'Oppenheimer' dominates at 77th British Academy Film Awards with seven wins

The atomic bomb epic "Oppenheimer" had a great showing at the 77th British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, taking home a leading seven trophies, including best picture, director, and actor. This solidified the film's status as a serious candidate for the Oscars.

The film, directed by Christopher Nolan, who won his first BAFTA for best director, delves into the complicated life of Cillian Murphy's character, scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer. Murphy won the Best Actor Award for his performance, and he expressed his appreciation for the chance to play such a "colossally knotty, complex character."

BAFTAs witnessed the Holocaust drama "The Zone of Interest" win three Oscars, while the gothic fantasy "Poor Things" took home five. For her performance in "Poor Things," Emma Stone received Best Actress in addition to awards for production design, visual effects, costume design, and cosmetics and hair.

Even having a lead of 13 nominations, "Oppenheimer" was unable to surpass "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" for the most wins, a record of nine awards that has stood since 1971.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph was named best supporting actress for her role in "The Holdovers," acknowledging the importance of representing underrepresented stories like that of her character, Mary.

In addition to honoring accomplishments in film, the event, which took place at London's Royal Festival Hall and was hosted by David Tennant, provided a forum for discussing more general socioeconomic issues. Notable for its emotional location close to Auschwitz and its attention-grabbing message about global injustices. "The Zone of Interest" stood out by winning both best British film and best film not in English, an unprecedented feat, for its poignant setting near Auschwitz, bringing attention to global injustices.

The documentary "20 Days in Mariupol," a compelling story of the siege of the Ukrainian city, was also shown at the event, highlighting its emphasis on the human side of warfare.

"Oppenheimer" dominated the evening, while other movies including "Maestro," "Killers of the Flower Moon," and "All of Us Strangers" were let down when their nominations did not translate into awards. The evening also brought up the continuing discussion regarding representation and diversity in the business, with attempts being made to address these concerns via the nominating process for the awards.

Stars including Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan walked the red carpet at the event, which included a combination of glamor and musical performances that gave the occasion a festive vibe. It was a prelude to the Oscars, showcasing the best films of the year and providing predictions for prospective winners. 

Source: AP