‘Hamnet’ eyes BAFTAs glory over ‘One Battle’, ‘Sinners’
LONDON (Web Desk) – An offbeat political thriller, a vampire horror film and a period drama about Shakespeare will go head-to-head Sunday at the BAFTAs, Britain’s biggest film awards, setting the stage for the Oscars.
The British Academy Film Awards ceremony, seen as a precursor to the Oscars in mid-March, regularly charts its own path with its diverse pool of nominees and nod to British homegrown talent.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another”, a thriller that follows white supremacists hunting down washed-up revolutionaries, led the BAFTA nominations with 14 nods, including for the coveted best film award.
It was followed by 13 nominations for the vampire period horror film “Sinners” – which smashed the all-time Oscars nominations record with 16 selections – and Timothee Chalamet’s ping-pong drama “Marty Supreme” with 11 nods.
Slower, more intimate films were also highlighted.
“Hamnet” explores William Shakespeare’s personal life, while Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value” completes the five BAFTA best film nominees.
A-list stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessie Buckley and Timothee Chalamet are expected to walk the red carpet at London’s Southbank Centre, where the ceremony will be hosted by Scottish actor Alan Cumming.
Although “Sinners” topped the Oscars nominations, “One Battle” starring DiCaprio was still strongly favoured, having won almost every precursor prize so far this awards marathon. It is loosely based on the Thomas Pynchon novel “Vineland”
