One Battle After Another didn’t deserve a BAFTA – here’s what should have won | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

The BAFTAs are wrapped for another year, and while they didn’t throw up many surprises (other than a hugely well-deserved best actor win for relative newcomer Robert Aramayo for his role in I Swear), that doesn’t mean the right movies won. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another cleaned up, winning six awards on the night. While it is undoubtedly a commendable piece of filmmaking and a “prestige” picture, it is far from the best picture of the year. Indeed, in my opinion, having seen all the award-nominated movies this season, it was 30 minutes too long and pretty turgid in parts. In short, it was OK.

Yes, it was star-studded – but a good ensemble isn’t a good enough reason to vote a movie as best picture. There were two films that were head and shoulders above it in sheer movie-making brilliance and originality, and both have also been hugely lauded. Sentimental Value and Sinners are far better pictures if you analyse their nominees properly, rather than getting swept up in hype.

Sentimental Value stars Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning in a feat of narrative storytelling following two sisters’ complicated reunion with their estranged father. It is beautifully shot and features a wonderfully layered script, which is further enhanced by brilliant performances.

Meanwhile, Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, took the concept of the vampire movie and turned it on its head. Part political commentary, part racial drama, and part horror movie, it is engaging, thought-provoking, and entertaining.

I could see why BAFTA members might not vote for Sentimental Value, as it is primarily in Norwegian and Swedish with a few scenes in English. I imagine some felt it might be a better fit for the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language, which it did indeed win.

However, there is no reason why Sinners, which did take home three awards, shouldn’t have triumphed over One Battle After Another for Best Picture – except perhaps sentimentality.

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Paul Thomas Anderson is a beloved and acclaimed filmmaker, but suffers somewhat from “always the bridesmaid” syndrome. While he has been nominated for numerous major awards, his win record is much less impressive.

Prior to this year’s BAFTA ceremony, the only nod he had from the organisation previously was a Best Original Screenplay award for Liquorice Pizza in 2022. He has never won an Oscar despite 11 nominations prior to this year’s three for One Battle After Another. He won his first Critics’ Choice awards this year despite numerous previous nominations.

The big award ceremonies are notorious for honouring people for their body of work rather than the piece they are nominated for that year. But it is a bad practice. In doing so, they are failing to acknowledge the mastery of the genuine best film and voting with their hearts rather than their heads.

It may well be that the majority of the BAFTA voters thought One Battle After Another deserved to win. But I imagine when this year’s gongs are analysed in years to come, Sinners’ loss will be regarded as a travesty.