead complimenting each other with natural comradery.

With a 79-minute running time, there isn’t scope to slow down and the length and pace feels perfect. It’s an exciting debut and one that rightly has those that discover it wondering what Legge will come up with next.

Film review – Medusa Deluxe (Thomas Hardiman, 2022)

Medusa Deluxe – A gritty debut

Thomas Hardiman’s stylishly gritty debut finds a new setting for a well-worn path. The story unfolds around a murder that takes place during a hairdressing competition, meshing together neatly with some strong performances from the entire cast, creating a powerful piece of cinema.

Murder mysteries have come back into fashion in recent times. Two ensemble blockbuster franchises have helped bring this wave of popularity to people’s attention – Rian Johnson’s Knives Out and Kenneth Branagh’s Poirot – but the genre doesn’t need a host of A-listers to succeed.

In a way Medusa Deluxe operates in exactly the same way. It is an ensemble piece, with none of the all-British cast standing out as significantly more established than the next, although a few are certainly recognisable. Their interactions and interplay are the real star.

It’s impossible to watch the film without the awareness that this is a one-shot labour if love. Admittedly, there are a few points where there is an obvious cut in the action, but even in the handful of long shots this represents a mammoth undertaking that almost gives Boiling Point a run for its money.

There is a verve to the performances that really disconcerted me as a viewer. Clare Perkins starts the film overflowing with anger as hardened hairdresser Cleve, and only ramps up further as her colleagues and models shrink with nervousness. Harriet Webb brings an element of sympathy to her prickly take on Kendra, which is an important part of the story.

Despite a few moments of heavy-handedness, the really shocking moments of Medusa Deluxe will stick with you for a while after watching. The one-shot approach is an interesting element that brings urgency but the real draw here is an intriguing story and some top-drawer performances from a strong cast.

Halloween Quiz 2023 – Just for fun – ANSWERS

Here are the answers to the quiz we posted last week.

Picture Round

1. Get Out

2. Hotel Transylvania

3. It

4. What Lies Beneath

5. Cocaine Bear

6. Nightmare On Elm Street

7. Raw

8. Us

9. Arachnophobia

10. Psycho

11. Scary Movie

12. Shaun of the Dead

Questions

1. 1979

2. Bernard Herrmann

3. Jaws 2

4. Freddy Krüger

5. Mary Shelley

6. Inside No. 9

7. Night of the Living Dead

8. Gizmo

9. Stephen King

10. Ghostbusters

What’s the deal with the Wes Anderson and Roald Dahl Netflix collaboration?

You may have noticed on Netflix recently a handful of sepia-tinged thumbnails popping up in your Trending Now or Recommends lists. Based on the lack of advertising generally, all you are left with is the titles alone: Poison, The Rat Catcher, The Swan and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.

These curiosities make up a series of four adaptations of Roald Dahl short stories by the distinctive director Wes Anderson. Bringing together a wonderful ensemble cast – including Rupert Friend, Richard Ayoade, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben Kingsley, Dev Patel and Ralph Fiennes – the four shorts really are quite special. Marrying the distinctive styles of two great storytellers from very different eras, there is a high-art uniqueness that lands in a place that feels fresh and intriguing.

As I finished watching my favourite of the bunch – the sharp-scripted Poison, about a man struggling under the threat of an imminent deadly poisonous snake bite – I wondered whether these could have been made twenty years ago. Or even ten years ago? I could only think of one outlet for them, which would be as part of the festive programming of a terrestrial channel, probably on Boxing Day, when the rigidities of multi-part series and familiarities are relaxed as the nation forgoes its own schedules to Quality Street and sherry.

I’m thrilled these four short films have seen the light of day, although I also wonder whether they’ve been done a disservice in the manner of release. With little fanfare, they’ve just appeared in the faces of the casual scroller, with more than a little whiff of that U2 x iPhone collab we all loved so much. I know someone who accidentally watched the longest of the bunch – The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar – and wondered what on Earth was going on. With no explanation, it’s easy to see why the unfinished stylings of Wes Anderson could confuse. Actors look at the camera, the prop department hand items to the scenes apologetically, the elaborate sets are shifted as if they were part of an experimental theatre piece. These quirks that elevate the experience for fans of Anderson risk perturbing casual viewers, or indeed fans of Roald Dahl’s more popular output.

With results this good, perhaps Netflix decided that was a risk they were willing to take.

Dad Gaming – We need to talk about loading

We need to talk about loading.

I’ve got a huge problem with my gaming habits, which means I’m almost never playing games.

I recently bought Street Fighter 6. After three nights of ‘gaming’, I can confirm that the training mode is quite enjoyable. I can also confirm I’m losing interest.

Back in 1993, when I was happily playing the original Street Fighter II Turbo on the SNES, my life was admittedly much simpler than it is now. I’d imagine that working out how far away Dhalsim could be from Ryu before his punches landed was fairly high on my priority list. I was a master of those 12 characters, and I had to be. My brother was a machine with Ryu and I had to be on my game to avoid embarrassment on a daily basis.

Let me talk about my experience not as an 8 year old, but as a 38 year old.

First night. I open the case up, turn on the Xbox Series X and insert the disc. Pretty excited. Will they have any knowing references to that original loading sequence from back in the day? Will the characters all be there? Will I be able to 100-hand slap like the old days?

Oh. I need to download an update. A big update. But it’s 10:30pm and I’ve only got 45 minutes. Okay, no worries. I’ll install and get some time in before bed time. I’ll watch that Beckham doc in the meantime.

11:15pm comes and goes and the game update still isn’t complete. I’ll need to come back tomorrow.

Tomorrow becomes today. A remarkable second free night in a row is here and I’m still very excited about playing Street Fighter 6, one of the best-reviewed games of the year. I load the game and the updates are fully downloaded. Good sign.

After a few intro sequences (no harking back to the glory days sadly), I’m told I need to login to Capcom using my Capcom ID. Strange requirement but I’m informed I can’t proceed with the game unless I agree. Sure. So I try to create an account, but apparently I already created an account at some point. So, I reset my password, but after 5 attempts it won’t link to my Microsoft account, which means I can’t access all of the game modes. It’s quite a fun experience so far – boy do I love entering email addresses using a gaming controller. Maybe this is the game? Turning grown men green with rage and seeing if they can spontaneously produce electricity.

So, I opt for the workaround and manage to get through to a reduced version of the game. However, instead of being able to jump in, I first have to complete a training exercise. My muscle memory is great, and I find it all a breeze. It’s good to know the grey matter is working.

And then, 15 minutes later, it’s bed time.

In 1993, after 2 hours of gaming I’d already kicked Bison’s ass so hard that the next Bison wannabee was gonna feel it. In 2023 I’m getting my ass kicked by loading screens, password resets and lethargy.

Current score: 3/10. Maybe if I get to play it sometime soon I’ll bump that up. Or maybe there will be another software update.

Haiku Film Review #116 – Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

The chickens are back
But the little one escapes
Finds deep-fried danger